Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Why is Ilya Kovalchuk So Very Mean to the Atlanta Thrashers?

Some NJ papier mache Internet site:

Ilya Kovalchuk never remembers a team meeting being called after two straight losses during his 7 1/2 seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers. A prolonged slump like six wins in 20 games seemed normal for a club that made the playoffs just once in nine years.

So when the Devils held a dressing room meeting after practice Tuesday and coach Jacques Lemaire implored his players to pull together as a team both on and off the ice, Kovalchuk was impressed.

“I love it, because in Atlanta it was a little different,” Kovalchuk said. “Here, when the team loses one or two games, it’s a big deal. That’s how it’s supposed to be if you want to
win."

Doesn't the hated Kovalsuck understand that this is simply our culture? Why does he hate our tradition of losing all the time? What's so wrong with that? Bigot.

7 comments:

Big Shooter said...

Ilya is bang on. NJ and ATL are about as different as can be (just look at the Cups). Unfortunately, culture change is very difficult to make. It is especially difficult, mind you, when the managers at the top of the organization remain the same.

Anybody out there get my drift, heeennnnggghhhh?????

the jointhead said...

Maybe its because they have been shit house since kovy came in.

Andrew said...

Good call, Ilya. Some might even say that's the responsibility of the team captain. As you never wore the 'C' on your chest... oh, I guess that argument doesn't hold up after all.

Daculafan said...

Perhaps with Kovy and Kozzy knowing more than the coach there was no reason to hold meetings..they should have just asked Kovy what to do all along.

Cause he's lighting it up in Jersey...how many goals is that now???

Mortimer Peacock said...

The main thing I took away from the article was that the idea of holding a meeting never even occurred to Kovalchuk during his time here...because it never occurred to anyone else during his nearly decade-long tenure here.

I don't remember grizzled veterans like Scott Mellanby or Bobby Holik calling meetings. Where exactly would a young hockey player get the idea to do such a thing if his pre-captaincy mentors never did it?

Another central point: it's about the organization. The meeting was called by the coaches and the management, because they comprise a responsible organization that wants to win. That's accustomed to winning.

The Thrashers organization has never had anything close to that kind of atmosphere and outlook.

And as for the "Kovalchuk isn't scoring in NJ" thing, I really don't know. He's not the leader of that team, and he's definitely not the only scorer. He doesn't carry the same burden there as he did here, so the expectations are different.

I've been as delighted by Bergfors's scoring as the next fella, but it's absurd to expect a rookie to continue at that pace.

Andrew said...

Bobby Holik called plenty of meetings and I don't believe for a moment that Hartley ever considered losing acceptable.

The fact is that Kovy wasn't captain material. Never should have been made captain and only was appointed captain as a ploy for him to sign a contract.

If he doesn't understand what it takes to be a captain, then I have very little hope that he'll ever lead a team to a title.

Ilya Kovalchuk said...

Я попробовал вести счет сегодня вечером. Я не имел никакое везение. Thrashers смешоно.