Alexei Kovalev: Difference between revisions
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==Playing career== |
==Playing career== |
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DIMITRIOS PSIHRAMIS SHOOK HIM ALLLLLLLLLLLL NIGHTTTT LONGGGG...with his Darth Vader sounds. |
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Alex Kovalev was drafted by the [[New York Rangers]] in the [[1991 NHL Entry Draft]], first round, 15th overall, becoming the first [[Russia]]n player to be drafted in the first round. Best known for his stickhandling skills and wrist shot, he became an important part of the [[History of the New York Rangers#1993–94 Stanley Cup|Rangers' 1994]] [[Stanley Cup]] run, finishing with the third-most points for New York in the playoffs. Kovalev, [[Alexander Karpovtsev]], [[Sergei Nemchinov]], and [[Sergei Zubov]] were the first Russians to have their name on the Stanley Cup.{{fact|date=January 2009}} |
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During the [[1994–95 NHL lockout]], Kovalev played for his hometown team [[HC Lada Togliatti|Lada Togliatti]], the defending [[Russian Super League|International Hockey League]] champion from 1994. Kovalev scored 8 goals and 8 assists in 12 games. Kovalev occasionally stops in [[Tolyatti]] to give clinics at his old hockey school.{{fact|date=January 2009}} He also participated in the Lada Tolyatti 30th anniversary game, and scored a [[hat trick]] for the Lada veterans team.{{fact|date=January 2009}} |
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Just 14 games into the [[1998–99 NHL season|1998–99 season]], on November 25, 1998, he was traded, along with [[Harry York]], to the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] for [[Petr Nedved]], [[Sean Pronger]] and [[Chris Tamer]]. While only putting up 46 points in 63 games with the Penguins, he managed a strong effort with 12 points in 10 postseason games. The next few seasons, he recorded two of his best seasons in the NHL with 76 and 95 points. |
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In a trade to mainly reduce their salary, Pittsburgh sent Kovalev back to the Rangers on February 10, 2003. He was sent, along with [[Dan LaCouture]], [[Janne Laukkanen]] and [[Mike Wilson (hockey player)|Mike Wilson]] for [[Mikael Samuelsson]], [[Rico Fata]], [[Joel Bouchard]], [[Richard Lintner]] and cash. |
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On March 13, 2004 he was traded to the [[Montreal Canadiens]] for [[Jozef Balej]] and a second round selection in the [[2004 NHL Entry Draft]]. While only managing 3 points in 12 games in the regular season, Kovalev broke out in the [[2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs|2004 playoffs]], where he registered 6 goals and 10 points in 11 games for Montreal. |
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He spent the [[2004–05 NHL lockout]] playing for [[Ak Bars Kazan]], in the [[Russian Super League]] (RSL), where he registered 53 points in 35 games. Kovalev played for Russia in the [[2005 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|2005 World Championships]] in [[Austria]], and was named the tournament's best forward. |
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As an [[unrestricted free agent]], he re-signed with Montreal to a four-year contract, worth $4.5 million per year, on August 3, 2005, prior to the start of the [[2005–06 NHL season]]. He scored his 300th career goal and recorded his 700th point on December 20, 2005 against [[Dominik Hašek]] in a 4–3 win against the [[Ottawa Senators]].{{fact|date=January 2009}} |
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A popular moment for Kovalev among Canadiens fans occurred on March 25, 2006, in a game against the rival [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]. After receiving a high-stick from Maple Leafs forward [[Darcy Tucker]], Kovalev drove his elbow into Tucker's face in the midst of stickhandling through several players. A brawl immediately ensued and it became a moment of almost cult-like status for Canadiens fans, as t-shirts were subsequently made with a printed image of the incident.{{fact|date=January 2009}} |
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In 2006, [[Warrior Hockey]] signed Kovalev to endorse their hockey sticks. Warrior designed a custom shaft known as the AK27 which caught the eye of several other NHLers, including [[Mark Recchi]] and [[Zdeno Chara]]. |
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In 2007, Kovalev sparked controversy when he allegedly criticized his team, coaching staff and the French media in an interview done with a Russian reporter in his native language. Though the reporter who conducted the interview later rescinded Kovalev’s quotes, and the tape she used never surfaced, a majority of the fans and members of the media believe the criticism to have actually happened.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} This story was especially controversial due to the poor performance by Kovalev in the [[2006–07 NHL season|2006–07 season]], amassing only 18 goals, 29 assists for a total of 47 points. |
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During the [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08 season]], Kovalev found a resurgence playing alongside linemates [[Andrei Kostitsyn]] and [[Tomas Plekanec]] as he has amassed a total of 35 goals, 49 assists for a total of 84 points in 82 games. As of the season's completion, he currently stands at the 94th spot of the top 100 all-time NHL scorers.<ref>Montreal Canadiens Stats</ref> Because of his inspired play, Kovalev was awarded the Canadiens' captaincy on two occasions during the season, replacing the injured [[Saku Koivu]] in his absence. |
