Kukla's Korner Hockey
It’s All About Making Kovalchuk Comfortable
by Paul on 12/11/09 at 08:19 AM ET
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from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,
Which is why, in a roundabout way, the key to success in Atlanta may be the Max Factor, or more specifically, the Max Afinogenov Factor.
Think of it this way: Whatever Atlanta may accomplish this year can be quickly unraveled if Ilya Kovalchuk says bye-bye at year’s end. Kovalchuk is one of the NHL’s most dynamic players, a performer almost at Ovechkin’s level in terms of pure, raw scoring ability. But Kovalchuk has been with the Thrashers for eight not-so-great years and is starting to get itchy for success. A potential unrestricted free agent following the season, Kovalchuk is amendable to staying in Atlanta (where he has developed roots and a strong command of the English language), but only if he believes the Thrashers can mimic the Capitals’ success and evolve – sooner rather than later – into Stanley Cup contenders.
Understanding that the future of his team is now, general manager signed both Afinogenov and Nikolai Antropov as unrestricted free agents last summer, in much the same way that the Capitals once brought in Sergei Fedorov and Viktor Kozlov to make Ovechkin more comfortable.
more plus numerous NHL topics discussed…
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