Ilya Kovalchuk- 2001 NHL Draft

[Mig29tvc]

And then, 7 years later in the Final 2008, the most emotional goal against canada, the first WORLD CHAMPION after 15 years.

Who could say me that in 2001. Nice draft !!!

[darksidelead]

i shame he didn't sign with the Thrashers, he'd would be a Jet right now.

[MEZKAHN]

@darksidelead Had they moved earlier he may have stayed but playing in Atlanta sucked.

[vidEvWill]

Odd coincidence how both Atlanta Thrashers and Atlanta Falcons both held the 1 pick that year in their respective drafts and drafted young guys.

[9632000a]

такой молодой!!! Пипец))

[NYI914021]

so sad how the isles lost the lottery on this. even worse that milbury threw a hissy fit over it and traded the 2nd pick (spezza) for yashin

[cranker8989]

@handpartyable because they said his team name lol

[handpartyable]

@cranker8989 well it could be possible 2 players from the same team could be there..

[cranker8989]

@handpartyable That are projected to go 1st overall? lol

[handpartyable]

@cranker8989 noo maybe on of them could of gone 1st and the second could of gone 2nd overall. but thats that will never happen lmaoo

[LimeZYX]

would appreciate it if you posted the whole 1st round, if possible

[titansnascarfan11]

henrik sedin, and kovy on a line in atlanta would have been awesome if they had picked henrik over stefan

[oribasius]

the wickedist wrister in the league

[JaguarLexusCentral]

Good pick.

[CHIZ4]

Yea look at the devils now fagget, didn't kovy just win us our 3rd OT win??? Oh yea he did and devs r the hottest team in the league so suck it

[harobeen]

@CHIZ4 its a shame they are still 12 points out of a playoff spot :P

[HappyGoPucky]

Thrashers are great this year. If kovalchuk stayed with them, they would be even better

[devilshockey14]

@HappyGoPucky thrashers suck what r u talking about

[BobbleZilla]

LOL remember Atlanta choosing PATRIK STEFAN AHAHAHAHA

[rebelslayer13]

He's so good. Such a shame his talent was wasted by a 15 year contract. No wonder the Devils are going nowhere this season.

[devilshockey14]

@rebelslayer13 what does the 15 year contract have to do with wasting his talent? when kovy lifts the cup over his head sometime in the next few years you will ashamed for have saying this.

[rebelslayer13]

@devilshockey14 If he ever wins the Cup, it won't be soon. The Devils have a LOT to work on, mostly because of this Kovalchuk trade. As it is, signing him for that much money was controversial... which should say enough.

[poopydoodie11]

@rebelslayer13 i wouldnt say they have a lot to work on. Lou says rebuilding isent in their vocab, but over the last few years hes let fan favorites and cornerstones like madden, gionta, gomez, and rafalski walk and hes drafted well and in the next few years you will see their defense return to one of the most feared in the league.

[K5LAPro]

0:56 Sums up how much of a dick this guy is.

[Sandler41882]

What a fucking player.

[TheCurrymanEffect]

Kovalchuk's not as overpaid as most people make him out to be. He's just on a defense-oriented team, which fucking sucks.

[tymcfly07]

He needs a offensive team not a defensive team like New Jersey

[tony20sbestfan]

@tymcfly07 wait how is NJ a defensive team? they signed maclean to coach a more offensive game, they have parise, zajac, arnott, elias, etc. and all of their prospects are dynamic forwards. thats not defensive...besides the D sucks.

[RapRockHockey]

Devils made the worse signing with this guy,

Hes good, actually a great player put him with the right people say Joe Thornton or Another star and hes good for 50 a season but not worth 100 million no one is.

Just another overpaid Russian.

[JBthree24]

Never would have thought he'd become a Devil!

[amirghorbani]

1 word beast.....guy a horse, his skating is amazing, hands are smooth , he can snipe goals and hes a gritty tough guy.....amazing player

[BobbleZilla]

one of the smartest picks Atlanta has done

[getzfan15]

This was a great selection. Kovy is definantly one of the premier forwards in the game today.

[XxHarounXx]

the trio with heatey and STEFAN!!!

