Kovalev Takes Shot at Clouston, Ottawa Media

Monday, 08 August 2011 12:19

Kovalev Takes Shot at Clouston, Ottawa Media

Comments (76)

Alex Kovalev has signed a contract to play in the KHL next season but that certainly doesn't mean he has forgotten his time here in Ottawa.

In an interview translated by Dmitry Chesnokov of Yahoo Sports, Kovalev took shots at the Ottawa media and at former coach, Cory Clouston.

Here is some of what Kovalev had to say

During his interview, Kovalev candidly discussed the hockey media, saying "Ottawa journalists "don't watch hockey at all. When they fly with the team and go through the [metal detector] at an airport, their bags are filled with beer."

He also said: "In two seasons I still couldn't understand the ideas of our coach Cory Clouston" with the Senators.

Kovalev never really seemed to fit in under Clouston and took a ton of heat from the media and fans in this city. It was only a matter of time before he spoke on his time in Ottawa. Should be very interesting to see how the "Ottawa media" responds.

The full article can be found here.

Last modified on Monday, 08 August 2011 11:20

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+9 #1 Section ThirtyOne 2011-08-08 11:22

Stay classy, Alex Kovalev.

+9 #2 The Apostle 2011-08-08 11:30

The comments about Clouston would carry more weight and relevance if they came from a player who occasionally looked like he gave a shit.

+13 #3 Tookie 2011-08-08 11:33

Haha! I never liked the guy as a hockey player but he is probably bang on with the Ottawa media, somebody was bound to say it eventually! He's probably referring to the Ottawa Sun sloshes!!

+6 #4 SensFanInMTL 2011-08-08 11:38

At least he didn't shit on us the fans nor the city. In his defense, Garrioch is a fuckin tool at times. Still, you'd had to at least have done something productive in order to have any say. Fortunately he won't be taking up space on our team in NHL 12 and I'll be forever in debt to Kovalev just for that reason alone.

0 #5 Engin 2011-08-08 11:49

Quoting Tookie19:

Haha! I never liked the guy as a hockey player but he is probably bang on with the Ottawa media, somebody was bound to say it eventually! He's probably referring to the Ottawa Sun sloshes!!

To be honest the Citizen isn't really good when it comes to reporting on the Sens either. Also nice to see the media finally put in their place.

+6 #6 moneymike 2011-08-08 11:58

I agree with Kovalev on this. Yes, it would have meant more coming from Spezza or Alfredsson. But he's right about the media, and clearly the team wasn't 100% clear on Clouston's system either.

-1 #7 CaMo 2011-08-08 11:59

Quoting SensFanInMTL:

At least he didn't shit on us the fans nor the city. In his defense, Garrioch is a fuckin tool at times. Still, you'd had to at least have done something productive in order to have any say. Fortunately he won't be taking up space on our team in NHL 12 and I'll be forever in debt to Kovalev just for that reason alone.

I dont care what you say, Kovalev was a force in NHL 11. They gave him the hands.

+11 #8 McLovin 2011-08-08 12:15

Just wanted to give a little love to Mark Stone 2g2a last night (in red v white intersquad game mind you) playing on a line with huberdeau and johanson. sounds like they're giving him a chance with some good linemates.

0 #9 my2sens 2011-08-08 12:27

Kovalev and Heatley should form their own league... In two season Kovy couldn't understand Clouston... in 2 painful season we couldn't understand why we had him!

Just like when our ~~wives~~ significant others (edited for political correctness) talk during a game... we best to just close our ears, tune 'em out and enjoy the game!

GO SENS GO!

+4 #10 Mike Bauer 2011-08-08 12:36

Honestly,

Kovalev is right what he says about the media and it makes sense what he is saying about Clouston.

3 quarters of media, bloggers etc dont have a clue what they are talking about. I truly believe that it takes a very gifted person to fully understand the game and talk about it if you haven't played it at a serious level. Don Brennan and Bruce Garrioch are likely two of his main targets here and I dont think either has an athletic bone in there body.

Sure, Kovalev is not worth 5mil, but that's what he got from us. What he says about Clouston makes sense too, he was impossible to figure out I think and fans only took to him at first because the team was winning (which had nothing to do with him, rather them likely embarrassed for all the coaches we've gone through).

+4 #11 Uncle Phil 2011-08-08 12:37

The Ottawa media leaves a lot to be desired considering how much Ottawa loves hockey. I think that is why this website attracts more readers and listeners. The quality of the material and indeed, the comments are more thoughtful than the media. Reading and listening to Garrioch is often painful and frustrating.

+2 #12 Johne 2011-08-08 12:39

While I think aquiring and trading Heatley was one of the best and worst things that's happened to this team, this all makes me wonder how things could have happened differently if Clouston was never hired. How things unfolded in SJ, I think Heatley definitely has some character problems, but this certainly makes me feel like he likely had reasons to want to be traded, but it sure as hell doesn't change my hatred for how he went about getting that trade.

+1 #13 GreeningTheMonster 2011-08-08 12:42

im sorry but i agreee with alex on both things, yes he didnt produce in ottawa, but hes a person like everyone else and shouldnt be called out by the media who havent even gotten close to a career in the NHL.

0 #14 Jyt 2011-08-08 12:43

There's no way he's ever playing for Ottawa or Clouston again, and he might not even play in the NHL again, so it's probably ok for him to speak his mind.

He's not taking any shots at the fans or organization itself, so I have no problems. And about the media comment, pretty sure he was talking mostly about the Sun, which is... ugh.

+1 #15 NotwinninforMacKinnon 2011-08-08 12:43

Props to Mark Stone this guy is a force 4 goals and 3 helpers in 2 inter-squad games

I'll have to agree with Kovalev ottawa media is brutal and Clouston was a really bad coach I dont even think Clouston knew what he was doing some if not most nights

0 #16 my2sens 2011-08-08 12:44

The one thing (although I hate the media) is that they are fans like us. We were calling out Kovy, weren't we? They (the media) have a mean to express themselves... that's all.

Kovy simply should have done what he was being paid to do.

0 #17 Smash_88 2011-08-08 12:46

Quoting Johne:

While I think aquiring and trading Heatley was one of the best and worst things that's happened to this team, this all makes me wonder how things could have happened differently if Clouston was never hired. How things unfolded in SJ, I think Heatley definitely has some character problems, but this certainly makes me feel like he likely had reasons to want to be traded, but it certainly doesn't change my hatred for how he went about getting that trade.

X2

+3 #18 meadowdog 2011-08-08 12:46

Garrioch and Brennan are complete tools. I don't think anyone would dispute that. They are, however, the perfect representatives for everything the Ottawa Sun stands for.

Kovalev's production was even less impressive after his trade to the Penquins than it was here in Ottawa. Does that make Dan Bylsma a bad coach or is it more likely that Kovalev was a washed up floater?

+1 #19 lapointeric 2011-08-08 12:52

Have to say, Bruce Garrioch's name came to mind pretty quickly after reading this.

I can't listen to the guy... he sounds hammered every time he speaks. And when I read his articles, I read it as though it's coming from his marble filled mouth.

E

+3 #20 Arvind94 2011-08-08 12:52

I saw this and said Bruce Garrioch

+1 #21 RUSHRLZ 2011-08-08 12:52

Chirp, I like how you quoted the term "Ottawa media", hahaha!

At the end of the day, Kovie was a well past his prime primma donna who never had the heart and determination to compensate for his dwindling, aging skill. There is a reason why a Chelios is so rare, and Alexei had roughly 0% of the tenacity required to keep his career going.

We all saw the decline and frustration while he was a Hab and while many of us hoped he would somehow flourish as a Senator, none of us are surprised how this experiment turned out at the end of the day.

Always liked him as a player back in his hay days though, he may not be the most interesting man in the world, but in Russia maybe. His parting shots at Clouston and the media are not surprising either and I agree with those that say to an extent they were probably warranted, especially the ass hammers at the Sun.

I'll miss your antics Alexei, just not in a Sens uniform! Best of luck in the KHL.

-3 #22 sben 2011-08-08 12:54

he gives a convincing arguement but everyone knows he's a selfish brat a jerk many other words but a sucker and he always will be amen.

