Montreal Canadiens

Koivu and Kovalev: Different directions

Despite the ascendancy of the Habs younger players (Kostitsyn brothers, Higgins,Plekanec,Latendresse) Koivu and Kovalev are the two key elements to the Canadiens offense. They are the epicentre of the teams attack. Koivu at 33, and Kovalev at 34 came into the season on different trajectories, Koivu coming off a productive 75 point season, Kovalev a horrid 38 point campaign, further complicated by a series of controversial remarks made by him to the media on issues concerning criticism of Carbonneau’s coaching methods to accusations of anti Russian bias in the teams organization. Trade rumours swirled around Kovalev in the offseason. To a certain extent the roles have been reversed in the 2007-08 season.

During the offseason, Kovalev diligently worked on his leg strength and speed, watched video of past performances, and came to camp refusing to believe that his best seasons were behind him. A long off season conversation with general manager Bob Gainey facilitated a major attitude change. Through out the season Kovalev has acted as a mentor to the Kostitsyn brothers. No longer aloof he is constantly communicating with his center Thomas Plekanec. The results have been impressive, 20 goals and a pace for a 36 goal 77 point season. As he was last season, Kovalev is the straw that stirs the Canadiens power play. Often on the ice for the entire 2 minutes of the powerplay, Kovalev may be the most dangerous winger in the league taking the puck off the half boards and working towards the high slot area either preparing to fire one of the most lethal wrist shots in the game, or passing off to a teammate. Like all premier players in the game, respect for Kovalev’s skill level allows him to create time and space for both himself and his teammates. The rap on Kovalev is that through out his career he has underachived relative to his skill set. That critique is not valid this season, constantly strong on the puck, his on ice vision and creativity thus far is dominant.

For all the Canadiens success this season, the worriesome aspect is the decline in Koivu’s productivity. On pace for only a 59 point season, he has been supplanted as the teams number one center by Plekanec. The fierce competitive nature that characterized his play seems to have eroded this seson. A certain complacency has entered into his game. Koivu’s game was characterized by his crossing the blueline with speed setting up a give and go play with a winger and forcing the defense to react. Teams have adjusted, opponents now allow Koivu more space as he crosses the blueline but shut down passing lanes. Teams are forcing the Koivu line to work their plays closer to the net. Koivu takes the puck to traffic but often makes premature passes to wingers not yet open. Often he tries to play bigger and quicker than he is. Unlike Kovalev, Koivu has not had the benefit of the same linemates all season. In fact Koivu has had no less than 7 different wingers through the season, hard to establish any continuity. Additionally lately he has had Sergi Kostitsyn and Latendresse two 20 year olds as linemates, two young players still trying to find their way in the NHL.

Many a night Koivu seems to look tired, complete game effectiveness, given way to brief periods of excellence. Kovalev constantly seems to have an extra gear game in game out. This season trade rumours have circulated around the Habs trading Koivu for perhaps Patrick Marleau. Critical comments of Koivu’s penchant for poorly timed penalties and lack of even strength goals are constant in the Montreal media.

For the Canadiens to have post season success, a healthy and rejuvenated Kovalev and Koivu are required. Thus far Kovalev has reestablished himself. Koivu at times seems to have morphed into a reliable defensive centerman, with offensive creativity and production eroding.In the last three seasons , Koivu has had a prolonged slump in the second half of the year. In 2006-07 season, from January 2 to February 17, Koivu in a 22 game span only had 8 points. The year prior, he went 19 games from January 31 to March 21 with only 9 points. This season, Koivu has already had an early season stretch of 6 points in 12 games. Stamina maybe coming into question.As players move into the twilight of their careers, the offense declines, Koivu has a lot of mileage on a body that has been beaten down due to injury and the burden of leading a team that had a decade long period of mediocre talent. The question for the Habs organization is Koivu simply having a short term malaise, and a late season rebound is forthcoming, or is it the start of a decline that perhaps only a change of scenery can create improved results?