[Revaldinio]

Pendos zhopoliz

[1967Leafsman1967]

kovalchuk ask toronto a offer for you like 5 mill for 2 seeason please kovalchuk

[xskillerx323]

I love how Don Waddel talks hehe  -_-

[ShiftStyle]

If any of you watch Kovalchuk with NJ, you would assume he would stay. Showing excellent sportsmenship, learning good Defensive play, scoring timely goals and most of all, sticks up for his team mates andconsideres the devils to be Brothers. STAY WITH US KOVY

[1more4carhur]

well, i thought the trashers would have something going with heatley and kovy. but apparantly, their ever so ingenious gm decided not to build around him and he ended up w/ no support and no 1 person can carry a team in the nhl. rick nash can't do it for columbus, gaborik couldn't do it for minnisota, and kovy couldn't do it for atlanta.

[static56um]

@1more4carhur the guy is gone now, so, hopefully we don't fuck up. we were a handful of points from making the playoffs without kovalchuk, just get them one or two more pieces.

the other problem is that the gm was like "fuck this shit, i'm trading EVERYTHING" whenever they lost a game.

[amoney721]

his sister is hot

[xskillerx323]

wadell pretty much had no choice..kovy wasnt going to sign at end of season anyways so he got something better than nothing

[amoney721]

@xskillerx323 indeed they got decent players in return

[xskillerx323]

not good enough for kovalchuk though

[MichaelBearwalf]

Kovalchuk is good... but that Atlanta got in return was enough, as he is a rental player... you guys got ripped off on Heatley though... he is a better player overall.

[Pika740]

If he doesn't want to play in a media hotbed, why is he leaving Atlanta? Better yet, why is he asking for so much money?

[TheSharkzfan]

Watch Waddell quit after this season...

if the Devils don't win the Cup this year, he's not gonna stay...

don't forget, this is just a rental

[devilshockey14]

@TheSharkzfan 15 year rental?

[jacknyc2199]

Lets go devils. you are a reatard waddell

[newjerseydev]

@jacknyc2199 I dont think so. Bergfors was not given a chance in NJ. he will sine there-6 goals in 8 already. Oduya is a great defenceman so i think it was a good deal for them. they would have lost him anyway. he is lazy but i hope will still shine in the playoffs. we will see. go devs

[jacknyc2199]

@newjerseydev lol year ago u responded bergfors not producing oduya is good though lol we deff won tht trade evn if kovy had a off yr n 31 goals is not tht

[newjerseydev]

@jacknyc2199 Im lost. the devils certainly won that trade as bergfors was dumped by atlanta and although oduuya is a decent player he is a 4 or 6 d man.kovalchuk was signed and although he has not worked out perfectly thats down to lamoriellos other terrible moves. you cant blame kovalchuk when he is on a line with roookies like palmieri and josefson.kovalichuk needs a top center to play w-otherwise the trade and signing was useless. lamoriellos other moves are the issue.hes a terrible gm now

[360shon]

Hopefully, Newark gets a Stanley Cup parade! Thanks Don Waddell!

[dmak646]

welcome to nj kovy LETS GO DEVILS!!!

[nashoba3]

@dmak646 you know they suck

[NFvideos101]

@dmak646 even though they are last

[EastSideLetzRide315]

Thats my boyy!

[CheMoiGeroi]

молокосос))))))))

[Cocknockerofl]

NHL Live that is*

[THATS311COOL]

He's just a baby! :D

[rumataable]

илюха такой прикольный...совсем мальчишка

[Cocknockerofl]

I don't understand the "imagine him with real talent" argument.

How many players have linemates as good as Semin and Backstrom? NOT MANY. Name me a team that ices three players that good on the same line. Perhaps Detroit with Zetterberg/Datsyuk and Pittsburgh with Crosby/Malkin but other than that having a line full of top superstars is not common at all. Besides he plays with top six forwards in Antropov and Bryan Little. Those guys aren't bad players by any means.

[ocboy188]

i love that comparison - kovalchuk is part owen nolan and pavel bure! Kovalchuk, if he played with some good players, would be like ovechkin.

