Kovalev Interview in RusHockey
I just read this interview again although it's been out for a while, there are a couple of things that strike me in Kovalev's comments especially this part :
'' I have no right to be offended. They are the coaches, let them decide, who to include in the roster and who they will have an easier time working with. ''
This is in regards to the National Team coaching staff and administration such as guys like Bykov and Nemchinov
as well as
No. The man made his decision. To convince him otherwise, in the hopes of hearing: “Okay, you can come”… I don’t need that.
'' I want to reaffirm: I am not taking offense. And I am not planning on excluding the national team from my future. If a coach ever wants to invite me to the national team, I will always say yes. To play for your country – it’s every kid’s dream right from the time they begin playing hockey. ''
As we all can see, Kovalev is an eager to please guy when he wants to, right ?
Well I'll fore go his quotes in La Presse but here is his quote on a coach AND team who actually supported him and defended him all season long ( such as Carbo's statement that he didn't beleive for a second that Kovalev had lied to him )
Here is Carbo's ( and Latendresse's ) Defence of Kovalev
And here is Rushockey'S quote
'' when your club doesn’t support you through this, benches you, doesn’t let you play without explanation… Its hard to take such pressure from all sides. For me money is secondary. Most important is to enjoy the game. So far, this isn’t happening in Montreal. ''
I think that in Gainey's evaluation of Kovalev you have to consider the two intangibles that are quintessential to all hockey players, their ability to mesh to your team's core, and thier ability to show up.
Kovalev has not had any success on any line with the Habs this season, he hasn't managed to be consistent with Koivu, Lapierre, Bonk or Plekanec, he has also been a distraction off the ice.
In my opinion, Gainey has to also weigh some other intangibles, players like Kovalev and Samsonov had no hesitation to point at the organization's failings, which even Patrick Roy, Vincent Damphousse and Craig Rivet among others who left on bad terms NEVER dared do.
The Habs are seen as a divine obession in Quebec and the CH is revered as an almost religious symbol, when a player comes out to ridicule and even threaten his position on the team, it is imperative something be done so that '' Habit '' is punished appropriatly.
The fact that nothing was done opens the door to other players to publicly '' hose down '' the Habs, which is bad.
Players like Craig Rivet and Francois Beauchemin were core components in their team's playoff run, even though the Habs prefered other players, we are still willing to forgive the front office for those mis-steps
Overall Gainey has had a lucky hand with the Habs during his tenure, but a wind is blowing that has whiffs of
In Bob we trust ... right ?
You be the judge.
