Ilya Kovalchuk Adds New Dimension To Cup Hopeful Devils

Devils ride surge into playoffs
Tom Gulitti The Record April 13, 2010

The biggest difference, however, is the presence of Ilya Kovalchuk, the two-time 50-goal scorer who Lamoriello acquired in a Feb. 4 trade with Atlanta. The addition of Kovalchuk, who scored 41 regular-season goals, has given the Devils a potent one-two punch with Zach Parise, who scored 38.

They also now have one of the game’s most dynamic and talented players.

"He certainly brings a different dimension to a team and brings you someone capable of breaking a game open at any given time," Lamoriello said of Kovalchuk. "More importantly, how he’s fit in with the team, how he’s accepted the team, how the team has accepted him with the abilities that he brings, all of that is a factor going into the playoffs."

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New Jersey Gamebreaker: Ilya Kovalchuk

Mike G. Morreale NHL.com April 11, 2010

Wondering what keeps New Jersey Devils winger Ilya Kovalchuk up at night? How about the fact he's never won a Stanley Cup Playoff game in his seven-plus seasons.

"Our team (Atlanta) lost all four games in our only playoff appearance (in 2006-07), but I remember the great atmosphere in those games," Kovalchuk said. "But I'm still looking for first win in the playoffs."

The fact Kovalchuk had been winless in the postseason was of no concern to Devils General Manager Lou Lamoriello when he pulled the trigger on a five-player trade with the Thrashers in February to acquire the perennial 40-goal scorer....

While Kovalchuk adds a similar dynamic offensive presence for the Devils, not to mention a cannon for a shot, he also has an insatiable appetite to succeed at both ends and a powerful presence on the power-play. Kovalchuk has scored at least 12 power-play goals in each of the last six seasons.

"He's been very steady in his work," Devils coach Jacques Lemaire said of Kovalchuk. "He's played hard since he's been here. He makes things happen either for him or guys' he's playing with."...

"He knows how to make other people around him better, as you can see by the assists he gets," Lamoriello said. "He can do things that a lot of people can't do."

Kovalchuk is just the type of game-breaker the Devils will need to advance deep in the Stanley Cup Playoffs....

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Kovalchuk Trade Analysis: Devils turn back the clock

Phil Coffey of NHL.com applauds New Jersey Devils GM Lou Lamoriello for making a mega trade for superstar Ilya Kovalchuk. Coffey believes that tonight's trade was errily similar to a move Lamoriello made in 2000 when he traded for another Russian sniper Alexander Mogilny. Ten years latter the Devils hope Kovalchuk could produce similar results, as Mogilny was an important part of the Devils team that won the 2000 Stanley Cup and came within one game of back-to-back Cups in 2001. To learn more about the Devils recent trade for Ilya Kovalchuk and how it may affect their playoff hopes, please visit this link.