RangersReds03
Well-Known Member
ummm
No Thanks
i don't blame you, that guy is unmoveable
ummm
No Thanks
i don't blame you, that guy is unmoveable
OP's got a point. Regardless of how much actually is Ovechkin's fault, the past 12 months have been brutal on him. Not in terms of his actual hockey product, but all the other elements that make up a player. A deep playoff run would have helped tremendously, but now the season has ended in the absolute worst way possible. It will be a tough off-season I'm sure.
Can you imagine if he wins the Hart? I mean, it's probably the most likely outcome, but will he be excited to receive it?
[/B]OP's got a point. Regardless of how much actually is Ovechkin's fault, the past 12 months have been brutal on him. Not in terms of his actual hockey product, but all the other elements that make up a player. A deep playoff run would have helped tremendously, but now the season has ended in the absolute worst way possible. It will be a tough off-season I'm sure.
[B]Can you imagine if he wins the Hart? I mean, it's probably the most likely outcome, but will he be excited to receive it?
Is there a fucking question in there somewhere or what?
What happened to asking a question without having to read a whole book in the process?
In the past 12 months, Alex Ovechkin has:
1. lost a humiliating game 7 to his on ice rival after playing his ass off for 6 straight games.
2. been a part of a team that layed a total egg in the Winter Olympics and coming home medalless after being a heavy favorite.
3. seen his game scrutinized more heavily than ever before. What was once called passion and drive was now called reckless and dangerous.
4. lost his image as everybody's loveable caveman and seen his public persona take a serious hit outside of his team's home town.
5. been repeatedly punished for his on ice behavior.
6. watched his team blow a 3-1 lead in a first round playoff series against an 8 seed when his team was the overall number 1 team in the league.
Much of the above is not in any way the fault of Alex, individually, but he was the face of the teams involved. His honeymoon in the media is over. It is not all bad news as he has helped his team to a record regular season performance, been named captain of his team and beat some personal miletsones, but the fact remains that the past 12 months have been disappointment after disappointment after disappointment for AO.
He is 24 years old. How will he respond? Will this motivate him, or will it break him down to some degree? Who knows, but it is an un-enviable position to be in.
He'll be alright. He is a competitor.
Not everybody gets Stanley Cup at 18. The guy is still young, he'll have a shot at it
He'll have a shot at is as long as the Caps shore up their defense. And they could use a few Max Talbot's.
If only every team had a superstar.
It's been a tough year for Ovechkin, but he'll play for the Cup in his career, I don't doubt that. Last year they were one game away from playing for the Cup, assuming they could handle the Canes. This year they just ran into the hottest goalie in the league. It happens.
Next year he's still the favorite for the Richard, the Caps are still favored for their division, and they're be in a similar position. It's just about finding the final pieces to the puzzle.
The biggest issue I find is the back-and-forth hockey that gets played in Washington. They take more risks to score goals than other teams in the league. Sure, the offensive stats will look great, but they risk a little too much in the playoffs where the games are closer. Maybe it's not an Ovechkin issue and it's a coaching issue.
The biggest issue I find is the back-and-forth hockey that gets played in Washington. They take more risks to score goals than other teams in the league. Sure, the offensive stats will look great, but they risk a little too much in the playoffs where the games are closer. Maybe it's not an Ovechkin issue and it's a coaching issue.
OK,
There is A TON of good thought and insightful analysis on this thread and I really have anjoyed reading it.
I do, however, want to reiterate my point in making it.
Ovie has played outstanding and given his all in every shift that he has taken but it has not been enough to carry his team. This has to be frustrating. I really think that this next season is going to be CRITICAL to his development. This has happened before and some athletes have built their team up and created dynasties that work around them (Troy Aikman, Kobe Bryant, Sid Crosby, Ray Lewis). Others have crashed and burned (Terrell Owens, Eric Lindros, Barry Bonds).
I think he is more like the former of the list and think that with the right nucleus, he can be successful, but I am just worried about what is going through his head right now. We all know how bad Alex takes even the smallest of losses. I just hope that he has the emotional ability to handle this and channel it into working on building up his team and teammates from within.
Step 1, before dealing with the coach or roster is to SIGN NICKLAS BACKSTROM LONG TERM AND GIVE HIM AN A. He is Ovies rock. He is a perfect linemate and a locker room support. He is quiet on the ice but loud in the locker room and Ovie needs to know that he has his back for a long long time. I realize that guys like Knuble and Morrison and Poti are veterans and are given the A as a sign of respect, but Backy has been there longer than either. He and Ovie are the nucleus of this team and they need to know that as do their teammates.
(done ranting, still kind of shell shocked)
So what is the question? Are you asking whether or not Ovechkin is a choker?
I don't think he is but there seems to be something missing. From what I saw last night and at the Olympics is this though. He tries to do it all by himself in these types of situations and it makes him easy to defend. You can never do it all on your own, I don't care who you are. He just needs to trust his teammates a little more and use them to his advantage. All last night he tried to pull of the big play all on his own and it failed every time.
Just my 2 cents.
How do you think he will handle a 12 month period loaded with disappointment and heartbreak (in the hockey sense, he needs only look to his Goalie for perspective)?