[xice7x]

Imagine him...staying in Atlanta. Yeah sorry guys but he loves Atlanta and they are headed in the right direction. They know they cant lose him and they will do whatever they can to keep him and everything points to him staying.

[GoalHornDude]

Yep , but when you have little cap room , you cant do shit.

I guaruntee you, the leafs will get him.

[rko719]

what makes you so sure the leafs are gonna get him?

[GoalHornDude]

Because , kovy wants to go to a city were poeple actually care about hockey, bestest place? Toronto. Burke will do whatever it takes , and he will get him.

[xskillerx323]

kings r trying to sign him at da end of the season

[GoalHornDude]

Them and what cap space ?

[xskillerx323]

idk but thats wat i heard

[spypengyn]

is kovalchuk going to the leafs the same way cammellari, boumester, the sedins and marc savard were going to the leafs?

[GoalHornDude]

lol.Cammalleri signed with the canadiens because the affor was better.Bouwmeester? Never heard of that one. Sedins , canucks got them before leafs could talk to them . Savard was never going anywhere .

[spypengyn]

no but leafs fans were saying all of those people would sign in toronto (except mabye boumester). and anyways, kovalchuk said that he doesnt want to play in a hockey market with lots of media attention

[Cocknockerofl]

Actually Kovalchuk was asked about that on NHL a month or so ago. He said he'd never want to play in a hockey hotbed because of all of the media attention.

[gdavies4]

i love to imagine him in a toronto shirt...

burke, make it happen

[Cocknockerofl]

Yeah he is going to leave Atlanta so he can play for a winning team like the Leafs...

NOT

If he leaves he will go to a competent franchise. Not another struggling one.

[hockeydangler9]

Toronto sucks L... Like they have anything to offer Atlanta

[Hemsky83Smid5]

Imagine him on the Oilers with hemsky

[777Lenochek]

Какой он хорошенький!

[1Antonov]

from super club SPARTAK MOSCOW

[akuzne]

hes wasting his prime time, he needs a trade

[alphaevolution]

he has to leave atlanta

[washingtoncapitalsss]

and come to washington

[thrashers32]

in your dreams fucktard.

[thrashers32]

not gonna happen.

[ooder1]

and 8 years later he is still rotting away on that shitty hockey team

what a waste of talent

[smootiee]

yep! he should go some other team!

[muska114]

Id rather have Kovalchuk on my team than homo Crosby, id like to see Crosby shoot like him.

[rls07]

best forward to have at the point, fucking incredible shot

[OwnEDyOu456]

ovechkin better shot on point

[rls07]

no kovy does, dont think ovechkin even plays the point on the PP

[OwnEDyOu456]

OMGG!! yes he does!!

[xlatinabebe]

why do those guys like 2 rows back look so angry ..

[StealinUrCar06]

One of the greatest 1st picks ever. Single handedly put the thrashers on

[amoney721]

he has such quick release god almighty makes me proud to be an atlanta fan

[ovechkono]

well we all knoe his better than the baby lindros

[Zenkka]

this guy has THE smoothest skating ability and stick handling skills

[Amire92]

@Zenkka  amen

[dimankryshka]

one of the best right now. most probably he'll become a "ranger"

[VaitrucciSatch]

No one wants to play for the Rangers which is why they have to overpay for crappy second rate players. If Atlanta makes the playoffs next year then Kovalchuk will probably sign a career deal with them. He already said that he'd re-sign if they show signs of improvement next season.

[thrashers32]

well your a dumbass

[vclch]

one of the best.

[hockeyroks4ever]

bit of a hotdog lol

[pimpnigga1]

i wish he would come toronto good sniper

[xZaMuZx]

Dany Heatley was 2nd also to ATL

[gdavies4]

howd they manage 1st and 2nd

[77Fortran]

I guess they got it in a trade at some point

[gdavies4]

actually it was spezza to ottawa...

[thrashers32]

Dany Heatley was the first round pick the year before. He spent the year he got drafted playing college hockey.

[evguy19]

if only he knew at this time that atlanta wont win a cup for a LONG time.

[BAYBEEKOALA]

you mean, never?

