Is Ilya Kovalchuk a Franchise Player Right Now?
by John Fischer on Aug 7, 2011 2:29 PM EDT
in What Do You Think?
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Occasionally, I'll get e-mails from readers with a question. I was asked this one recently and I figured it's a good enough question to pass along on the site: Is Ilya Kovalchuk a franchise player right now? This is a good question not only because it is open for debate, but also because a deeper question must be answered first: What is a franchise player anyway?
For some, the answer will be a simple "yes" to the headline question since Kovalchuk's getting paid like one. If the management of the New Jersey Devils didn't think he was a franchise player, then they wouldn't have given him so much a big contract last summer. On top of that, Kovalchuk's been a star on this team since his arrival last February. He's been one of their marquee players; playing tons of minutes while featured heavily in what marketing the team does. He is a focal point for the media and for other teams among other Devils players. No one's promoting "See Andy Greene and the Devils take on (Team X)," after all. As a result, he must be seen as a franchise player given how much attention he gets on top of his contract. These are all fair points to hold.
However, I have to disagree with that basis because of that deeper question. A franchise player, in my opinion, isn't someone who gets the most money and the most attention. They are a player whose role on the team is important on the ice and shapes their identity. Ilya Kovalchuk does not currently fit that description on the New Jersey Devils; so I have to say "no" to the original question. However, I don't think this is bad and I don't think it's binding either. I'll explain further after the jump.
When I think of franchise players for the New Jersey Devils, I think of former Devils like Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer, as well as current players like Martin Brodeur, Patrik Elias, and to a lesser degree Zach Parise. This franchise's identity is built on relentless discipline, an emphasis on backchecking, and two-way hockey. Past legends like Stevens and Niedermayer emphasize this on the back end, while Brodeur and Elias are still important players from the halcyon days of the late 1990s/early 2000s. Parise has demonstrated his excellence at both ends of the rink and provided he can return to that excellent form this season, fans want him signed to a long term contract because he will lead the "next generation" of the team. They were very important to their team's success in their time (or currently are in the case of Elias, Brodeur, Parise). I know, it's not fair to compare Kovalchuk to a current Hall of Fame defenseman, a future Hall of Fame defenseman, a future Hall of Fame goaltender, a legendary Devils forward, and the most complete forward this team has had since Elias. All of them have been on the team far longer than Kovalchuk to make their mark.
I think that's another factor that must be considered: length of time on the team. For a team that has had the success the Devils have, it's nigh impossible to just join the team and be a player the team can build around. Kovalchuk has only worn a Devils jersey for 113 total games in his career, which is a relatively short time in a player's career. Plus, the Devils have had this identity for close to two decades if not longer; that's not going to change with a season and a third of another player. In due time, Kovalchuk could be a franchise player and given his contract, I'm sure there are plenty of Devils fans, teammates, and employees who will hope he will one day. Still, for me to consider Kovalchuk as a franchise player of the New Jersey Devils hockey club, then he'll have to reach those lofty levels one day.
Let's take a step back and discuss Kovalchuk for a bit. Over the past 113 games, we've witnessed first-hand why Kovalchuk is so highly regarded as a forward. He oozes offensive talent. His shot is fantastic, his passing is strong, and he's an excellent skater with an "extra gear" that still surprises me when he does use it. While 31 goals and 60 points isn't much to celebrate, but given that the Devils' struggled so mighty to score last season, that I think it's indicative of Kovalchuk's talents that he still reached that mark despite his shooting percentage and the team's dropping like a stone in 10-11. I'm looking forward to what he can produce on a team that will have Parise and far better luck than they did last season, actually.
At the same time, we've seen the flaws in Kovalchuk's game along with his gifts. Too often Kovalchuk will lead the attack but be forced to stop at the point due to defenders closing him out and not have any good options to keep it going. These lead to turnovers - not necessarily the heinous ones that result in the other team scoring - which ends the Devils' offense for the time being. Kovalchuk has shown in the second half of last season that he can learn to backcheck; but he still needs more work on when and how to do that. Just as importantly, Kovalchuk doesn't forecheck nearly as much as he should - something you'd expect to see given his defensive game isn't as good as his offensive game.