+2 #23 RUSHRLZ 2011-08-08 12:54

Quoting lapointeric:

Have to say, Bruce Garrioch's name came to mind pretty quickly after reading this.

I can't listen to the guy... he sounds hammered every time he speaks. And when I read his articles, I read it as though it's coming from his marble filled mouth.

E

Not marbles. Chicken wings and other 'all-you-can-ea t-buffet' fare.

+4 #24 sbs138 2011-08-08 12:57

HAHA. Gonchar can only throw his hands up!

+1 #25 ImNotJoJo 2011-08-08 12:58

Ah, the KHL. Providing a truly wonderful service to North American hockey fans by magically transforming "enigmatic" to "irrelevant," year after year.

+1 #26 Johne 2011-08-08 13:03

While everyone criticized Kovalev for his effort some nights and not being on the score sheet, I enjoyed watching his puck possession even if it turned into nothing or even a turnover, it truly was a talent to watch his stick handling. And when he was on his game and on the score sheet, it was usually a highlight. I know he wasn't worth the 5 million, but I did enjoy watching him play.

Now the media basically attributed Kovalev's point production or lack there of for our losses and I think we all know that last season's failures rest on more shoulders than just Kovalev's.

0 #27 Johne 2011-08-08 13:05

I know the media makes money off of readership, so they have to give the readers something worth reading, but damn; you don't have to keep beating the same drum when it comes to a scapegoat.

No one wants to read a headline that says 'The other team was better last night'. But I don't think it's fair to always be so quick to point the finger at a single player like the Sun is so quick to do.

+1 #28 Johne 2011-08-08 13:08

HAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAH

http://twitter.com/SunGarrioch - The naive are out in full force. #sens

0 #29 NickG 2011-08-08 13:17

"I am approached on the street in Montreal and New York and told one thing: 'Don't take the bad to your head. We always support and love you. You're the best.'" - AK

Yeah... They love how you help their teams win against the Sens with all of your gosh-darn giveaways.
Maybe he'll learn to skate and pass in the KHL next year.

+1 #30 Johne 2011-08-08 13:19

https://twitter.com/#!/procdaddy/status/100630924689031168

You know damn well Kovalev is lying, why would journalists bring bags of beer with them when @SunGarrioch is a walking keg. #sens

+2 #31 ImNotJoJo 2011-08-08 13:21

Quoting Johne:

https://twitter.com/#!/procdaddy/status/100630924689031168

You know damn well Kovalev is lying, why would journalists bring bags of beer with them when @SunGarrioch is a walking keg. #sens

I wouldn't touch that spout.

+2 #32 SlickRick 2011-08-08 13:29

1) The Sun is about as credible as the Inquirer
2) Kovalev was an overpaid floater and if I were Clouston I would have benched him too.
'A coach should explain why he's benching you'...REALLY?! YOU HAVE NO IDEA?
Can't say I didn't see this coming. I absolute HATED the Kovalev signing and am happy to watch this team again even if they finish last....it will still be less painful to watch.

0 #33 Arvind94 2011-08-08 13:39

Also anyone have any news on Puempel

0 #34 miguel 2011-08-08 13:47

oh Kovy, you steal 10 million bucks from the hard working citizens of Ottawa, and then have the nerve to complain.
I wish you could live in the real world for one year... although as chirp says it will be interesting to hear how the media spin this one :)

0 #35 Sandy 2011-08-08 13:52

Quoting SensFanInMTL:

At least he didn't shit on us the fans nor the city. In his defense, Garrioch is a fuckin tool at times. Still, you'd had to at least have done something productive in order to have any say. Fortunately he won't be taking up space on our team in NHL 12 and I'll be forever in debt to Kovalev just for that reason alone.

But he did mention when walking around the streets of Mtl & NY... he said nothing positive about the fans in Ottawa.

0 #36 Sandy 2011-08-08 13:55

quote name="Johne"]Wh ile I think aquiring and trading Heatley was one of the best and worst things that's happened to this team, this all makes me wonder how things could have happened differently if Clouston was never hired. How things unfolded in SJ, I think Heatley definitely has some character problems, but this certainly makes me feel like he likely had reasons to want to be traded, but it sure as hell doesn't change my hatred for how he went about getting that trade.

