Capitals are now a Stanley Cup contender thanks to Ilya Kovalchuk

The Washington Capitals now have a golden opportunity to win a Stanley Cup thanks to the addition of Ilya Kovalchuk.

The Washington Capitals addressed both their offensive woes and defensive struggles with their two additions prior to the Trade deadline. Brenden Dillon will help the play in front of Braden Holtby and Ilya Samsonov. The player that will help put the Caps over the edge come spring time? Ilya Kovalchuk.

“So many good things have been said about him on and off the ice in Montreal that we basically thought it was a no-brainer to add him,” MacLellan told reporters via The Washington Post’s Samantha Pell (subscription required).

MacLellan said he envisioned Kovalchuk on the third line at the right wing position which was where he was during Tuesday night’s game against the Winnipeg Jets. There was some speculation he had a choice between the Caps and the Boston Bruins, though he denied such reports existed.

More from Editorials

There’s one thing not denying however, the Capitals are better and are now a Cup contender thanks to the Kovalchuk addition even if Caps fans won’t see an Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Kovalchuk line. If that was the case that would be beyond our wildest dreams.

MacLellan added in the same article:

"“I think he (Kovalchuk) views our team as having a chance to win a championship, and that’s his main priority. I think he likes the style of play that we have. I’ve talked to him a couple times about accepting a role, and he’s pretty clear in his mind that he’ll do anything as long as he has a chance to win a championship.”"

Kovalchuk is the fifth Russian on the Capitals joining the likes of Alex Ovechkin, Dmitry Orlov, Samsonov, and Evgeny Kuznetsov.

He also helps bolster a bottom six that needed some additional depth. Lars Eller and Carl Hagelin will benefit having him on their third line. Perhaps Richard Panik improves in a move to the fourth line or he rotates with Brendan Leipsic.

For Ovechkin and Kovalchuk, it’s a childhood dream realized. They talked about playing together since they were 13 years old. They were teammates internationally with Team Russia but never in the NHL… until now.

Ovechkin told reporters:

"“You never know what’s going to happen, but sometimes in the summer we would say, ‘It would be nice if you’re going to be one day on the Washington Capitals team”"

More. Capitals vs. Jets. light

Now he is. And they’re better off with him. Hopefully soon we’ll see Kovalchuk light the lamp. The opportunity is there to achieve more glory. It’s up to the Capitals, and Kovalchuk, to seize it.

Home/Editorials