The advanced stats at Behind the Net reflect the effect of these flaws: less possession. While Kovalchuk has enjoyed weaker competition, more offensive zone starts, and more time at even strength in New Jersey than he did in Atlanta, he's still treading water when it comes to possession. I'm a big believer in possession driving success, and this is something Kovalchuk needs to work on along with his defense to get to that "next level." While Kovalchuk has all of the skills to drive the play, it's these flaws that hurt it from time to time. Since he'll be a Devil for quite a while and for quite a lot of money, Kovalchuk should make a point of it to get better in at least the possession game so he's more than just an offensive weapon.
I'll admit some of these flaws are possibly assisted by decisions made by coach. If the coach wants Kovalchuk to lead the attack and not forecheck, then Kovalchuk following their lead isn't really something to fault him for. Yet, they make it harder for Kovalchuk to advance to that "next level" and become a more complete forward.
The funny thing is that for right now, this not an issue. Kovalchuk is an elite sniper, and on this team he doesn't have to be the man the team is built around. Brodeur, Elias, and Parise are still on the team and while Kovalchuk is important, the team can account for his current flaws just like Kovalchuk accounts for the team's seemingly constant flaw of not having a go-to forward for offense. Therefore, I don't think it's such a bad thing to say that he's not a complete player or franchise player right now. Kovalchuk doesn't have to be the man, just an effective scorer.
Yet, in the long term, he needs to improve so he can become that franchise player - if only to come close to justifying his contract. I think this is possible. While he's in the prime of his career at age 28, he did show that he can improve in certain areas. His backchecking in March 2011 was far and away better than what it was in October 2010. Kovalchuk has dispelled myths that he's some sort of "enigma" or "primadonna" or that he can't be a team player. He's responded well to various changes in the lineup and didn't ask to leave when the team's season spent the first three months went awry. I think he'll be quite fine in New Jersey. He just needs to work on some parts in his game to better fit in the identity of the team. He doesn't have to be Parise or Elias with a way better shot, just a more complete game at both ends of the rink and a more efficient game with the puck so possession doesn't always dip when he's on the ice. Provided he can do this, the coaching can help him along in that regard (e.g. utilization on the PP, his responsibilities at both ends at evens), and management allows for proper personnel to play alongside him, then I can change my answer from "no" to a more open "no, not now but maybe later."
What do you think, readers? Is Ilya Kovalchuk a franchise player right now? How do you define a franchise player? Please leave your answers in the comments, and thank you for reading.
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You raise good points.
Perhaps Kovalchuk isn’t a “franchise player” right now by the standards that are held by many other players on other teams. By this I mean of how they play the game and how they act on and off the ice. True, it is difficult to compare him to future/Hall of Fame Defense men and Goaltenders.
He is in fact a forward, and I would agree that he is one of the premiere forwards in the league, although he doesn’t necessarily get the credit and recognition that he should. He is a 1st overall pick, and as I have heard mentioned during many broadcasts, every player that has remarkable talent can and has the ability to succeed, but it also matters about the situation they are placed into. You can argue that players like Kovalchuk and Rick Nash for example have had less opportune situations compared to others like Steven Stamkos, and Patrick Kane. Kovalchuk and Nash only have reached the playoffs once with the team that has drafted them. This is really due to other factors like players on the team, management, etc. I’m bringing up these facts because when you look at somebody like Kovalchuk, he has led the league in scoring since when he was drafted. He has proven that he has what it takes to be a “franchise player,” just that his situation has been different.