Kovie will be gone from ATL soon, and when he leaves, there goes ANY reason to watch atlanta lose

[evguy19]

yea hes leaving alright...

LEAVING TO THE LEAFS!!!! WOOOO

[23randomONE23]

i wish...

[spongedom96]

i met him before he got drafted

[MingeDaddy]

Good choice u reckon???

[hayne91]

spezza i believe

[ScootGod]

look at that little prick bettman at the beginning

[tyandy99]

who was chosen second?

[frankrousseau666]

best nhl sniper better than ovechkin cause ilya is alone on his team !!!!!

[ovechkono]

its true but hes a little inconsistent

[VaitrucciSatch]

coming from a sens fan I need to say this...

It's not fair to bring up Hossa. HE HAS ALWAYS been difficult to deal with. It was almost impossible for the Sens to get him on that three year contract. It took quite a bit of work to get him to sign with us. Then we all saw how he walked on Pittsburgh who was a good team. He will likely walk on Detroit for money this year. Really no one knows what the guy is going to do.

[capsfan7]

Kovy is the best:)

[habsfans95]

he grew shorter

[techfan2121]

kovy is beast

[noahtavlin]

the guy announcing the selection looks thrilled

[AugustBeans]

amazing shot, quick release, size, determination, grit, leadership. The guy is amazing...

[phoon420]

yeah he showed he was amazing when he let naslund walk down the slot and rip it over lehtonen's glove. Oh yeah and before that he went for the empty net and missed... oh yeah great leadership and determination.

[ovechkono]

so u call crybabies good leaders?

[punchcannon]

I agree with everything, except leadership.

[dadudee99]

on that day , a future hall of famer was drafted into the nhl

[linkinpark71146]

kolvy kicks ass

[HATEbeersnobs]

1st premiere player of his era

BEFORE Ovechkin & Crosby

he saved the nhl ratings wise!

[Luyo91]

ilya is an amazing player...

a true leader...

sometimes he reminds me on wayne gretzky

[wojto150]

unbolievable player...

[baragon20]

Yea if the thrashers didn't trade hossa and sign him, and got some people for his line, and people who can score this year other than kovalchuck kozlov and little, they could easily go play offs

[brennan8000]

They did that by getting Marc Savard and Bobby Holik. Did that get them in the playoffs? No. They couldn't keep Hossa anyways. He did not want to stay with the team when he would become a UFA in the summer. They traded Hossa for the better of the franchise. And scorer would not fix Atlanta's problems.

[farmer00boy]

he needs more attention, more than crosby

[ja24]

i agree

[screecher]

he has his attention, you just don't notice it

[harboee]

Comparing Lindros with Kovy is a joke now. Kovy way better..

[cbpern]

Not better, Kovy was just lucky enough to not get any major injuries. Lindros was MUCH better.

[WhaleRider86]

no kovalchuck get the message, lindros did not get the message.

and the message is:

"keep your fuckin head up when you are on the ice"

[kopposka11]

@harboee kovy is my favorite

[christhockey18]

if only atlanta can get some good people for his line Thrashers would be awesome

[5ek1tor]

Look.. just how proud his parents are :D

[omgnickweiner]

i was there !

[vidEvWill]

Whoo, he got up out of that seat like it was on fire!!

[lapplan]

Great player and great personality. So fun to see how happy he gets. Even here, if he only knew what shitteam...Still best lucks for this season Atlanta.

[dagongshow]

now, if he only had a team...

[dunny555]

next captain

[jmewho]

haha look how exited he is..in fast forward

[vidEvWill]

Well you would be too if you get selected by a team, some just wanna get picked. I didn't think Ilya was that young.

[jmewho]

i wasn't making fun of him...its cute

[vidEvWill]

That's OK, I didn't mean it like that...I just didn't know he was drafted in '01. I thought he was drafted in 1999. It just semms like he has been in the NHL for so long.

[timmmy99]

what a hot dog

[oehieze]

waah! cry me a river you bitter motherfucker :)

[timmmy99]

yeah ok there buddy...that made a whole lot of sense...

[17Kovalchuk17]

Ilya Kovalchuk!!!!!