*With summer fast approaching, the ice and the news wire are beginning to thin. In lieu of news and notes, the “Devils in the Details” series will individually examine eight notable Devils players and will determine both their relative importance to the club as well as the decisions the team faces in the off-season. The first installment features Ilya Kovalchuk.
The Devils have forever been labeled the “boring” team, the ugly stepchild under the staircase that has outperformed larger markets with a stifling defensive system and great goaltending. While they have always been solid defensively, the Devils have never been known for their scoring ability, relying instead on line chemistry and counterattacking to score a half a goal more than the opposing team. Sure, they’ve had dynamic forwards – Alexander Mogilny, Patrik Elias, Petr Sykora, and Zach Parise come to mind – but they’ve never had a game-changer up front; until this season, that is.
On the evening of February 4, GM Lou Lamoriello galvanized the fanbase and his slumping team behind the explosive Russian sniper Ilya Kovalchuk, the league’s most prolific scorer since 2004; and while Kovalchuk did not deliver the astronomical offensive production the Devils hoped for and needed, he did provide flashes of brilliance and a boatload of heart, something his teammates sorely lacked during their swift playoff exit.
Kovalchuk wasn’t flawless by any means, though. He frequently turned over the puck on the powerplay, and his insistence on skating through the entire opposing team was often met by pokechecks and groans from wide-open teammates. Yet his persistence and physicality was admirable, particularly considering the rest of the team looked nauseatingly indifferent. Kovalchuk’s ten goals were not enough to revitalize the Devils’ offense, but he was a point-per-game player in twenty seven regular season games and five playoff contests.
Ilya Kovalchuk transcends impressive statistics: he could be the face of a franchise.
His efficacy as a Devil has already been questioned; Jacques Lemaire used Kovalchuk for the full two minutes on every man advantage, and the winger had free reign in the offensive zone. The individual freedom allotted to Kovalchuk was certainly unprecedented for Devils players, but it was entirely appropriate considering Kovalchuk is the most talented forward to ever step on the ice in a Devils sweater (not to mention that his fellow forwards should have focused more on their own inability to score rather than Kovalchuk’s playing time). Contrary to preconceptions, he was not a liability in the defensive zone, and he generated plenty of scoring opportunities to debunk the myth that Lemaire would stifle Kovalchuk’s creative ability. Only his lack of finishing (stone hands pervaded the locker room like the plague) prevented Kovalchuk from scoring goals on a regular basis.
What more did the fans and media expect? Kovalchuk was forced to learn a new system (“two-way forward” was not commonplace in Atlanta) and a new culture (well, when has Atlanta ever won anything?) on the fly. Moreover, he suffered from Lemaire’s compulsive line changes, proving detrimental to Kovalchuk’s capacity to mesh with linemates. While playing for the Devils, Kovalchuk played alongside Zach Parise, Travis Zajac, Jamie Langenbrunner, Patrik Elias, Dainius Zubrus, and Brian Rolston at one point or another – that’s seven forwards in all. How could one expect Kovalchuk to light the lamp on a nightly basis when line combinations were subject to change on a whim?Moreover, his linemates were often left to guess Kovalchuk’s on-ice decisions, and even the highly aware Elias failed to understand the superstar’s hockey idiosyncrasies. A full training camp under an established coach would do wonders for developing chemistry between Kovalchuk and prospective linemates.
Yet despite the uncertainty on the ice, Kovalchuk is unequivocally clear on one point: he absolutely loved his time in New Jersey. The understated Russian winger enjoyed living in relative anonymity in the Garden State, something to which Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur willingly attests. He enjoyed his brief taste of playoff hockey, and was delighted to play for an organization that expects and demands the most from its players. He consistently complimented the fans for their support and said all the right things to the media, but after the Devils were eliminated, Kovalchuk revealed his praise wasn’t merely diplomatic, but rather truly genuine.
“I love everything here,” Kovalchuk proclaimed after New Jersey bowed out to the Flyers in the first round. “It’s a great organization. I appreciate Lou gave me a chance to play here. It was a great experience. I played with some great players. I loved it.” This says everything one needs to know about Ilya Kovalchuk: he is tirelessly committed to the team concept and winning. This, coupled with his unworldly goalscoring, should be enough to convince Lamoriello to sign the sniper long-term.
The Devils usually preach fiscal responsibility, but Kovalchuk is certainly worth the money. Even though he rejected the Thrashers’ $101 million contract extension, money is not Kovalchuk’s main motivator: winning Stanley Cups is. The Devils certainly provide Kovalchuk with as great an opportunity as any other NHL team to pursue Lord Stanley on a yearly basis.
Kovalchuk’s $8.5 million annual salary is sizable, and he may request a raise, but no monetary value can be placed on him. He has the potential to become the face of the franchise once the immortal Brodeur rides off into the sunset, and economically speaking, Kovalchuk’s talent and on-ice flair puts bodies in seats; the Devils’ attendance increased dramatically following Kovalchuk’s arrival.
The Devils face a number of difficult questions during the off-season, but this particular one is a no-brainer: if Kovalchuk wishes to remain a Devil, Lamoriello should ensure he does for the sake of the team’s anemic offense, the fanbase, Prudential Center’s bottom line, and a team desperately in need of a firebrand.
If Kovalchuk remains in Newark, the Devils will be anything but boring.
