Guy Lafleur favours Kovalev over Koivu

Lafleur: "I have the conviction that Kovalev is more useful to the Canadiens than the captain, especially if (Kovalev) continues to play as he did this year."

Here is the full blog entry at Habs Inside/Out.

Assuming the Habs decide between one of these two players next off-season, I cannot say that I agree with Lafleur in this instance. While the article notes that both of these players are entering the final seasons of their respective contracts, there are a number of issues to take into consideration. First, is Kovalev's motivation level. The talented winger earned his $4.5 million salary this past season but prior to that he was overpaid. Additionally, Kovalev will be 35 by the time these negotiations come around. So factor in motivation and age as two major issues to consider. As for Koivu, durability was a problem earlier in his career, however, the rugged center has not missed more than fourteen games in any of the past five NHL seasons. Additionally, he is a terrific playoff player and a leader in the dressing room. If it were up to me, I'd give my money to the 33 year old Koivu before the 35 year old Kovalev.

NHL Morning Papers: Playoff Teams (Tuesday Edition)

Here are the morning papers for the Eastern Conference playoff match ups:

Montreal versus Boston:

• The Canadiens were as close to perfect as a team can be for a Game 7 last night, writes Pat Hickey. Habs coach Guy Carbonneau made a good line up move by switching Alexei Kovalev onto Saku Koivu's line for last night's contest. The Habs should enjoy this victory because in Red Fisher's opinion they were outplayed in four of the seven games.
• "It's a good feeling to have, proving a lot of people wrong. I think we can build a lot on what we did this year and carry it on to next year," said Bruins rookie Milan Lucic after his team's 5-0 loss in Game 7. It was tough to beat the impressive Carey Price last night, writes Bob Ryan. Last night's game may have been Glen Murray's last as a Bruin.

Pittsburgh versus Ottawa:

• The Penguins have been very pleased with their acquisition of big defenseman Hal Gill at the trade deadline, writes Dave Molinari. Meanwhile, Jarko Ruutu has found his comfort zone in Pittsburgh.
• Apparently the Senators are looking to add Fabian Brunnstrom to their forward mix for next season.

Washington versus Philadelphia:

• The Capitals' roster, which is heavy on Europeans, is responding just fine to the playoff grind, writes Jason LaCanfora. Alexander Ovechkin is the main reason that the Capitals were victorious in Game 6, so can he be the reason they advance to the second round too? "Well, we had no doubts in this room," said Caps netminder Cristobal Huet about his team being down 2-0 early in Game 6.
• The Flyers still have one more chance to close out the Capitals tonight, writes Phil Sheridan. One mistake can change the complexion of a game and it did last night, writes Tim Panaccio. Riley Cote is hoping to replace Mike Knuble's scoring with some energy and physical play.

New Jersey versus New York Rangers:

• It is evident by this article that Martin Brodeur had become mentally exhausted from the Devils season. Devils fans can say bye-bye to Karel Rachunek.
• Things are looking up for the Lundqvist brothers after some hard times this season, writes Jay Greenberg. Henrik Lundqvist is very deserving of his Vezina Trophy nomination. The Rangers will be starting on the road in Round 2 regardless of if they play the Habs or the Pens.

The morning papers for the Western Conference playoff match ups are soon to follow...

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.

Email any thoughts, ideas or suggestions to illegalcurve@gmail.com

NHL Morning Papers (Saturday Edition)

Here are the national morning papers:

• In his weekly notebook, Eric Duhatschek of the Globe & Mail examines, among other things, all the newly signed extensions in the NHL this season.
• Tim Wharsnby of the Globe & Mail examines the possibile roster decisions for Canada's 2010 Olympic entry in Vancouver.
• The Flames got a little taste of an angry Darryl Sutter after practice yesterday, writes George Johnson of the National Post.
• Kevin Allen of USA Today says just because Rob Blake is injured right now, that doesn't mean teams aren't going to be interested in his services come trade deadline time.

Here are the Eastern Conference morning papers:

