“Kovalchuk could come back like Mario Lemieux, even if they can’t be compared.” Interview with Alexei Kovalev

I’ll say it straight away: there is nothing behind the rumors that Ilya Kovalchuk I have already decided everything “Spartacus” and his return has already taken place.

Not yet, and Covey will still communicate with the leaders of the “red-whites” and will even come to St. Petersburg, where he will meet Alexey Jamnov as part of the KHL All-Star Game (December 8-10).

Yes, has already repeatedly reported that Kovalchuk is approaching Spartak and that he has already completed the training program and gained physical fitness. But there is no agreement, the contract has not been signed and it is too early to talk about the facts.

Therefore, the conversation with Spartak forwards coach Alexei Kovalev took place in the subjunctive.

And another insider – it was reported that center forward Mikhail Maltsev, who now plays for the Los Angeles farm club, may join Spartak. According to our information, the “red-whites” gave him 15 million rubles and promised him a place on the front line until Ivan Morozov was injured.

But Maltsev is still thinking, because he earns the same amount in North America. And if you leave from there, you will never return to the NHL system – this forward has already spent all his chances.

From this interview Alexei Kovalev You’re going to learn:

And we will watch the Spartak matches – today the red and white will play in Mytishchi against Kunlun. And Kovalev worked in this club for several years. And he came to Mytishchi even after signing a contract with Atlant as a hockey player.

“We have a good team, without Morozov we will not collapse”

— Spartak has recently lost its stability. There was a streak of three consecutive defeats and I was surprised that you lost to SKA (2:3), missing the decisive goal while you were on the power play. Well, how is this possible?

“We talk about it a lot and we have to play more responsibly. We’re not trying to put pressure on guys to focus on not making any more mistakes on the power play…

— Yes, this has already happened seven times at Spartak this season. Only Kunlun has more in the KHL (8).

– On the other hand, I repeat that there must be responsibility. Because everything is clear when you want to control the puck and play it. But there are certain things you can and cannot do.

There are moments that have already happened. And now? This means that we must draw conclusions by approaching this situation differently. At the same time we played open hockey with SKA – there were many chances in both goals. But Peter used all of our mistakes, and we didn’t use them all. Here there are such matches that the one who will detect the most mistakes of others in order to take advantage of them will win. So we’re trying to do that.

— Will Spartak collapse due to injury to frontline center forward Ivan Morozov? He was supported by a super-troika consisting of Nikolai Goldobin and Pavel Poryadin.

– We have no such fear, we have a good team. But at the same time, it is not possible for us to have 20 additional people in reserve. the choice is not very large, but we were able to train the team enough to keep Spartak afloat.

Of course, we may not score five or six goals now. But we should have enough to win games and show our hockey. We can beat any opponent, even injured and losing players. God willing, this will never happen again. But still, injuries happen, it’s inevitable. Well, we have to win this way, under these circumstances. We just need to be a little more responsible for some of the things we do sometimes.

— What can you say about the Omsk Tkachev – Spooner – Bush super-troika? Did it overshadow the Spartak team?

— I don’t know, I don’t watch Avangard matches very closely. I’m tired of Spartak hockey, I’m immersing myself in it very deeply. I try to pay more attention to our guys – we have to work with them, develop them, watch videos. Give certain things, skills. Honestly, there isn’t enough time for the other teams.

“It will take five matches for Kovalchuk to adapt”

— Ilya Kovalchuk is set to join Spartak. It hasn’t happened yet, but Covey’s return is obvious. The nuances will be settled in the first half of December. What role could Kovalchuk have on your team – fourth line and majority?

– First, you yourself understand that the person has not played for a long time. It will take time for him to regain his level. Maybe Ilya won’t play in the main three. But I think a striker of this caliber can always help, even when he plays in the majority. Because you still have the skills, the vision of the site.

Maybe at first Ilya will be slower somewhere. Everything around you will seem faster. I remember my own experience when I myself returned to hockey after a long break. It’s not that simple, and it will take five matches to adapt.

But if Kovalchuk does indeed return, we will gradually introduce him into the game and use his best qualities. And then we’ll see.

— You were in Pittsburgh when, on December 27, 2000, Mario Lemieux returned to big hockey after three and a half seasons. In the first match you beat Toronto (5:0) and Super Mario scored 3 (1+2) points. Are these stories similar?

– These players cannot be compared. Lemieux is a completely different style, with a different experience. I won’t say that Ilya is worse than Mario. But they’re still not close. Kovalchuk has his own skills, how he can score and beat. Well, Lemieux knows very well where to be on the court when he’s in the opponent’s zone – how to get open, where to pass. He has very good timing in every way.

Another nuance is that when Lemieux returned, he played with the same hockey players he had played with before. Jagr, other Czechs, me, he knew everyone, and Pittsburgh had many world-class grandmasters on its roster. It was easier for him to come back because Mario wanted to play the game rather than take the lead.

Ilya will have to play a little differently. When he returns, he will have to take the first step somewhere. And we, as coaches, will look for options for someone to play with him and help him come back quicker. But it is painstaking work, and in any case it will take time.

— Were you very surprised when Mario came back?

– No why? I played with him, we were on a team together. I saw the hype that started to build when rumors surfaced that Lemieux might return. We understood in Pittsburgh how important it was for him, that he wanted to save the team. And he wanted to return not only as a famous hockey player, but as an active player who knows something on the ice and can show these strong qualities, as he always did during his career. In this sense, Lemieux and Kovalchuk are similar.

Well, the guys did everything for Lemieux to score and pass. They helped him a lot. And Pittsburgh had such a cool lineup that even after a three and a half year break the grandmaster could be productive. Well, Ilya won’t have young Jagr by his side at Spartak. But it will still be possible to let it in somewhere thanks to our first link. There are guys with certain skills who have both technique and speed.

In general, we will find the right combination for Kovalchuk. The main thing is that Ilya actually returns. This has not happened yet. And we will find options.

“I don’t think they’ll come for my sweater in Pittsburgh.”

— You played at the World Cup in 2004. Now, the NHL wants to organize this tournament without the Russians. What do you think about it? And could the World Cup be cool in the future?

— If all the best play at the World Cup, like at the Canada Cup in 1987, then yes. In general, these big major tournaments are always useful. The main thing is that the Russian national team is allowed to play there. Otherwise, we are now in St. Petersburg, and who will be our opponents in the December tournament? China, Kazakhstan and Belarus.

—What’s wrong with the Chinese team? Recently, Kunlun defeated Ak Bars.

– Well, it’s not an indicator. I don’t consider such tournaments serious. It is better to play with the Swedes, the Finns, the Canadians, the Americans. And let it be the World Cup. I hope one day we will get there.

— Jaromir Jagr’s jersey will soon be hoisted in Pittsburgh. Will your sweater be there?

– I think not – they won’t raise it. I will be very surprised if this happens.

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