I have just read some rumors about the possibility of certain players coming to Pittsburgh.? One of those players is Alexei Kovalev.? I know trade rumors are a dime a dozen, and very rarely come to fruition, but it is fun to speculate.? I think that Kovi would be a fantastic addition to the Penguin?s roster.? I believe it would not take a great deal to get Kovi, which makes it attractive.?
Now, I know his best years are behind him, but I think he still has a great deal of skill.? In my humble estimation, he has been one of the most skilled and fun to watch players I have ever had the fortune to watch.? I think coming to Pittsburgh could be the type of change that would trigger his game to a higher level.? Four of Kovi?s best six seasons were with the Penguins.
Career statistics
| ? | ? | Regular?Season | ? | Playoffs | ||||||||||
| Season | Team | League | GP | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||||||
| 1989?90 | 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 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 65 | 20 | 18 | 38 | 79 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1992?93 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 35 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 14 | ||||
| New York Rangers | NHL | 76 | 23 | 33 | 56 | 154 | 23 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 18 | |||
| 1994?95 | RSL | 12 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| New York Rangers | NHL | 48 | 13 | 15 | 28 | 30 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 10 | |||
| New York Rangers | NHL | 81 | 24 | 34 | 58 | 98 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 14 | |||
| New York Rangers | NHL | 45 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| New York Rangers | NHL | 73 | 23 | 30 | 53 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| New York Rangers | NHL | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1998?99 | NHL | 63 | 20 | 26 | 46 | 37 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 14 | |||
| Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 82 | 26 | 40 | 66 | 94 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 10 | |||
| Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 79 | 44 | 51 | 95 | 96 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 16 | |||
| Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 67 | 32 | 44 | 76 | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 54 | 27 | 37 | 64 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2002?03 | New York Rangers | NHL | 24 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| New York Rangers | NHL | 66 | 13 | 29 | 42 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2003?04 | NHL | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 8 | |||
| 2004?05 | RSL | 35 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 80 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |||
| Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 69 | 23 | 42 | 65 | 76 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | |||
| Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 73 | 18 | 29 | 47 | 78 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 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 | ||||
?
I may be biased because he has always been a favorite of mine, but if he does play to his potential, one can only imagine the possibilities on a line with Crosby.? I think he could do wonders for the powerplay as well.? He loves to shoot.
Anyway, just a thought.
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