Analysis: Kovalev's ability to distribute the puck would make him a good fit with Crosby

-- 38 year old winger Alex Kovalev tells anyone who listens that he is still the same player he was 8 years ago during his first stint with the Penguins.

Kovalev has appeared in five games with the Penguins thus far and there's three areas of his game where the skill and offensive ability is still there:

1. The skating is still there from Kovalev; 2. He still has that unique creative ability when carrying the puck through the neutral zone and 1-on-1 ability; 3. He remains an excellent passer and that's been really evident so far.

The one area of Kovalev's game that isn't on par where it use to be is his shot. He's lost some zip off of that once famous shot but that's expected at age 38.

A question in Pens circles is how Kovalev and Sidney Crosby would mesh together. Due to Kovalev's excellent playmaking ability, the two could have the opportunity to be dynamic together as Crosby has evolved into one of the games top goal scorers.

Since Crosby's emerged as a premier goal scorer in 2009, he's never played with anyone consistently who can distribute the puck to him at an elite level. In Kovalev, he would have that guy.