After 20 minutes of play at the Bell Centre, where the Canadian trailed by a goal against the New York Rangers, the atmosphere was heavy in the 98.5 Sports studios.
Habs describer Martin McGuire let his frustration explode in reaction to the selection of Alex Kovalev in the Montreal Canadiens’ quarter-century all-star team.
“Pacioretty should have been in Kovalev’s place on the all-star team,” said McGuire, his tone charged with emotion, visibly annoyed by the NHL’s decision.
This proves once again that we are allergic to talent in Montreal. Kovalev was so talented. It was a privilege to have him.
The unease was palpable on the set, so much so that it seemed as if everyone wanted to look down to avoid confronting the tension that reigned.
Dany Dubé, his accomplice in the description, tried to temper the remarks, but McGuire, for his part, did not budge.
For him, Kovalev’s presence in this team is a slap in the face to the more consistent and reliable players in the club’s recent history.
This selection reopened old wounds for the organization, in particular for Guy Carbonneau, who had once confided that the truth would eventually come out about his dismissal.
Everyone knew he was referring to Kovalev, who, according to several internal sources, had maneuvered behind the scenes to undermine the head coach’s authority.
Kovalev, however, has always defended his point of view:
“When he played, he was that type of player, a defensive player, so I guess he wanted to play guys like that in those situations. »Kovalev had said in place of Carbo.
A statement which says a lot about the divide between the two men, while Carbonneau favored a defensive approach, to the detriment of the Russian’s offensive explosiveness.
Far from being unanimous, Kovalev’s selection divides fans and analysts alike. While some believe that he embodied excitement and pure talent, others recall his irregularities and his sometimes problematic attitude.
After all, Kovalev has only surpassed the 80-point mark once in Montreal, often leaving fans wanting more.
McGuire sticks to his guns:
According to him, Kovalev represented pure talent, but this club would need to be recognized for its hard work, not its nonchalance. »
Clearly, this selection of Alex Kovalev in the Canadian’s quarter-century all-star team will continue to fuel discussions well after the end of the game against the Rangers.
We will never understand this relentlessness towards the Artist.
If the selection of Alex Kovalev in the Montreal Canadiens’ quarter-century all-star team still sparks heated debates today, one thing remains indisputable: he is the most talented player to have worn the blue uniform -white-red over the last 25 years.
-His detractors criticize him for his inconsistency and nonchalance, but it is difficult to ignore the impact he had in one of the lowest periods in the history of the CH.
Kovalev arrived in Montreal in 2004, in a context far from ideal. The Canadiens of that era were navigating a sea of uncertainty, seeking to regain their former glory amid questionable management decisions and a glaring lack of offensive talent.
The team relied above all on its goalkeepers to hide its shortcomings and on support players who struggled to make a difference in attack.
Despite this unfavorable environment, Kovalev managed to thrill fans with his mere presence on the ice.
In 2007-08, he had a memorable 84-point season, propelling the Habs to the top of the Eastern Conference, proving how dominant he could be when everything was working around him.
However, this brilliant campaign remained an exception in a sea of more difficult seasons where the lack of offensive depth prevented it from fully expressing its potential.
No one can question Kovalev’s exceptional skills. His puck handling was unparalleled, his vision of the game incomparable and his wrist shot devastating.
On several occasions, he amazed the Bell Center with breathtaking individual performances, scoring goals that few players of his generation could have achieved.
His natural talent allowed him to perform at a level that few of his teammates could match.
It is easy to criticize a player like Kovalev based on his perceived contemptuous attitude, but it must be remembered that he played in a team that struggled to provide him with elite caliber partners.
He was often the team’s only real offensive factor, attracting all the attention of opposing defenses.
McGuire thinks Max Pacioretty should have made the first all-star team instead of Kovalev?
Certainly, the American was a constant scorer for several years, but he never possessed the aura and impact of the Russian on the show level.
Pacioretty scored goals, but Kovalev created magical moments that brought the crowd to their feet.
Saku Koivu and Tomas Plekanec, who are also on this all-star team, are recognized for their consistency and leadership.
But in terms of pure talent, neither has ever been able to match Kovalev. He is the only one of this trio to have crossed the 80 point mark, and this in conditions that are far from ideal.
The NHL was therefore right in placing Kovalev on this CH quarter-century all-star team. Despite the controversies surrounding his time in Montreal, he remains one of the rare players to have truly electrified the fans and to have given them a spectacle worthy of the big stars of the league.
He may have arrived in Montreal in his 30s and may not have always lived up to expectations for consistency, but no one can deny that he was, by far, the most talented player to ever wear the Canadiens jersey for the last 25 years.
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