Ilya Kovalchuk suits up for the Montreal Canadiens for the last time
By Omar L
Ilya Kovalchuk is a top candidate to be moved on Trade Deadline, which could make the game against Ottawa the last as a member of the Montreal Canadiens.
The tale of Ilya Kovalchuk may be at the end of its second chapter this season. It started with a second campaign with the Los Angeles Kings, which confirmed that things just weren’t going to work in that organization anymore. Kovalchuk looked tired and disinterested, and it made many believe that he was done in the NHL after the contract termination. And then the Montreal Canadiens stepped in.
The 36-year-old spun heads in that new chapter with the Habs playing with that same fire and passion he displayed around the league back in his hay days. Kovalchuk started to produce more and become a leader and voice in the dressing room, so much so that there was considerable discussion and reason to keep him.
However, the prices being paid for players can’t be ignored, and with the playoffs being a non-option for the third season in-a-row, Marc Bergevin must not pass up the chance to move him.
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With Chris Kreider looking more likely to stay with the New York Rangers than be dealt as well as Ondrej Kase moving to the Boston Bruins, time and options are running out for other teams trying to add depth scoring. The Colorado Avalanche, in particular, have links to the Montreal Canadiens when it comes to both Kovalchuk and Tomas Tatar.
That being said, is the game against the Ottawa Senators Ilya Kovalchuk’s final game as a member of the Montreal Canadiens?
It’s a multi-faceted question. The Sens are a non-playoff team as well, and even though they play the Habs hard, there’s an opportunity for Kovalchuk to have one last grand performance before the deadline. Bergevin doesn’t want to settle on prices for trades and will need something of value, and another goal or multi-point night by Kovalchuk may be the final line in the stand as far as what teams will need to pay.
Kovalchuk has been cold his last six games going pointless in each, but his 6 goals and 6 assists in 21 games is a decent stat line. On the other hand, this point draught my deter teams from wanting to give up the assets the Montreal Canadiens are looking for. That puts even more onus on Kovalchuk to produce, especially against a team worse than them.
Even if Kovalchuk is moved, there’s a chance he returns over the summer during Free Agency. The Habs did the same thing with Tomas Plekanec moving him to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a second-round pick and two prospects to have him resign on July 1st.
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If that’s the case, it’ll be good to have Kovalchuk back for one more season. Otherwise, it’s been a good run having the great Ilya Kovalchuk as a member of the Montreal Canadiens, even if it would only be for 22 games. And if he isn’t moved, hopefully, Bergevin can get him signed to a decent enough extension.