Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Alexei Kovalev Could Cause Roster Shakeup

January 11, 2013, 6:04 PM ET [87 Comments]
Dan Spiegel
Florida Panthers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
As it GM Dale Tallon's process, he has invited some accomplished veterans to show what they've got as the season approaches quickly next weekend. Marek Svatos and Andrei Kostitsyn are two of them, but the name that provides some intrigue is Alexei Kovalev.

Tallon did right by signing gritty 38-year-old veteran John Madden last year, which was a great move both on and off the ice. His leadership during the playoffs was clearly evident.

Kovalev, 39, is looking for that last NHL chance to prove he still has some gas in the tank. Early reports from Panther players that have seen him practice this week is that he looks great and his puck skills are still out of this world. Even at that age, could that kind of offensive skill set help the Panthers? You bet. And you can be sure Tallon and Co. are going to give him every chance to make this team. He would be especially effective in shootouts, where the Panthers are notoriously DREADFUL.

In such a shortened, yet congested season, several of the older guys might be healthy scratches as the season sprints to the finish to keep them fresh. Because of Tallon's masterful assembly of this organIzation's depth, several of the youngsters in the AHL could get spot duty from time to time to alleviate the toll on the veterans.

So the Panthers wouldn't need 48 games of a good Alexei Kovalev, but rather about 35. What he has left in terms of production remains to be seen, but there is no doubt RW is a position of weakness on this team. He can only help.

As of now the current listed RWs on the team are Tomas Kopecky, Jack Skille, Jerred Smithson, and George Parros. Obviously Parros is on the team to protect the young guns that are coming up over the next few years, so it would appear that Kovalev making the team would put Skille or Smithson in danger of playing elsewhere in the near future.

Of the listed centers on the team (Weiss, Goc, Matthias, Huberdeau, and Mueller), it is likely that Huberdeau would be moved to wing. He can play all three spots, but depending on how he performs in camp maybe Mueller is moved instead.

The other question mark will be surrounding Scottie Upshall. He and all involved would agree that last year was an injury-filled disaster. Now that he's healthy he needs to play like the third highest paid player on the team. Would a healthy Upshall be better on the second line than Kovalev?

It would be surprising if head coach Kevin Dineen broke up the Fleischmann-Weiss-Versteeg line, so there is little room to fit all these pieces together. But as was last year, what a good problem to have. It would be an understatement to say the Panthers have been depth challenged for over a decade. Nice to see that is a problem no more.

All NHL cities will be going through a whirlwind of personnel decisions over the next week, which will be exciting for all of us willing to move on with a league that embarrassed themselves over the last several months. Can't do anything about it now, so let's enjoy it and get back to normal.

Thanks for reading. If you liked this post, click "like" above and share.

Dan Spiegel
Twitter @DanSpiegel
Connect with me on facebook at www.facebook.com/danspiegel.7
Join the Discussion: » 87 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Dan Spiegel
» Goodbye To Hockeybuzz
» Aleksander Barkov Finally Gets His Due
» Marchessault Stings
» Are The Panthers A Tease?
» The Legacy Jagr Left Behind...