If he was any kind of a 'team player' he would have stuck it out for the best of the team.

+2 #37 TKM18 2011-08-08 14:11

Kovalev didn't really say anything shocking here. We know the media in this city is garbage. I mean SC isn't a professional journalist, but I would come here for Sens news over any of the media outlets in a heartbeat. Clouston wasn't the best coach in the world, we know that, but he was also hard on players like Kovalev and Heatley who thought they were above the rest of the team. So his badmouthing of Clouston I view as more of a positive than anything. A guy like Kovalev is always going to hate coaches like Clouston because they don't stroke egos. The quote "You have to treat players kindly." makes me wonder what planet Kovalev is living on. Coaches aren't there to treat you kindly. Maybe Clouston should have invited him over for a sleepover and they could have stayed up late watching scary movies and eating popcorn.

0 #38 Rundbladass 2011-08-08 14:30

Wonder if he means you, Chirp - were you ever caught hauling forties through airport metal detectors? I know the Ottawa sports media's not perfect, but give them SOME credit, "AK27." What a sourpuss.

0 #39 SensChirp 2011-08-08 14:35

Quoting Rundbladass:

Wonder if he means you, Chirp - were you ever caught hauling forties through airport metal detectors? I know the Ottawa sports media's not perfect, but give them SOME credit, "AK27." What a sourpuss.

Seems to me you'd just get your liquor when you land! I was unusually kind to Kovalev during his time in Ottawa and took heat for it. Certainly wasn't critical as other. Frustrating at times (most of the time) but entertaining when he was on.

0 #40 ImNotJoJo 2011-08-08 14:41

Chrip - you posting the final entry tomorrow morning?
Just curious/excited .

+4 #41 Sandy 2011-08-08 14:43

Off topic.... found this on another site... funny..

Check out the chirpfest on twitter between Derek Roy and Paul Bissonnette.
Here's most of them in somewhat chronological order:

"shutup or I'll beat u up with my money clip"

Good thing you carry a thick wallet bud. Was wondering how you could see over the steering wheel!

I actually have my own driver thank you very much I think ya u might have driven me once right?

I've seen lines at airport security move faster than you

Heard @BizNasty2point 0 is easier to undress then a drunk sorority girl

And what would you know about undressing @Roy9ner. You couldn't get it wet in amsterdam with a fist full of 50's.

Just wanna thank @BizNasty2point 0 for the 1on1 #chirpfest today never battled a girl but hey there's a 1st time for everything

Hey @Roy9ner, I'm no girl but I'm better looking then that thing you took home in Vegas the other night.

0 #42 SlickRick 2011-08-08 14:46

@TKM18 (37)
Couldn't agree more.

0 #43 SensChirp 2011-08-08 14:47

Quoting ImNotJoJo:

Chrip - you posting the final entry tomorrow morning?
Just curious/excited.

Yea or later on this evening. Kovalev stole the show for today.

0 #44 JTaylor 2011-08-08 15:02

consistent message about clouston...kova lev is stil a big knob that knows how to pull down a big paycheque.

+1 #45 SpeaktheLanguage 2011-08-08 15:06

Kovalev is right about (most of) the Ottawa sports media. His statement can be taken figuratively OR literally.

I know a lot of readers have their doubts about Clouston (he DID make a lot of strange decisions), but it's no wonder Kovi didn't "understand" Clouston's demands for hard work and effort...

-1 #46 my2sens 2011-08-08 15:15

Maybe Clouston needed to communicate his plan in Russian? Or write in down on c-notes?

0 #47 Johne 2011-08-08 15:19

I really wish someone would get Kovalev a twitter account.

+1 #48 my2sens 2011-08-08 15:21

Quoting Johne:

I really wish someone would get Kovalev a twitter account.

He wouldn't put in the effort though... and if he did his comments would be lazy, ill-thought out, sensless garbage...

However, that could be entertainment in itself!

0 #49 miguel 2011-08-08 15:21

not sure he is right about "not watching hockey at all"
they may watch it, but not sure about what to right about, interested to hear which journalist comment back on it as well

0 #50 Patrick 2.0 2011-08-08 15:36

I don't disagree with him 100%.

He blames 2 coaches for his failures in the articles, but too many times last year I've asked myself while watching a game (or after a game) "what the hell is Clouston thinking/why is he doing this???".

I know he's a pro coach, and I'm just a fan and I just kept saying to myself "maybe he's such a genious that I don't understand what he's doing...", but by the end of the season, my opinion is that he was in over his head and made some bad decisions.

I'm not saying Kovalev is good/bad, not saying clouston was good/bad...simp ly that I'm not suprised to hear Kovalev say this about Clouston.

0 #51 RUSHRLZ 2011-08-08 16:23

Quoting SensChirp:

Quoting ImNotJoJo:
Chrip - you posting the final entry tomorrow morning?
Just curious/excited.

Yea or later on this evening. Kovalev stole the show for today.

That's ok we're in the dog days, and by those standards some silly remarks by Kovalev are news, so save the next entry for an even slower day like tomorrow.

+3 #52 jasonontheoldsenschirp 2011-08-08 16:33

Alexei Kovalev is 100% correct in what he said. The Ottawa hockey media is ridiculous *cough* Brennan, Garrioch. I do think Ian Mendes does a good job though.

As far as the coach, I still maintain the point of view that Clouston is a good hockey coach, and that maybe the adversity towards Kovalev was just an exceptional case. For goodness sake, everybody knows he became the laziest player in the league.

+1 #53 senskarlsson57 2011-08-08 17:02

Quoting Tookie19:

Haha! I never liked the guy as a hockey player but he is probably bang on with the Ottawa media, somebody was bound to say it eventually! He's probably referring to the Ottawa Sun sloshes!!

Tookie with 12 thumbs up?! never thought i would see the day!

+1 #54 Donny1619 2011-08-08 17:26

Look, Brennan, Garrioch, and the Ottawa sun itself sucks major. But Kovalev is generalizing too much. The citizen has some good writers, Allan Panzeri and Wayne Scanlan. It seems like Kovy is a bitter wife after her possessions are stolen in a divorce settlement.

And sure, he couldn't fit into Clouston's systen. The article also has Kovalev stating he never did fit in with Dan Bylsma's systen. And Bylsma is the reigning Coach of the Year. Tells you how much of a bum Kovalev is. Stay in Russia, dude.

-2 #55 Lambchops 2011-08-08 17:30

Quoting SensFanInMTL:

At least he didn't shit on us the fans nor the city. In his defense, Garrioch is a fuckin tool at times. Still, you'd had to at least have done something productive in order to have any say. Fortunately he won't be taking up space on our team in NHL 12 and I'll be forever in debt to Kovalev just for that reason alone.

HA in NHL 11 I traded him to Nashville with a 5th for Nick Spaling. Maybe Murray should give me a call next time he has a trade proposal

0 #56 Sandy 2011-08-08 17:35

I'm not trying to defend Clouston... but the young players down the stretch last year had no problem figuring out the play style and what was expected of them.... but Kovalev had no clue?

Clouston still had a winning record -- he can be faulted for the lack of communication as a coach and some bad decisions... but considering what the Sens had in goal the first half of the season... can he be faulted for that? He had only been an NHL coach for about 2 yrs... he learns like the players learn... but again his downfall was his relationship with his players.

0 #57 A. non a muss 2011-08-08 18:19

Alex Who.

Please fix the popup comment box sot that is is readable,

0 #58 stevrock 2011-08-08 18:40

This is why opinion pieces are foolish. The media in Ottawa will single handily chase out all good players, and keep big names from signing.

Stay classy Kovalev? We already knew where the issues were, he didn't tell us anything new.

Stay classy media.

0 #59 hamany 2011-08-08 18:44

wow! sounds like cry baby to me! you can't blame clouston for being lazy every game maybe kovalev will fit in in the the khl but im not sure that there media doesnt have beer with them after all there russians there probably drunk most of the time. oh and u cant really blame kovalev on ottawa's media.

