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Kovalev's Rant Reeks of Jealousy |
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There was nothing enigmatic about Alex Kovalev's
biting appraisal of P.K. Subban's hockey style and the award it netted him earlier this summer. Kovalev's comments reeked of jealousy.
Kovalev, who made a living on the "risky decisions" he took on the ice, came across as a jealous baby yesterday. Jealous that a like-talented player is being rewarded nearly double what he ever made in any year as an NHL star (in 2003-2004, Kovalev maxed out at 6.6 million dollars, according to capgeek.com. He made 5 million per on a two-year deal with the Sens before retiring with the Panthers); jealous that the adulation and adoration Canadiens fans have for Subban is more than double they ever held for him; jealous of how relevant Subban currently is in Montreal.
When Kovalev retired from hockey after an illustrious career--highlighted by bringing fans out of their seats with dazzling skill and unmatched talent--he lamented the overly structured nature of the game. Irony barely describes his criticism of Subban's flash and his unwillingness to play it safe at all times.
Not that this is the first time Kovalev's put his foot in his mouth. After all, we're talking about the guy whose first official statement to Ottawa Senators fans was about how he wished he was still in Montreal, playing for the Canadiens. And we can't begrudge Kovy's honesty, as we all yearn for less canned answers from star athletes. It's just hard to comprehend what Kovalev was trying to achieve in ripping a stripe off Montreal's most popular player. Considering how adored Kovalev was in Montreal (justified or not), it's hard to imagine why he'd want to get on the bad side of the fans he loves most.
Like I said ("Like I said" is a Kovalev classic), his comments boil down to jealousy, and nothing more.
As for Subban, he can drop all of this in his motivation box for next season. The scrutiny, the criticism and the magnifying glass will be all the more prominent, as you'd imagine considering the size of the cheques he'll be cashing. If there's one thing Subban's shown, it's that he can handle the spotlight quite well, and markedly better than Kovalev ever did.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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