• The Thrashers understand how crucial intra-division games are at this point in this season, writes Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
• The Bruins got down 2-0 yesterday at Buffalo, but stuck to their game plan and came back with an important 3-2 shootout victory over their division rival. Glen Murray returned to the Bruins line-up last night, and coach Claude Julien was impressed with the way the veteran looked in his first game back in 19 games.
• Last night's 3-2 shootout loss to Boston, means the Sabres continue to sit on the outside looking in for this season's playoff race, writes John Vogl of the Buffalo News. “I’m not real happy right now. It’s just unacceptable,” said Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller after his team blew a 2-0 third period lead at home last night to the Bruins.
• By defeating the Capitals 2-1 in Washington last night, the Hurricanes assured themselves first place in the Southeast Division through at least Sunday, writes Luke Decock of the News Observer.
• The Rangers are turning to Steve Valiquette for their matinee affair with the the Flyers today, writes Dan Martin of the NY Post. The Rangers play twice this weekend, and then get five days off, so the team is hoping they can bank some points today and tomorrow, so as to not give up too much ground over the week.
• Joffrey Lupul has been given clearance by Flyers doctors to play this afternoon, writes Tim Panaccio of the Philadelphia Inquirer. With Lupul back in the fold, the Flyers have some new line combinations.
• Sidney Crosby is still far-off from a return to the Penguins line-up, but he skated yesterday with his teammates at practice and gave the whole team a big lift. In other injury news, the Pens are close to sending Marc-Andre Fleury down to Wilkes-Barre for a rehabilitation stint.
• The Capitals were 0-for-7 with the man-advantage on Friday, and that was the main reason they lost 2-1 to the Hurricanes at the Verizon Center.
• The Toronto Star has a very statistically oriented piece about the possible route the Leafs should take for their next GM hire. The Leafs are starting to get some of their main players back into their line-up, writes Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun. Here are some quotes from Detroit GM Ken Holland in the Toronto Sun.
• The Lightning know they still have a pulse in the Southeast Division race but that they have to continue playing top hockey to make up all their lost ground.
• Apparently the trade for which Wade Redden refused to remove his no-trade clause was Redden to San Jose for Matt Carle and a draft pick. The Senators' top line of Spezza-Heatley-Alfredsson will be reunited tonight for the team's important game versus Montreal.
• Mike Comrie is acting more like a leader lately for the Islanders, writes Greg Logan of Newsday.
• The New Jersey fans booed Scott Niedermayer in his return to the swamp, but it was Niedermayer who got the last laugh as his Ducks were victorious 2-1.
• Dave Stubbs of the Montreal Gazette has an intersting article on the reborn Alexei Kovalev.
• The Panthers are expecting to get Ville Peltonen back in the line-up tonight for the first time in two months when they face-off against the Bruins.

Here are the Western Conference morning papers:

• The Ducks have a roster full of big-name players and you'd think they would have been primarily responsible for the team's 2-1 victory at New Jersey yesterday, but it has been their unknown youngsters that have been leading them lately, writes Dan Wood of the Orange Country Register.
• The Flames are going to make sure they don't take the bait this time around when they face-off against Zach Stortini and the Edmonton Oilers.
• Evgeni Nabokov was the difference last night, as the Blue Jackets came into San Jose and outshot the Sharks but still came away with a 2-1 overtime loss. Meanwhile, Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said Ole Tollefsen should have known better than to go after Craig Weller with his hands down.
• Mike Modano is cherishing the challenge of being on the ice in the deciding moments of a game, writes Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News.
• The Wings are excited as a team to play on Hockey Day in Canada, writes Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.
• Wild coach Jacques Lemaire wants more consistency in his team's game, writes Kent Youngblood of the Star Tribune.
• "Nabby obviously won this game for us," said Joe Thornton after his team's 2-1 overtime win hosting the Blue Jackets. Here is some information on the almost trade involving Wade Redden.
• Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Dispatch provides readers with the details behind the decision to make Eric Brewer the new Blues captain.
• The Blackhawks are still hoping to make the playoffs, writes Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune.
• Sheldon Souray underwent season-ending surgery on his shoulder yesterday and will be ready for training camp come September. The Oilers know they will be facing a pumped-up Flames team, but they are ready for the Battle of Alberta.
• The Predators need better play and scoring production from their second line, writes Paul Kuharsky of the Tennessean.
• Coyotes GM Don Maloney says he doesn't see his team making any significant moves prior to the trade deadline.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.

Email any thoughts, ideas or suggestions to illegalcurve@gmail.com

News You Can Use Late in the Day

1. TSN wonders where Jarome Iginla fits in on the all-time list of Flamers.
2. Blackhawks winger Tuomo Ruutu was mistakenly taken into custody yesterday in Bensenville, IL after police mistook him for a robbery suspect.
3. No criminal charges will be laid in the 8-year old brawl fiasco in Guelph.
4. A bus carrying the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL was involved in a crash, seriously injuring the driver.
5. Alan Weiss with a report on prospects currently playing in the ECHL. (Hat tip, Rocky)
6. CHL News and Notes.
7. The American Hockey League announces its Hall of Fame Class for 2008.
8. Eric Duhatschek campaigns for a larger ice surface.
9. Are you sick of all the Leafs/JFJ talk? Me too. Go here for relief.
10. The Fan590 will retract its allegation that Sean Avery made disparaging remarks about Jason Blake.
11. Jim Matheson notes that the Oilers must make re-signing Tom Gilbert a priority.
12. A look around the American Hockey League.
13. Boy Devereaux satisfies his taste for music by starting up a music label.
14. Markus Naslund is enjoying a resurgence in Vancouver.
15. An artist has created nude paintings of Bobby Orr and Derek Sanderson. (Hat tip, Amanda)
16. The Lundqvist brothers are each other's biggest fans.
17. Shawn P. Roarke lists 10 Free Agents who might wish they had stayed at home.
18. Fanhouse notes that Kipper may be out of shape and Dion Phaneuf is full of himself.
19. Want old stats? David Staples has 'em for you.
20. Alex Kovalev happy with his production, but would like more even-strength goals.
21. James Duthie decries the trap, but notes that it is effective.
22. Mike Comrie says that dating Hilary Duff has gained him a lot of friends in the NHL.
23. The Avs recall TJ Hensick.
24. NHL Media Guides provide a wealth of info about players personal lives.
25. Check out the updates on the Hockey News Series about Roseau, MN. Week 2, Week 3, Week 4.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Kyle Kosior.