Ilya Kovalchuk
*audible groan*
Okay, we’re doing this. Ilya Kovalchuk is a Hall of Fame player. He just is. He’s the greatest scorer of his generation. He was Alexander Ovechkin before he really came into his own. Kovalchuk could have absolutely been in the same conversation as Ovechkin is right now if he just didn’t… oh we’re not talking about the retirement again. We hate him, but he was great.
He scored at least 40 goals in six straight seasons. Not even Ovechkin has a stretch like that. For most of his Thrashers career and the beginning of his Devils career, it was insane. Of course, injuries started to creep in, so things might have never regulated with New Jersey, but he was still the best scorer of that generation. When someone is as good as Kovy, repeating oneself is necessary.
Even with the injuries, the retirement, the second weird stint in the NHL that absolutely didn’t work, and all the other baggage that comes with the Ilya Kovalchuk experience, he still had 443 goals, good for 70th all-time and one behind Hall of Famer Daniel Alfredsson in 300 fewer games.
Nothing about this makes us feel good. However, we have to speak on facts here. Kovalchuk will one day be honored in the harrowed halls of 30 Yonge St in Toronto.