Was Alexei Kovalev On The Russian Gas When He Made This Insane Trick Shot Video 10 Years Ago?

So I came across this tweet on twitter today and it brought me back down memory lane. I remember the first time I saw this video. This was like porn to a me. I was like twelve years old, I was a nerd for the game of hockey. This is the time when you are playing on like two teams, at tournaments every single weekend, multiple practices a night, basically living and breathing hockey. I was a complete hockey nerd, loser. So I would watch this like 10x a day and just be completely baffled how insane it was. Now, more than 10 years later and I still watch this video and am amazed at how much pure skill Alexei Kovalev had.

No question this guy was on the Russian Gas for this video. You can’t just do things like this. This has to be the best hockey skills video of all time, too. And I see all these new crazy skill videos. Pavel Barber puts out some insane stuff. But this is the OG skills video. This was before skills videos were a thing and they were cool. Kovalev was just casually flipping one hand back handers top shelf. .

Do people know how hard this is? Try it. It’s literally the hardest thing in the world. Maybe because I’m weak and scrawny, but I can’t even come close to lift the puck off the ice with a one handed back hander. It’s literally impossible for us normal folk. And this guy can put the puck where ever he wants with one hand, on his back hand. Jesus buddy, save some skill for the rest of us.

And how about this guy tossing some rink long sauce from one knee and landing them on top of the net?

This is absolutely bananas. 10 years later and I’m still baffled by this. And I think this is why you see Kovalev’s name appear on “waste of talent” lists. Which is insane to think about, the guy had over 1,000 points, over 400 goals, played 18 nhl seasons and won a cup despite constantly battling with the media and being called things like lazy and that he didn’t care. Guy had to deal with the media in New York and Montreal. No wonder he got the hell out of the NHL and hasn’t looked back since.

Do I think Kovalev is a hall of famer? Maybe. I mean, 1,000 points and 400 goals is no joke. But do I also think he was a waste of talent? Absolutely. How can you not watch these videos and think he isn’t a waste of talent? He could have put up 50 a year with the skills he had.