Alex Kovalev out for playoffs with torn ACL

by DarrenM on Apr 10, 2010 11:08 AM EDT

The Ottawa Senators announced today that forward Alex Kovalev has a torn ACL and bone bruise, and will require surgery for his injuries. He will be out for the entirety of the playoffs, with rehab potentially taking four months.

This is a huge loss for the Ottawa Senators. Despite complaints about Kovalev's effort level, he is fourth on the team in points and is near a point per game player in the playoffs. He also is a consistent threat when he's on the ice, freeing up room for his linemates.

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - Alex Kovalev	18	31	49	-8	54

Kovalev's injury adds to the Senators' injury woes for the playoffs, as it was announced earlier that Filip Kuba would be out for a month due to surgery on a back injury.

Say what you will about the various flaws in Kovalev or Kuba's games, but there is no denying that the Senators' chances of making it past the first round have taken a serious nosedive after these injuries.

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Bad news

Horrible timing of course but the team can win games without Kovalev. Gotta think this might make it harder for Fisher though not to have that time and space Kovalev creates. The team still has good forward depth and Cheechoo will be coming up, not close to being a replacement obviously. I think the Sens can handle this kind of adversity, the team is still looking good I think but with this hit to their offense it just makes it much harder.

by Sens_4_Life on Apr 10, 2010 11:37 AM EDT reply actions

Cheechoo has 35 points in his entire career

by Alexander Calloway on Apr 10, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Yes

And he’ll be able to come up and give Clouston options with Shannon and Winchester, I’d rather Cheechoo up here than what Shannon has been doing the second half of the season. He might end up a healthy scratch the whole playoffs but it’s good that they have an NHL experienced player who they can throw in. Comparing Cheechoo and Kovalev stats really is pointless, Cheechoo will not be looked upon to replace Kovalev, and neither will Shannon or Winchester for that matter.

by Sens_4_Life on Apr 10, 2010 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, there's always next year

by Alexander Calloway on Apr 10, 2010 11:43 AM EDT reply actions

Sounds like tonight we'll see a Michalek-Cullen-Fisher line.

Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.

by DarrenM on Apr 10, 2010 11:45 AM EDT reply actions

That sounds like a line that might step up huge in the playoffs

Fingers crossed.

by Rob.D on Apr 10, 2010 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions

dense frustration...

The Play offs are kovy’s bread and butter. I feel that ygr team is still very capable without him, but this would’ve been where he earned his 5 mil. Very disappointing, to say the least.

by High Priest of Alfie on Apr 10, 2010 11:46 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Well. That's @@#$%ing lovely.

Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.

I have a five-tool player in my pants.

ACTUALLY, advanced metrics show that that wasn't "premature".

@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard

by Bloggy on Apr 10, 2010 11:48 AM EDT reply actions

oh!

Happy Daniel Alfredsson day to those of you in the capital. Tis still a good day, despite the sad kovy news. Rejoice and revel in the bright lights emanating from the revered 11!

by High Priest of Alfie on Apr 10, 2010 11:49 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I think I'm going to cry.

www.silversevensens.com

by Peter Raaymakers on Apr 10, 2010 12:02 PM EDT reply actions

what bothers me the most is that he wont be there for his once in a while magical moments that steal games, since i dont think he will be able to turn it on in the playoffs and be a point a game player he was in past playoffs

by Misellati on Apr 10, 2010 1:04 PM EDT reply actions

FUCK

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Apr 10, 2010 3:03 PM EDT reply actions

i feel kovalev has become the new hasek in Mark's brain

THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE

Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.

by DarrenM on Apr 10, 2010 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

No, my hatred of Hasek is based on the fact that he's an overhyped selfish asshole.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Apr 10, 2010 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm choked.

He was going to light it up in the playoffs. His playoff game is why he was adored by fans in MTL. It wasn’t supposed to go down this way…

by LeTigre on Apr 10, 2010 4:31 PM EDT reply actions

That's not fair! There was time now!

Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.

by DarrenM on Apr 10, 2010 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I don't know

98 points in 116 play-off games doesn’t exactly scream clutch to me.
Maybe because the play-off’s are shorter, Kovalev’s ‘non-droughts’ are also? Giving the appearance he’s better in the post-season?
This team has had trouble motivating itself for some games. Maybe losing the most notoriously schizophrenic player in the league might help them keep their motivation?
I’m not trying to rag on Kovy, just trying to look at the bright side of life.

So with a Michalek-Cullen-Fisher second line…does that mean Foligno-Smith-Winchester/Shannon/Donovan/Cheechoo for the 4th?

by GelatinousMutantCoconut on Apr 10, 2010 5:39 PM EDT reply actions

Remember that playoff games are historically lower scoring.

98 points in 116 is great, and above and beyond anyone on the team (other than Spezza).

Alfie has 80P in 101 GP.
Fisher has 23P in 60 GP.
Michalek has 16P in 39GP.
Spezza is the team’s best in terms of PPG, with 39P in 40GP.

Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.

by DarrenM on Apr 10, 2010 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions

True.

His goals per game does go up slightly in the play-offs: .379 compared to .335 in the play-offs. His assist’s per game goes down slighty to .465 from .471.

So really, his play-off production is about as consistent as his regular season.

Also, take a look at how the teams did with Kovalev in the line-up:

93-94 New York Rangers: Won Stanley Cup, Kovalev has 9 goals and 12 assists in 23 games

94-95 New York Rangers: Out in second round, Kovalev has 4 goals and 7 assists in 10 games

95-96 New York Rangers: Out in second round, Kovalev has 3 goals and 4 assists in 11 games

98-99 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh: Out in second round, Kovalev has 5 goals and 7 assists in 10 games

99-00 Pittsburgh Penguins: Out in second round, Kovalev has 1 goals and 5 assists in 11 games

00-01 Pittsburgh Penguins: out in Conferance Finals, Kovalev has 5 goals and 5 assits in 18 games

03-04 Montreal Canadiens: Out in second round, Kovalev has 6 goals 4 assists in 11 games

05-06 Montreal Canadiens: Out in first round, Kovalev has 4 goals and 3 assists in 6 games

07-08 Montreal Canadiens: Out in second round, Kovalev has 5 goals and 6 assists in 11 games

08-09: Out in first round, Kovalev has 2 goals and 1 assists in 4 games

So really, those facts prove both our points: When he wants to, Kovalev can be dynamite in the post-season, however, he’s just as inconsistent as in the regular season. Plus, only twice in 11 post-seasons has a team with Kovalev on it advanced past the second round, and only once did one win a Cup (And there were many more factors than Kovalev for that championship).

Again, I’m not minimizing the impact Kovalev would have on the team, but I don’t think his loss is that big a deal.

by GelatinousMutantCoconut on Apr 10, 2010 6:44 PM EDT reply actions

Dude it is a huge deal no matter how you look at it

Even when he’s inconsistent offensively, he still attracts the type of defensive respect that Cullen, or Shannon, or Cheechoo, or Z Smith cannot. He still has a frightening release, and his cycle game is amazing due to his strength on the puck, which isnt a quantifiable stat.

And man… both he and Kuba both have cup rings. Period.

by LeTigre on Apr 10, 2010 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly. Scoreboard.

This is an immense loss, no one player or combination of players makes up for his absence. I don’t think there is any way to overstate Kovalev’s ability to change a game. I’m not saying they can’t win without him but this is devastating nonetheless.

Cannot play with 'em, cannot win with 'em, cannot coach with 'em. Cant do it.

by Andrew J on Apr 10, 2010 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions