Kovalchuk’s Shootout miss heard around the world

(courtesy of AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

In case you haven’t heard, last night’s 5-4 shootout loss by the New Jersey Devils against a third-string goalie lead Buffalo Sabres was ended on an extremely unfortunate play or lack thereof by Ilya Kovalchuk. With the Devils down 2-1, Kovy needed to score to extend the skills competition in order to salvage the 2nd point his team had let slip away 3 times.

As he neared Jhonas Enroth(who was playing in just his 4th NHL game) the puck opted not to join Kovalchuk’s stick amidst his stick handling giving the Sabres the win and further dampening the Devil’s train wreck of a season. The bad bounce capped a horrible night for Kovalchuk who failed to get on the score sheet or generate much offense blowing a golden chance in the final frame of the third when on a partial breakaway sending the puck into the safety netting rather than the goal.
Read more…

Share

No Comments

Sergei Miledin, November 11th 2010 | Tags: , , ,
Posted in Around the League

Vasyunov’s first NHL point gives Devils third victory of the year


(Courtesy of Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images)

For the second time this season Alexander Vasyunov was called up from Albany to New Jersey’s roster.  The first time came at the expense of countryman Ilya Kovalchuk but tonight he had the chance to play at the right wing with Kovalchuk and Patrik Elias.  A strong effort was rewarded as he intercepted an Anaheim pass in the neutral zone during the third period and lead the rush into the offensive zone.

Vasyunov passed the puck back to Patrik Elias who ripped the puck past Jonas Hiller, giving Vasyunov his first career NHL point. Although finishing the game with just under 13 minutes played, all of which came on special teams, 2 shots and a plus1.  He was also rewarded with the trust of Devils Coach John MacLean.  With a minute and a half left the coach felt he had been playing good enough to get a big defensive shift.
Read more…

Share

No Comments

David Sarch, October 29th 2010 | Tags: , , ,
Posted in Around the League

Comrade of the Night – Pavel Datsyuk

Datsyuk dances with Corey Perry (AP)

There isn’t much that Pavel Datsyuk can not do. A seasoned veteran and four-time Lady Byng Award recipient, Dats has been a model of consistency for the Detroit Red Wings since the lockout. Our second straight Comrade of the Night from Yekaterinburg, Datsyuk’s skills were on full display in Detroit’s home opener against the Anaheim Ducks.

Five minutes into the 2nd period, he scored a trademarked Datsyuk goal – one that makes your jaw drop in amazement, “How did he just do that?” – to give the Red Wings a 3-0 lead. Detroit’s top unit was seemingly able to skate circles around the statue-esque Duck defenders as partner-in-crime Henrik Zetterberg took the puck at the blue line and passed it rather innocently down to Datsyuk, who was parked several feet to the left of Jonas Hiller. Instead of taking the pass, Datsyuk somehow calculated the exact perfect angle to redirect the puck through Hiller’s 5-hole, leaving everyone at JLA clueless.

Read more…

Share

No Comments

Sergey Zikov, October 8th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Comrade of the night

Russian Rookies Set for NHL Pre-Season Debuts in Philadelphia

The NHL pre-season gets underway tonight with nine games on tap around the league. One that we are keeping our eyes on tonight is the New Jersey Devils vs. Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center which will feature the debuts of Devils winger’ Alexander Vasyunov and Flyers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. Vasyunov was selected to travel with the Devils for their first game after netting the over-time winner in yesterday’s scrimmage.

The 22-year-old Yaroslav native who spent last season with the Lowell Devils where he scored 15 goals and added 13 assists knows head coach John MacLean sees potential in his game as MacLean coached the farm club before being promoted this summer to the NHL. Vasyunov admitted he was nervous in his first appearance with the team that drafted him in 2006, telling beat reporters “before the game, maybe 30 minutes. Especially then I will be nervous.” Vasyunov has twice represented Russia in the World U18 Championship and the World U20 Championship in 2006 and 2007 respectively.
Read more…

Share

No Comments

Sergei Miledin, September 21st 2010 | Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Around the League

$6.66(million) the Number of the Kovy Beast

It appears the summer/fall of Ilya Kovalchuk has FINALLY reached an end with his latest contract set to be approved by the NHL. Since he became a free agent back on July 1st, Kovy has been courted by the Los Angeles Kings, lured repeatedly by the KHL, had a press conference, became a free agent again, and has had three contracts submitted on his behalf to the league with only the last one finally being good enough.
Read more…

Share

No Comments

Sergei Miledin, September 3rd 2010 | Tags: , ,
Posted in Around the League

Arbitrator Bloch’s Kovalchuk Contract


(Courtesy of Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

You might as well write “sike” across the picture above as it appears the summer of Kovalchuk is far from over with confirmed reports surfacing that arbitrator and New Jersey native Richard Bloch has ruled in favor of the National Hockey League to uphold the rejection of the 17-year contract the winger signed that would pay him $102 million thus making null and void.
Read more…

Share

No Comments

Sergei Miledin, August 9th 2010 | Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Around the League

NHL Rejects Kovalchuk’s Contract

(Courtesy of Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

After reintroducing Ilya Kovalchuk to the media on Tuesday afternoon the New Jersey Devils discovered his 17-year $102 million dollar contract was rejected the NHL. Hours following the press conference TSN broke the news that the league claimed Kovy’s contract, that would keep him with the Devils until he was 44, was a circumvention of the collective bargaining agreement.
Read more…

Share

No Comments

Sergei Miledin, July 21st 2010 | Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Around the League

Ilya Kovalchuk: Sniper For Life

Can he be stopped?
Courtesy of the AP Press

The NHL’s most prized free agent has finally found himself a home. Tver native Ilya Kovalchuk has announced that he will not be moving anywhere, but instead remaining with the New Jersey Devils. Despite receiving lucrative offers from multiple other clubs, from the NHL to the KHL, Kovalchuk may have taken the grandest of them all.

No. 17 signed a 17-year deal worth a reported $107 million that will keep him with the Newark-based club until 2028. For those wondering, Ilya will be 45 years old by that time. To put that titanic number into perspective, his contract will span longer than the term of a Supreme Court Justice, longer than the Devils arena deal at the Prudential Center, longer than the state of New Jersey has existed and yes, longer than the half-life of Uranium-238.

Read more…

Share

No Comments

Sergey Zikov, July 19th 2010 | Tags: , , ,
Posted in Around the League

Where will Kovy Land? The FRWG Edition

ilya-kovalchuk-kings-stpetes

As we slowly approach week two of Kovy watch 2010 the most sought after free agent of this summer not named Lebron James has yet to pick a team. As much as VERSUS or the NHL network would probably love to air his decision live, I can’t see that happening. It would mean hockey being recognized as a legit sport in this country by those who can only pay attention once a week to their beloved team but I digress.
Read more…

Share

No Comments

Sergei Miledin, July 14th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Around the League

Evgeni Nabokov says Da to SKA

nabby33(Courtesy of The Hockey News)

On Wednesday, former San Jose goalie Evgeni Nabokov signed a deal with the Kontinental Hockey League’s SKA St.Petersburg for a reported $24 million contract for the next four years. With the hockey world waiting and watching as the Ilya Kovalchuk saga continued to unfold, the league quietly lost one of it’s elite net-minders who opted to go to a team that would meet his demands financially even if it meant playing in the old country.
Read more…

Share

No Comments

Sergei Miledin, July 8th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in KHL
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »