Alexey Kovalev: “We are happy to see Kovalchuk. And I told the coaches that I was also ready to play for Spartak.

Listen, if 40-year-old Ilya Kovalchuk returned to big hockey, then why can’t 50-year-old Alexey Kovalev do the same?

I saw Kovey in training, I’m talking about Kovalev. The maestro still masters the stick and skates perfectly. Yes, the speed has dropped. But throwing has not disappeared!

In general, Alexey Kovalev is already good in his place – Spartak forwards have performed remarkably well this season. And so, after an absolutely enchanting match, when the “red and white” beat Dynamo Moscow with a score of 8: 7, I spoke with Kovalev.

From this interview, you will learn:

“Ilya asked how we played in the majority”

– What kind of match did we see? Spartak beat Dynamo with a score of 8: 7 in overtime. How was it ?

— That’s how Pittsburgh played for me. We conceded a lot of goals, but we still scored more. And then the whole match was made of mistakes. Both teams converted their chances well, punishing their opponents for their mistakes. And then it’s just who clicks on the most heads. That’s why there was extra time, and then we scored. Such matches happen. The main thing is that everything finally turned in our direction.

— As Spartak forward coach, do you prefer the score 8:7 or 1:0?

— It’s always more interesting to watch more goals. Other conclusions can be drawn from this. Is it bad to have such a productive offense? Yes, it is not advisable to miss that many. On the other hand, we did not score goals randomly. We played them well and that’s something we’re constantly working on. It’s great to see hockey like this!

— Ilya Kovalchuk has already signed a contract with Spartak. You have known each other for a hundred years. What did we talk about?

— There has been no specific conversation about the game yet. Ilya asked about some points, how we play the majority, who does what in attack. We discussed the details, but the main conversation will take place when Covey is already participating in the training process.

“Who can partner with Covey? Sacha Pashine

— Who do you see Kovalchuk with in the top three?

– You know, we can have all the options. Because we have the four scoring links. Ilya will calmly play in any trio – with young people and with veterans. It’s one thing when you have one and a half links doing the main work and the score, and the rest are working purely in a physical style, carrying the piano.

But as you saw on Tuesday against Dynamo, you can expect goals from any team. Therefore, Ilya will easily fit into any top three. But we will do everything gradually. After all, the man hasn’t played hockey in a long time. It will take a little time to adapt, maybe a few matches. But we will find a combination so that our partners help Kovalchuk come back faster. We have a lot of ideas about who he’s going to play with.

– But will you agree that center forwards Ivan Morozov, Alexander Burmistrov, Andrei Loktionov are very different? Who should I put Kovalchuk against?

— We always try to select the attackers in the line so that they are all diverse. For example, we have Sasha Pashin and Yegor Filin in the third three. Both can take and carry the puck and dribble around the opponent. But Sanya is faster and Phil can beat him shorthanded by performing an unconventional move. Well, Pashin better run away and throw away. In other words, Kovalchuk can easily join such a trio.

Or there is a more physical connection, with Max Tsyplakov – he is such a heavyweight, he can play in a strong style, he climbs into the goal. Like in American football, hit the route and score a touchdown. With him in the second line is Loktionov – he is such a hard worker that he can play competently from behind. Well, Ilya can, in principle, play any role.

— How important is it, when you join a team, to take the right place in the locker room? Kovalchuk sat on the right at the entrance, where Filin previously occupied the locker.

– Yes, it makes no difference to us who sits where. The main thing is that Kovalchuk ended up in the Spartak locker room – it’s already nice to see.

– Nikolai Goldobin directly said that he wanted to sit down with Pavel Poryadin and Morozov. It’s important to him.

“That’s usually what coaches do.” Even when we go on a trip, we sit in the locker room according to the links we put in place. We place the guys together so they can communicate with each other during breaks.

So it doesn’t matter where Kovalchuk sat. The main thing is that he himself is happy to return to the hockey atmosphere and be part of a team with the guys, and not watch the game from the box.

Our coaching staff feels the same way. We have already played our part. But still, sometimes you miss that environment when you’re in the hockey process. Well, yes, now you no longer play, but you teach. But it is also valuable. But if Ilya still has the opportunity to play himself, then he should take advantage of this opportunity to return to the hockey life.

“Have you ever thought, ‘Maybe I should come back?’

– Yes, in principle, I always prepare. And he immediately told the coaching staff: “If necessary, I am ready to go out and play. » Just in case, I keep myself in shape.

— 50 years in total, at this age plays Jaromir Jagr.

— Regarding the game, I think my time is up. And Jagr didn’t have as many injuries as me. Without it, I would play calmly now. And yet, my days are over.

“Morozov is still far from being back”

— Spartak honorary president Alexander Yakushev told that Kovalchuk’s debut will take place on December 24 in the match against Kunlun. It’s true?

— We don’t know anything about the 24th. Maybe the people at the top have more information. But we will monitor and develop how the work is done in training. We’ll see how ready Ilya is. On the one hand, everyone understands that the return takes place through matches. You can practice for a long time, but you need practice playing the game. Even if you’re not completely ready, you’ll come back faster.

On the other hand, you can’t put a person in a game to get hurt in the first game. The main thing is that Ilya feels free and comfortable in the training process. When he feels ready, we will make a decision and he will play.

—How close is Ivan Morozov to returning?

“He’s not even practicing with the team yet.” Still a week or two before his return to the ice. There is still a lot of time until the day he plays.

— Spartak will play matches on December 22 and 24 at the former Luzhniki stadium. Do you have any nostalgia for this arena?

“It’s always nice to get back to where you started.” I played there at the start of my career, when I played for Dynamo. And even when you go out to practice, a wave of memories always comes back to you, how it was. It’s true that we don’t think about it during matches. And keep in mind that when you get used to your stadium, like you do at Megasport, it’s not easy to adapt to anything else.

— Remember your most memorable match or tournament, when you played with Ilya Kovalchuk.

— We have participated in the Olympics, the World Cup and the World Championships. But I will tell you how in Luzhniki, after a long break, we became Eurotour champions. And then I was the captain of the team. For some reason I remember the moment I was lying on the ice with the cup. The team is the team. But we hadn’t been able to win this Eurotour before. And the matches themselves with the Swedes, Finns and Czechs turned out to be eventful and interesting.

– Do you want to make two captains in Spartak – Dmitry Vishnevsky and Kovalchuk? This decision was made at Avangard.

– I don’t know. It’s up to head coach Alexei Zhamnov.