Since he came to New Jersey however, he has had a lot of pressure put on him to perform as everybody has expected him to do, as he is that type of player. True, he hasn’t exactly played up to those expectations, but can we judge him solely on that? No, I don’t believe so. During the last year, our team has had its problems, that has to be taken into consideration. Amongst those problems, were the head coach, which not alone, but had a major impact on all of our players. When Lemaire became coach again, he turned things around, and showed that Kovalchuk can be a tremendously good two-way player.
Going back to my original statements in response to your question, no, I don’t think that Kovalchuk is that type of player right now, but undoubtedly as stability comes to the team, he has a good solid line with a centerman he can comfortably play with for many years, he will indeed will be a “franchise player.” He has shown that he very well can, and can maintain that status with New Jersey. The team will improve this year on offense, the defense will also do so in the years to come. Overall I look for him to be solid in the coming years along with the team.
“He’s responded well to various changes in the lineup and didn’t ask to leave when the team’s season spent the first three seasons going awry”, it was three months, not three seasons…
I completely agree though, Kovalchuk was brought in to provide a significant offensive threat, not to become “the man”. However, I would argue that as long as he put up a good number of points, he will live up to his contract. I have always thought of franchise players as being players who were drafted by the organization, developed into elite players with the team, and stayed to help lead the team. I know Pronger would be one example that contradicts this statement, but I think that it is a definite trend across the NHL (Toews, Ovechkin, Crosby, Iginla, Sedins, Getzlaf, Doan, Nash, Lidstrom, etc). Kovy provides that extra threat in the offensive zone and can help develop our talented young forwards (Tedenby, Josefson, Henrique?). To me, that is worth his cap hit. How many players with his talent have a cap hit of $6.67 million?
Thanks for finding that – I’ve corrected the error.
You are right that the cap hit is favorable, yet the salary he’ll earn will still total over $100 million – it’s a lot to live up to, more so given that the league rejected the original deal.
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True, I guess from a fan’s perspective the actual cash he is earning is less important than the cap hit. Unless, of course, the player is being traded in which case both are important. In my opinion, the picks, prospects, and players given up to obtain and hold on to Kovalchuk are more important. But there is no way to figure out whether or not he will live up to whatever those picks, prospects, and players turn into.
I know, it’s not fair to compare Kovalchuk to a current Hall of Fame defenseman, a future Hall of Fame defenseman, a future Hall of Fame goaltender, a legendary Devils forward, and the most complete forward this team has had since Elias.
It absolutely is. Kovalchuk is a legendary goal scorer. Kovalchuk is 11th all time in goals scored between the ages of 18 and 27.
But, in terms of value to a team, no, Kovalchuk is not a franchise player. I wonder if there’s anyone else in NHL history who’s scored so many goals but has provided so little value outside of his goal scoring. Maybe Hull in his prime.
Kovalchuk got better with his backchecking and zone coverage – now it’s just a question of can he improve his offensive decision making. I expect, assuming a healthy season, around 70-75 points out of Kovalchuk.
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Is today opposite day? Because I have now agreed with you twice (first one is in the Devils training camp post by wolfcaster)!
I think a franchise player is someone who has been the face of the franchise for some time and who has contributed greatly. Kovy has not done either of these things. I’m not saying he didn’t contribute quite a bit last season, but to be elevated to the status of “franchise player,” he must do a lot more and do it over a significant period of time.
by Dr. Witticism on Aug 7, 2011 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions
i feel this season will determine if he can be a franchise player for the Devils. He definitely was one for the Thrashers while down south.
Like John said, should his back-checking and “completeness” continue to grow, he’s a franchise player.
As of now I’d call him a cornerstone forward; an integral piece, but not the kind you’d build around entirely. Regardless, I’m glad he’s here.
I think this season is going to make or break whether Kovalchuk is a franchise player. If he has bomb season then the next 13 years are going to be very long. He is hitting his prime right now and if he can’t get it going by now, he may never get it going. So I think this question is appropriate to ask for this season but I think the answer remains to be seen.