0 #60 Engin 2011-08-08 18:52

You got to check these articles from the Ottawa Sun:

http://www.ottawasun.com/2011/08/08/kovalev-has-parting-shots-for-clouston

http://www.ottawasun.com/2011/08/08/kovalev-serves-up-vintage-whine

The idiots at the Sun are at it again.

0 #61 SensChirp 2011-08-08 19:12

I really don't think you can criticize either of those articles. I actually thought they would be a little more harsh in their rebuttal.

It was harmless.

0 #62 PraiseAlfie84 2011-08-08 19:56

Garrioch sucks
Brennan sucks
Clouston sucks
Kovalev sucks

All things we knew already. Even though he may be right about the Ottawa media, as a veteran professional you don't say shit like that, but he's running off to Russia with his tail between his legs so I can see why he'd pull that. I don't care if he scored 1000 points, he has been and always will be a little cry baby....

POKA KOVALEV!

0 #63 Round Leaf 2011-08-08 20:31

even for summer news this is a bit of a non-sequitur. The player isn't in our organization anymore and neither is the coach. The whole point of the announcement last week was to get fans to look forward and not backwards.

Less talk about Kovalev, more talk about Mark Stone.

0 #64 jakester 2011-08-08 20:38

Kovalev what a waste of a jersey. Now to more important things, Mark Stone, getting excited by what i'm hearing. You know what's impressive about this guy -if you've had a chance to watch some of the highlights on You-Tube is how fast the puck leaves his stick when he gets a pass. This guy might just be that big body sniper we've always needed. A big bruiser who can score. Check him out here - just love it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03btHLmpDFU

+2 #65 SensChirp 2011-08-08 20:39

Quoting Round Leaf:

even for summer news this is a bit of a non-sequitur. The player isn't in our organization anymore and neither is the coach. The whole point of the announcement last week was to get fans to look forward and not backwards.

Less talk about Kovalev, more talk about Mark Stone.

For me, this is pure entertainment. I feel no attachment to the player or coach involved and if anything, it makes me appreciate how far we've come in the last 5-6 months.

0 #66 jakester 2011-08-08 20:44

Found a video finally on this guy - he looks pretty good too. GO SENS GO!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_kG_wOWrzU&feature=related

-4 #67 Andrews Theory 2011-08-08 20:53

Loved it!

Kovalev said what alot of people on this site already believed in.

Clouston confused everyone myself included and the sun media is awful. someone should post a top 10 of horrible sun articles...

I believe there have been a couple of classic opinions offered by their writers which were blatantly wrong.. pretty sure they critisized murray for picking Karlsson as an example.

anyhow...

Russian Hockey players are a different breed, they speak their mind. the filter is off..

-2 #68 Andrews Theory 2011-08-08 20:59

loved the Gonchar reference bahahhaahahaa

0 #69 111519 2011-08-08 21:09

his complaints would mean more to me if he had done absolutely anything worth 10 million dollars.

0 #70 Johne 2011-08-08 21:22

http://twitter.com/dchesnokov - Alexei Kovalev at today's practice w/Atlant: hockey bag w/the #Pens logo, a helmet w/The #Habs logo, undergarment w/the #Sens logo.

0 #71 FSJGuy 2011-08-08 22:45

Steve from TGOR sums it up beautifully "Kovy implies Ottawa writers got drunk as they covered games. Kovy would drink too if he had to stomach watching himself 82 times a year."
Haha

0 #72 T K 2011-08-08 22:46

in other news, if you write a piece about Alfie and the HHOF without ever using his name is that like a tree falling in the forest without making a sound?

0 #73 SensFanInMTL 2011-08-09 02:36

There's a ton of talk over Mark Stone. Hope the best for him because he'd be a great player being drafted in the 6th round. Good luck Mark.

0 #74 Johne 2011-08-09 07:03

http://twitter.com/SunGarrioch - Alexei Kovalev's last stand. http://t.co/8B6ZNuq

+3 #75 Captain Alfie 2011-08-10 23:42

I had a strong feeling AK27 was KHL bound this season. I respected his talent while he was with us and cringed at his work ethic but he was right. Clouston was not cut out for the NHL and Ottawa hockey media does suck just like the drunken "experts" that like to troll this site.

Good luck in the KHL, have a good retirement, and good riddance.

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