probably what bothered me the most this off-season was the fact the
kovalev was desparate to come back to the pens where he played the best
hockey of his career.

when the penguins made no efforts to sign him he went back to montreal
and pittsburgh ended up with "plan B," ziggy palffy.

i agree though that taking some of the pain of this year out of the
picture, he's done a pretty good job-- trading up to get MAFluery,
malkin's on the way, and of course (until his hands were tied
financially) he brought us kovey (the first time), lang, straka (back
into the fold). no doubt though that he never got the hang of the
defensive side of the equation IMO.