I firstly hope he won’t be a defensive liability anymore, constant back-checking & no more floating. Secondly he has to take less risks in the neutral when he’s driving the puck, to rely more on his teammates. Both are crucial points.
Then I expect Kovy to score goals, to change games, to play the way he did a few months ago , in brief to be electrifying. But Kovy’s still learning the Devils system & he seems to make progress.
Now, since the time he’s there, a better question would’ve been, is Zach Parise that franchise player ?
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For me, I think the term means ‘the first guy you think of that epitomizes that franchise when facing that team’. There’s probably little debate that when you think of these teams: Caps, Pens, Tampa, you pretty quickly are thinking about think Ovechkin, Crosby & Stamkos, and it’s probably the same with others looking at the Devils and thinking about Kovy. So in my view, Kovy is currently our franchise player.
That’s not to say that we can’t be greedy and have more than one. Hell – I have no problem at all if people think of the Devils and immediately fear 5 or 6 of our guys! In that were the case, well we would have 5 or 6 franchise players!
I agree with John that he’s not a franchise player yet and I’ll take it one step further and say the Devils shouldn’t rush to give him an ‘A’ either. He hasn’t proven (to me at least) to be defensively sound in a non-Lemaire system. He, along with the rest of the team, was a nightmare in his own zone under the Maclean administration. Kovy seemed to correct this under JL’s watch, but the Devils are again entering uncharted territory with a new coach who isn’t used to having so much talent around him. If DeBoer is able to turn this team back into a counter-strike team we might be having a different discussion.
I’m optimistic about Kovalchuck’s maturity and ability to lead as a player because of his prior captaincy in Atlanta and his role as apparent mediator in the Ovechkin/Malkin snafu a few years back. However, the role of franchise player, as well as captain, should be defined by the player’s body of work within their time in the organization and their adaptability to the culture of that organization, not by name recognition or length of contract.
by rtrstevec on Aug 7, 2011 5:40 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
He is not a Devils Franchise player
but I also do not want him to be the Devils Franchise player (if the term is limited to one player at a time). I want Kovalchuk to be the dominating offensive force that every team needs to focus on defensively but still manages to put up 45 goals each year. I dont expect Kovalchuk to ever be close to as good defensively as Zach Parise, nor do I really want him to be because I feel that would seriously diminish his offensive ability.
That being said, Kovalchuk needs to continue to learn and execute on the defensive side of the puck. If he manages to play defensively like he did during the 2nd half and becomes the ‘other half’ of the scary offensive duo the Devils possess, I don’t want Ilya Kovalchuk to ever be the Devils Franchise player as long as Zach Parise is a Devil.
He isn’t a Franchise player yet. But as far as marketability he is the face of the franchise… right now.
Some people are going to probably say Parise or Brodeur fills that role better. But Parise was out all last year and Brodeur is the face of the franchise. I kinda feel after 20 years thats kinda old news. Kovalchuk might not be the best player. But he is the most exciting.
I actually find Parise more exciting shift-by-shift. I find him electrifying every single time he’s on the ice. There’s never a dull moment; his effort, skating, and I-can-be-everywhere-on-the-ice-at-once style of play is, in my opinion, the most exciting thing about the Devils.
by Dr. Witticism on Aug 7, 2011 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions
But I should also note that I find defensive play just as exciting as offensive play. As a two-way forward myself, I see beauty in good defense. I’m probably one of the very few people who finds the Devils’ play in their neutral zone trap era just as exciting as the best offensive teams.
by Dr. Witticism on Aug 7, 2011 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Sad but true. It’s the same with with great films and tv: people just like explosions. They rarely see the beauty of more subtle elements.
by Dr. Witticism on Aug 8, 2011 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions
True, Parise is the hardest worker on the ice and gets his nose dirty every shift, but Kovalchuck has the skill to bring people to the edge of their seat every time he’s in the attacking zone because he does it all so well. I love that.
by rtrstevec on Aug 8, 2011 5:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I think that’s another factor that must be considered: length of time on the team. For a team that has had the success the Devils have, it’s nigh impossible to just join the team and be a player the team can build around.