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Kovalev was named captain of the [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern Conference]] at the [[57th National Hockey League All-Star Game|2009 NHL All-Star game]] in [[Montreal]], and won Most Valuable Player honors as a result of his two goals, assist, and game-winning shootout goal.<ref>[http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=264258&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_main Kovalev, Thornton named All-Star team captains]</ref> |
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==Transactions== |
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*June 22, 1991- [[New York Rangers]] 1st round draft choice (15th overall) in the NHL Entry Draft. |
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*November 25, 1998- Traded by the New York Rangers, along with [[Harry York]], to the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] in exchange for [[Petr Nedved]], [[Sean Pronger]] and [[Chris Tamer]]. |
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*February 10, 2003- Traded by the Pittsburgh Penguins, along with [[Mike Wilson (ice hockey)|Mike Wilson]], [[Janne Laukkanen]] and [[Dan LaCouture]], to the New York Rangers in exchange for [[Joel Bouchard]], [[Richard Lintner]], [[Rico Fata]], [[Mikael Samuelsson]] and future considerations. |
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*March 2, 2004- Traded by the New York Rangers to the [[Montreal Canadiens]] in exchange for [[Jozef Balej]] and Montreal's 2004 2nd round draft choice. |
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== Awards == |
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*Named NHL Offensive Player of the Week for November 6–12, 2000; November 5–11, 2001. |
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*Played in the [[NHL All-Star Game]] in 2001, 2003 and 2009. |
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*Named NHL Player of the Month in February 2001. |
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*Named the [[World Ice Hockey Championships|World Championship]] Best Forward in 2005. |
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*Won the [[Molson Cup]] (monthly) in November 2005, November 2007, December 2007, January and February 2008. |
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*Won the Molson Cup (season) in 2008. |
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*Won ''[[The Hockey News]]''' [[Saku Koivu]] Award (comeback player of the year) in 2008. |
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*Named to the [[NHL All-Star Team|NHL Second All-Star Team]] in 2008. |
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*Won the NHL All-Star Game MVP Award in 2009. |
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== Accomplishments == |
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*First Russian player to be drafted in the first round. |
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*First Russian player (along with [[Alexander Karpovtsev]], [[Sergei Nemchinov]], and [[Sergei Zubov]]) to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. |
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*First Russian player to be a captain of an All-Star Team |
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==Off the ice== |
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Kovalev is a licensed aircraft pilot. He has also made a cameo appearance in the television series [[Alias (TV series)|Alias]], in the first episode of season four. |
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==Endorsements== |
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Kovalev was pictured on the cover of [[EA Sports]]' [[NHL 95]] scoring a goal on [[Kirk McLean]] of the [[Vancouver Canucks]] in the [[1994 Stanley Cup Finals]]. In March 2008, Kovalev released a two-disc DVD titled ''My Hockey Tips and Training Methods''. He is donating 100 percent of the DVD sale profits to charities that promote cardiac care for children. At age 8, Kovalev himself was diagnosed with a heart disorder that prevented him from playing hockey for two years while he underwent treatment. |
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==Career statistics== |
==Career statistics== |
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Revision as of 19:18, 4 February 2009
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| Alexei Kovalev | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Born |
February 24, 1973 Togliatti, USSR | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb) | ||
| Position | Right Wing | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
Montreal Canadiens New York Rangers Pittsburgh Penguins | ||
| NHL draft |
15th overall, 1991 New York Rangers | ||
| Playing career | 1990–present | ||
Alexei "Alex" Vyacheslavovich Kovalev (Russian: Алексей Вячеславович Ковалёв, Aleksey Vyacheslavovich Kovalyov; born February 24, 1973) is a Russian professional ice hockey right winger and alternate captain with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played for the New York Rangers, with whom he was originally drafted and has won a Stanley Cup in 1994, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. One of his nicknames among francophone Canadiens' fans is L'Artiste (The Artist) due to his stickhandling prowess.
Playing career
DIMITRIOS PSIHRAMIS SHOOK HIM ALLLLLLLLLLLL NIGHTTTT LONGGGG...with his Darth Vader sounds.
