The Franchise

Only a few athletes in the last twenty years demand undivided attention. I feel obligated to watch Tiger Woods play golf whenever possible because he can create a magical moment at any time. Michael Jordan had a flare for the dramatic and the clutch performance. Brett Favre added to his legend on Monday night with an 80+ yard touchdown pass in OT. If you missed it, I bet you wish you didn’t. Since 2001 I have missed very few Thrasher home games. One of the reasons for this attendance record and addiction is Ilya Kovalchuk. Kovy is electric and if you take your eyes off him you could miss something special.

On October 12, 2001 the Thrashers welcomed back a small but dedicated fan base to Philips arena. The expectations were low for the Thrashers but majority of fans came to see one player. He was 18 years old and looked sixteen. He was skinny, had a face-full of acne and spoke almost no English. And then he stepped onto hit the ice. I have still not seen anyone faster on skates than Ilya Kovalchuk during his rookie year. Watching his first few professional shifts was like watching a young bull let into the ring for the first time. Saying he was wild is a huge understatement. Imagine the Tasmanian devil on skates after 10 cups of coffee. Ilya was a one-man show. His blinding speed coupled with his Barry Sander-esque moves on the ice made grown men giggle in amazement. His moments of brilliance were breathtaking. He moved through Defenders like they were orange cones on a test track. At times his brain envisioned moves on the ice that his legs could not achieve. He would literally juke himself to the ground. His game was playground and selfish. Passing was not in his vocabulary. Phases such as “team game”, “control” and “defense” were foreign. It didn’t matter in his rookie season. Alone, Ilya was a spectator sport and instant excitement for the Thrashers franchise. Sometime during the game on October 12, 2001 I bought in 100% to Thrashers hockey. I’ve been all in ever since and Ilya was the catalyst.

So you’re 18, in a foreign county, can’t speak English and an instant celebrity. Would you feel comfortable? Ilya did not appear to know which way was up. He was the poster boy for a new franchise and ownership paraded him around like a trophy. He was the deer in the headlights in Atlanta during his rookie season. In photographs taken of Kovy during this year his facial expressions were dominated by uneasiness or mild irritation. He was a kid that just wanted to play hockey. The first time I met him was at a season-ticket holder event. Kovy was sitting at a table with other Thrashers signing his name to fan gear and perfecting a public smile. I felt for him. It looked like he might be willing to fake a stomach virus to get out of the event. But I still got my autograph and my wife welcomed him to Atlanta in Russian, (which she practiced during the entire ride to the bulb), which brought a smile.

His unease off the ice mirrored his game early on. He would attempt to make plays by himself and soon the NHL caught on and would double and triple team him in the offensive zone. Turnovers, goals against and frequent benching were the result of some of his play. But his offensive creativity and physical ability also resulted in some of the most memorable goals in Thrasher history. Ilya and Dany Heatley were the best two young players in the game and were learning to play together. Hockey experts predicted great things for the franchise calling the Thrashers “the club that would be King.”

Someone to watch over

In 2002 the Thrashers acquired Slava Kozlov from Buffalo. Besides bringing play-making ability and leadership to the organization, Slava became the mentor for Kovy. The Russian NHL veteran could relate to the Ilya on many levels and took him under his wing. At any Thrasher event after 2002 you almost always see Slava and Ilya in the same general area. Early on Ilya wouldn’t get outside 50 feet of Kozlov at public events. Watching the two of them, it was obvious that Slava would give Ilya direction on almost everything social. There was a great of deal of whispering followed by Slava pointing Ilya in one direction or another.

Under the watchful eye of his big brother, Kovy’s game also began to expand and mature. At first there were only flashes of defensive responsibility, passing the puck, digging the puck out of a corner, etc. These moments of complete hockey became shifts which became entire games of all around play. Some of the credit for the evolution of Kovalchuk must go to Slava.


The Misconceptions

So you’re a fan of Bruins, maybe a follower of the Flames, or even a minion of the evil Leafs and you’ve stumbled upon this article. Now you are thinking that I am a biased fan singing the praises of our star to entertain myself. You’re partly correct but my point is also to dispel the perception of Ilya that most NHL fans have acquired. Outside the circle of hardcore Thrasher fans in Atlanta, Ilya is still seen as a one-dimensional, selfish player. This could not be farther from the truth. In the last few years his game has matured exponentially.

Kovy is the best passer on the team by far. His passes are often not cashed in because his line mates don’t have the skill or wherewithal to finish. His line mates also don’t know the pass is coming because Ilya’s line has changed more than Oprah’s weight over the last 5 years. Atlanta has a history of micro-managing coaches that have been chronic line tinkerors. (I know it’s not a real word, stay with me). The tinkering of Coach Frasier was followed by the tinkering of Bob Hartley. Ilya has never had the opportunity to play with a consistent line while a member of the Thrashers. The best pairing was with Marc Savard. Savy and Kozy clicked and the result was most statistically successful stretch of Ilya’s career.

Kovalchuk has also grown into his body and is one the most physical scoring threats in the NHL. Hitting is now a part of his game as is the occasional fight. At well over 200 solid pounds he can wear down the opposition with speed and size. He also uses his strength to do the dirty work on the ice such as digging the puck out of the corner and drawing penalties.

He also is now a true two-way hockey player. It took a while for him to buy into playing defense but over the last two years the evolution has taken giant steps forward. His drastically improved +/- rating is a good indication of this improvement.

Most importantly Ilya Kovalchuk wants to win more than any other Thrasher on the ice. His determination is major reason why an otherwise uninspired, (until recently), Thrasher team isn’t deeper in an early season hole. He leads the team in all offensive categories and plays each shift at 100% effort. His ice time has increased as his game has become rounded. Interim Coach Don Waddell or “The Don” as Holik refers to him, has recently added #17 to the Thrasher penalty killing unit. That’s a long way from 2001 when the likelihood of Ilya playing D was about the same as Paris Hilton becoming a Nun.


The Captain

When I think of the Thrashers the first thing I picture is Kovy blasting in a one-timer from the left hash and pumping his fist. He represents our club to our fan base and the NHL more than any other player. The Atlanta Thrasher organization has the obligation to not only keep him as long as possible but also acquire talent that will compliment his game. Kovy have earned the right to play with a legitimate, veteran playmaker.

Either Ilya will be made Captain in about 2 years or he’ll leave the Thrashers. If his progression as a two-way superstar continues he will earned that “C” without question. Most franchises have a face. The Red Sox have Papi and Manny, the Patriots have Brady and the Packers have Favre. IIya is our most identifiable star. He’s the Thrasher with the longest tenure and that most personifies our club. Most of all we’ve watched him grow up and that makes him special to Atlanta fans. Hopefully he’ll get the recognition he deserves and be playing in the All-Star game in Blueland.

Your Loyal Servant,

Sean Grace