When I first read the title to this thread I immediately thought of the same exact thing. Being that Kovalchuk has been with this team for such a short time, I think the only way he would be the franchise player is if there was literally nobody else on the team that should hold the title. That’s simply not the case with this team right now. Brodeur, Parise and Elias are three franchise players with Parise obviously being the one in entering/in his prime. After Kovalchuk has been here for another four/five years and depending on where Parise is by that point, Kovy might very well be the franchise player of the NJ Devils.
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yes
we may have gotten to that point in the summer where there isnt a whole lot to talk about so we start thinking up debates that probably arent really debates. Does Kovalchuk have flaws and can he improve? Yes. What player, what franchise player on any time, doesnt have flaws or cant improve? Kolvalchuck reached 30 goals on a TERRIBLE offensive team last year (worst in hockey to be precise). Moreover, during that 20 plus game streak he frankly carried the team offenisvely, and I believe the number of game winners he had during that stretch will attest. Three crucial goals in three big games against three good teams come to mind as immediate highlights: game winners against San Jose, Pittsburgh in overtime from Elias behind the net, and game winner in 1-0 victory against the Rangers. Without Kolvalchuk on the team that tear doesnt happen, and he was a leader. The real reason this is even a question is because Parise is also a franchise player who most Devil fans like more than Kolvalchuk. The the fact is the Devils have a hell of a lot more invested in Kolvalchuk at this point and the fact his that if the Devils will have serious sucess in the next 5 or so years at the very least, Kolvalchuk and Parise will have to both lead the team with staggering offensive numbers, albeit on different lines, and both will need to be franchise. Kolvalchuk already is, he prooved last year to anyone who watched the games.
If you ask me, Kovalchuk is not and shouldn’t be the Devils franchise player. He’s more like Marian Hossa, who’s incredibly skilled but isn’t the top dog on his team- rather Kane, Toews and Sharp get all the attentionHowever, the media always seems to label him a franchise player because of his talent, and the aging talent on the Devils (Brodeur’s under contract for 1 more year and is 38, Elias has 2 more years left on his contract and he’s 35). I think as the Devils players mature, there will be less focus on Kovalchuk and more on Parise, Tedenby, Josefson and Larsson rather than him.
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by Kevin Sellathamby on Aug 8, 2011 9:14 AM EDT reply actions
I also think there wouldn’t be nearly as much attention on Kovalchuk and whether or not he is a franchise player if the whole contract debacle didn’t happen and the contract in question was closer to the norm. That really led and continues to lead the media to put the screws to him, and, frankly, I don’t know if they will ever let up. If it weren’t for those factors, I don’t think the level of coverage and pressure from the media would be anywhere close to the level of it now. This isn’t Atlanta; he’s not the one and only superstar on the team and he’s not the only exciting player in the organization.
That being said, I think you might be right about the media’s obsession with Kovalchuk dissipating as our younger players mature, provided that they mature into players that would normally get spotlight attention. I think that at least two of the three players you mentioned (I’m not counting Parise because he is already a superstar) will reach that level. Tedenby has the potential to become a thirty goal scorer if he continues to improve the way he did last season. Josefson has the potential to become a huge playmaking center. Larsson…well, we all know about his potential.
