Follow @james_tanner123 Kovalchuck
Kovalchuck might come back to the NHL? While this gets all sorts of people riled out because he bailed on his contract and betrayed the NHL/ Devils, I for one would be excited to see him back in the Show.
I don't care if he's older, worse, whatever.....he's still one of the most exciting players in the NHL from the last decade and it's a shame he's not in the league right now. The NHL should have all the best players in the world playing in it, and it's a shame the KHL was even able to steal one elite player.
Sure, Kovalchuck probably couldn't score 40 goals anymore, but I would be willing to bet that he can still be electric when he wants to be and with Jagr playing into his sixties, there is no reason Kovalchuck can't come back to the NHL at 31 or 32 and be - at worst - a very good second line winger.
He didn't beat his wife, he didn't send anyone inappropriate pictures or get caught in a drug or gambling ring. He simply wanted to go play in his home country, and I think that's respectable.
If he wants to come back, I hope he does because he's a great player and he belongs in the NHL playing against the other best players in the world.
Interlude
Two new records are out this week that I highly recommend.
The first is Earl Sweatshirt with I don't like Sh#$, I don't go Outside I'd post a song here but it's not family friendly, despite it's excellence. Also, great title.
The second is from Australian Courtney Barnett. Her new album is called Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit.which I think is also a great title.
I might just have to pop over to the ol' record store later today.
Here's her song.
I didn't actually get to watch any of the Senator's game last night like I planned to because I went to the Leafs game instead. Despite the building having all the atmosphere of a mall on a Sunday morning, it's still fun to go to an NHL game.
The Wild have a lot of great players worth watching and the Leafs have........Morgan Rielly. Overall, it's way better than watching on TV anyday, but the Sens game would have been something to see.
Beating the Sharks and moving into a Playoff Spot? That's wild. No one could have foreseen this and it's what makes watching hockey worthwhile. Now, I wish it was happening to a team I actually cared about, but this is still fun.
And, though it's unlikely, the Sens now sit 2.5 games out of third in the Division and Detroit now looks vulnerable.
With LA, Calgary, Winnipeg, Minnesota and Dallas all winning, I guess SJ and Colorado are all but eliminated.
Interlude
Coyotes vs. Red Wings
The Coyotes will be visiting the Red Wings tonight in an attempt to break off their eight game losing streak. Should the Coyotes prevail, the Senators will be just two games back (sorry, baseball is starting and that is a league that actually knows how to track their standings) and might actually look to getting a first round match-up against the Lightning.
Now, I know it's too soon to start thinking about who the Sens will play, since they'll be lucky just to make it, but honestly, a WildCard matchup vs the Islanders, Rangers or Canadians would probably be preferable to them playing the Lightning.
The fact is, the Lightning have a stacked team and they are better than any team in the East, even if the standings disagree. What if Drouin suddenly figures it out? Namestnikov? To go along with what they already have? We are talking about a team with the best depth at forward in the NHL, and a very good goalie and a very good D.
When I look at Montreal and the Rangers, I don't see two teams who deserve to be at the top of the standings. I see two teams who I doubt very much are for real, teams propped up by unsustainable goaltending. Now, I've been wrong before, and I'll be wrong again, but that's how I feel.
I like the Lightning to play the Blues for the Cup.
Did I just get super sidetracked during my game preview? Oh well. Coyotes at Detroit with Playoff Implications. Good Times.
Thanks for reading.