Career statistics
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1989–90 | HC Dynamo Moscow Tigers | RSL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1990–91 | HC Dynamo Moscow Tigers | RSL | 18 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1991–92 | HC Dynamo Moscow Tigers | RSL | 33 | 16 | 9 | 25 | 20 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1992–93 | New York Rangers | NHL | 65 | 20 | 18 | 38 | 79 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1992–93 | Binghamton Rangers | AHL | 13 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 35 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 14 | ||
| 1993–94 | New York Rangers | NHL | 76 | 23 | 33 | 56 | 154 | 23 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 18 | ||
| 1994–95 | Lada Togliatti | RSL | 12 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 49 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1994–95 | New York Rangers | NHL | 48 | 13 | 15 | 28 | 30 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 10 | ||
| 1995–96 | New York Rangers | NHL | 81 | 24 | 34 | 58 | 98 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 14 | ||
| 1996–97 | New York Rangers | NHL | 45 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 42 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1997–98 | New York Rangers | NHL | 73 | 23 | 30 | 53 | 44 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1998–99 | New York Rangers | NHL | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 12 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1998–99 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 63 | 20 | 26 | 46 | 37 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 14 | ||
| 1999–00 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 82 | 26 | 40 | 66 | 94 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 10 | ||
| 2000–01 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 79 | 44 | 51 | 95 | 96 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 16 | ||
| 2001–02 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 67 | 32 | 44 | 76 | 80 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2002–03 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 54 | 27 | 37 | 64 | 50 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2002–03 | New York Rangers | NHL | 24 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 20 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2003–04 | New York Rangers | NHL | 66 | 13 | 29 | 42 | 54 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2003–04 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 8 | ||
| 2004–05 | Ak Bars Kazan | RSL | 35 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 80 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||
| 2005–06 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 69 | 23 | 42 | 65 | 76 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | ||
| 2006–07 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 73 | 18 | 29 | 47 | 78 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2007–08 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 82 | 35 | 49 | 84 | 70 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 8 | ||
| RSL Totals | 99 | 35 | 31 | 66 | 153 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||||
| NHL Totals | 1073 | 368 | 508 | 876 | 1126 | 112 | 42 | 53 | 95 | 102 | ||||
International play
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ice hockey | ||
Representing  Russia
| ||
| Winter Olympics | ||
 |
2002 Salt Lake City | |
Representing  CIS
| ||
| Winter Olympics | ||
 |
1992 Albertville | |
Representing  Soviet Union
| ||
| World Junior Championship | ||
|
1992 | |
| European Junior Championship | ||
 |
1991 | |
|
1990 | |
Played for the Soviet Union in:
- 1990 European Junior Championship (silver medal)
- 1991 European Junior Championship (silver medal)
- 1992 World Junior Championship (gold medal)*
Played for the Unified Team (CIS) in:
- 1992 Winter Olympics (gold medal)*
Played for Russia in:
- 1992 World Championship
- 1996 World Cup of Hockey
- 1998 World Championship
- 2002 Winter Olympics (bronze medal)
- 2004 World Cup of Hockey
- 2005 World Championship
- 2006 Winter Olympics
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | USSR | EJC | 6 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | |
| 1991 | USSR | EJC | 5 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 8 | |
| 1992 | CIS | WJC | 7 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 2 | |
| 1992 | CIS | Oly | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 14 | |
| 1992 | Russia | WC | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1996 | Russia | WCH | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | |
| 1998 | Russia | WC | 6 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 14 | |
| 2002 | Russia | Oly | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | |
| 2004 | Russia | WCH | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2005 | Russia | WC | 9 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 16 | |
| 2006 | Russia | Oly | 8 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 | |
| Senior Int'l Totals | 52 | 20 | 14 | 34 | 64 | |||
See also
References
External links
Categories:
- 1973 births
- Aq Bars Kazan players
- Binghamton Rangers players
- HC Dynamo Moscow players
- HC Lada Togliatti players
- Ice hockey players at the 1992 Winter Olympics
- Ice hockey players at the 2002 Winter Olympics
- Ice hockey players at the 2006 Winter Olympics
- Living people
- Montreal Canadiens players
- National Hockey League All-Stars
- National Hockey League first round draft picks
- New York Rangers draft picks
- New York Rangers players
- Olympic bronze medalists for Russia
- Olympic ice hockey players of the Unified Team
- Olympic ice hockey players of Russia
- Olympic gold medalists for the Unified Team
- Pittsburgh Penguins players
- Russian ice hockey players
- Stanley Cup champions
- Winter Olympics medalists