I really can’t be more excited about Tedenby. That kid showed a ridiculous amount of improvement last year and that improvement was even more impressive considering the fact that it basically didn’t start skyrocketing until Maclame left, thus giving it only a portion of the season to rise so dramatically. I went to a couple of preseason games and remember thinking that Tedenby was one of the softest players I had ever seen. Every time he had the puck, he wouldn’t just be knocked off of it — he was practically thrown three or four feet by the opposing player, leaving the puck behind (there was actually one moment in the preseason game against the Rangers where a defenseman literally threw him when he had the puck, sending him flying at least five feet into the boards. It wasn’t a bodycheck; the defenseman simply took one arm and pushed him hard enough. Yep, just one arm). By the time we were three quarters of the way into the season, Tedenby wasn’t just good at staying on the puck, but an absolute beast. I really couldn’t have been any more impressed with him. He wasn’t soft at all, and he learned to use his low center of gravity to his advantage, an integral piece of the puzzle for smaller players. His tenacious pursuance of the puck and unwillingness to give it up reminded me of Parise at times because he managed to use his speed and small stature to outsmart, outskate, and outmaneuver his attackers.
Hell, I think I’m going to write a post on his improvement last season!
by Dr. Witticism on Aug 8, 2011 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
A franchise player, to me, isn’t necessarily about talent or playing style or accomplishments or leadership or time in the uniform. It’s about public perception—who a layperson thinks of when they think of a team; who the team markets to sell tickets or networks use to draw viewers.
In that respect I believe Kovalchuk is a franchise player. Not just because he’s to be paid like one for the term of one, but because he’s an instantly recognizable face to just about anyone who follows hockey (and perhaps many who don’t), whether because of his talent or his exploits or because of his name and face being in the news for seemingly all of last summer.
When I flip on MSG during the hockey season and catch a commercial for an upcoming Devils game, it’s Kovalchuk’s name they often invoke (as well as Brodeur, unarguably a franchise player), just as whenever NHL.com or another sports website has to come up with a catchy headline to get people to click on an preview about an upcoming game or a game recap or whatever, they often mention Kovalchuk.
So, to me, the answer is yes. Kovalchuk is a franchise player.
I think the media outside of Jersey uses Kovalchuk to get clicks/views/comments, because at this point, he is a divisive player (contract fiasco). He was a more prolific player when he played in Atlanta, but no one seemed to care. How much of that is the result of playing in Atlanta versus having a monster contract that the NHL dragged thru the mud for a summer is debateable.
I understand what you are saying, but to me, he is not the Devils Franchise player, although he may currently be the Devils Franchise commodity.
“Franchise commodity.” I like that! Really sums up his role perfectly.
by Dr. Witticism on Aug 9, 2011 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes
Kovalchuk is a franchise player but our teams franchise player is zach parise
I don’t necessarily think a team can only have one ‘franchise player.’ If anyone is the singular ‘franchise player’ on the Devils, it’s Brodeur, and will be until the day he retires.
Parise, Elias, Brodeur, and now Kovalchuk are all franchise guys to me. Much like Detroit has Lidstrom, Zetterberg, and Datsyuk, or Chicago with Toews, Kane, and Keith. Maybe Kovalchuk hasn’t earned his Devils’ stripes or something, but with that contract, he’s a Devil for life now, and will earn it at some point. (although that stretch after the coaching change where he had approximately 35 GWGs should’ve done it by itself)
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by George E. Ays on Aug 9, 2011 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions
But I would argue that the difference between Kovalchuk and all the players from other teams you mentioned is that they have all been known as Red Wings/Blackhawks for their entire careers. When people see those names, they think of the legacy those players have had with their team (Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom) and/or the fact that they have grown and developed as players on their team (Toews, Kane, Keith, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom). Kovalchuk has basically been a Devil for one season, unless you count his 27 games after the initial trade that brought him here, and, for the purposes of this conversation, those games probably shouldn’t count.
Every fan has watched Kovalchuk both develop in and serve as the backbone for the Thrashers organization. He has only recently become one of several faces of the Devils organization. Therefore, I don’t think it’s fair to compare him to those other players when labeling him as a franchise player as they have been for their respective teams.
by Dr. Witticism on Aug 9, 2011 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Kovy is a franchise player
You are basing the identity of this team on the past which is wrong, the present players form the identity of the team and Kovalchuk’s role is a major one. He is definitely a franchise player and to think otherwise is ridiculous!
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