Maria Sharapova's first, Alex Ovechkin's third.

Russian magazine "Finance." (yes, with the dot at the end :-) has compiled the list of 25 richest Russian athletes:

Maria Sharapova is first, but her income has declined by $1.5 million to $24 million compared to last year, according to "Finance.". Maria has earned only $0.9 million on the court, the rest of her income came from advertising contracts. For the majority of other athletes the main source of income and sometimes the only one is the contract with their sports team.

The second place belongs, as it was last year, to a basketball player Andrei Kirilenko, Russia's highest paid athlete, if we take into account the income from the contract only. The amount of his contract is estimated at $ 15.1 million, and it can go up if the St. Petersburg's alumni will sign with New Jersey Nets, recently bought by Mikhail Prokhorov, the richest man in Russia according to "Finance.".

The third is Alexander Ovechkin with $12 million. His existing contract with the club (Washington Capitals) has remained unchanged, but the advertising revenue brought Russia's best hockey player additional $3 million.

Source: www.finansmag.ru/news/45769

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Ovechkin at Cavaliers-Wizards game yesterday

dcsportsbog: Ovechkin and Backstrom seem to be sharing a moment


We know who is huge LeBron's fan. :-)


dcsportsbog: Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green, who gets the award for hanging out with the most D.C. athletes from the most different sports.

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Morning read

TH at Japer's Rink translated Sport-Express article about Ovi and Varlamov, good job!

Ovi was at Cavaliers - Wizards game last night.

Tweets:

JapersRink: Matt Bradley and I are cut from the same cloth. Him: face busted open, scores game-winner. Me: hand-sanitizer in a paper cut, keeps typing.

washcaps: As if Matt Bradley didn't do enough last night, National Geographic reminds us that he's saving the earth as well...

Matt Bradley:

Can you summarize what your actions have been so far?
As far as what I've done with our team, a couple years ago I noticed there was no recycling of our [plastic] water bottles and Gatorade bottles. So I just suggested we get some bins, and instead of throwing them away just start recycling them. The next step last year with the team was we bought reusable bottles, and [we're] trying to cut down on using [bottled water] and [are] instead using filtered water in our room.


Photo by Heather Mabb

Has the team been using [the reusable bottles]?
Not everyone is, but most of the guys are. And same with the recycling, the players and staff have really come on board and done a great job.

More...



Fedorov and his little big bro are injured, their team is losing. Here's the article about Fedorov in Russian www.HotIceMag.com/special/18/. He is still not happy how he was treated in Detroit. Oh, well, at least he had a good time in Washington. And who is not when playing with Ovechkin?

This was all over the internet yesterday, first saw it at Empty Netters: "Hockey fans may be familiar with Alex Ovechkin's signature celebration of jumping into the glass boards to pump up the fans. This maneuver does not always go according to plan, however."

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Ovechkin's facebook photo

Found this on "Alexander Ovechkin" facebook group. If someone knows where it come from, I'd be happy to post it.

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Ovechkin: I am happy to come back

Ovie's post game


A very good article by CHRISTOPHER BOTTA, nhl.fanhouse.com, Nov. 17, 2009, "Alex Ovechkin: The Classic Superstar":

Bennett, the director of hockey imagery for Getty Images, reviews his work and a few options provided by his associates.


NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: (L-R) Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals celebrate their 4-2 win over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on November 17, 2009 in New York, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)


"I'm looking at a lot of frames -- from warmups! -- and in every single one Ovechkin is out of focus. He's so fast, it's ridiculous, but the real challenge is that he's a waterbug. He can't stand still. I think even he doesn't know where he's going all the time. NHL defensemen can't keep up with him and neither can I."

That said, the photographers adore this on-ice artist.

"He's still the favorite of most of us," said Bennett, who has been shooting the NHL for 34 years. "The key to great images is the action, of course, but just as much it's the faces. Ovechkin wears his heart on his sleeve and he has such an expressive face. If you keep up with him, he makes it worthwhile."



"He's our most requested jersey," said Meisel, who gets to move about 10 Ovechkin game-worns a year. "We hear more from true hockey fans about Alex than anyone else in the league. He's effervescent, he's exciting, he plays like he loves the game. Fans respond to him. Of all the current players, I think Ovechkin is the game's greatest ambassador."

That's why global sports, media and entertainment giant IMG last month signed Ovechkin for exclusive marketing and management. He's why the Capitals' fundraising efforts for charities boom with a signed Ovechkin stick, if not an appearance by the star himself. Washington PR director Nate Ewell said Ovechkin autographed an estimated 5,000 items last season for charity.




Ovechkin is the reason why youth hockey leagues have sprung up all over the Beltway. He's the reason the Capitals' beat, fading just five years ago, is now a high priority for the Washington Post. "Ever since Alex won the Calder Trophy, the demand for coverage has been constant," said Post reporter Tarik El-Bashir, who has been on the beat since the lockout. "But that's the effect Alex has had on the media everywhere. Whenever the Caps play on the road, there's a lot more press than there used to be."

"On any given shift, he can make the play of the year," said VERSUS coordinating producer Mike Baker. "I've been working hockey on TV since 1980 and I've never seen a player exude such joy. For our purposes, Alex has been a gem. He's never said no, and we've made many requests of him. He understands the importance of bringing in viewers and bringing them closer to the game. And his reactions after goals are priceless."

Sure enough, when Ovechkin scored on a slap shot just 15 minutes into his first game in 15 days, he didn't act like he'd been there before. He shouted. He raised a fist to the air. He bear-hugged his teammates.

As much as the game missed him, Ovechkin missed scoring goals. Most of all, he missed the celebrations.

"That was unbelievable," he said. "That felt good."

More...

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Ovechkin, Bradley Stats: 1 shot, 1 goal

Ovi comes back and he scores !!! But my hero of this game is Matt Bradley, a punching bag for the most on his recent fights, but this kid never gives up.


NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates out for warmups prior to his game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on November 17, 2009 in New York, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)



NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals scores a first period goal against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on November 17, 2009 in New York, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Ovi's stats:
1 goal, -1, total ice time 19:23, 22 shifts, average shift 00:52, PP 05:48, 1 shot, 2 shots attemped/blocked, 4 shots missed. 7 hits, 1 takeaway

Usually Ovi has about 5 minutes more on his ice time, good thing BB controlled him going out there after the injury. :-)

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: Aaron Voros #34 of the New York Rangers and Matt Bradley #10 of the Washington Capitals fight during first period action at Madison Square Garden on November 17, 2009 in New York, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Bradley had almost lost his fight tonight, but he came back and won the game for Caps.

TarikElBashir:

Matt Bradley to dressing room for stitches after fight with Aaron Voros. Bradley held his own, but got a gash over his left eye.

Matt was one assist short of getting Gordie Howe's hat trick (a goal, a fight and an assist) and was second (4) to Ovie (7) in hits in this game.

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Ovechkin talks to media before NYR game

Ovi, Boudreau talk to media before NYR game

Boudreau: "Unless something negative happens this afternoon and I don't get the OK from Smitty (head athletic trainer Greg Smith) to play him, than I think he would be back."

Ted's Take:

Read Mike Vogel’s article. We feel so blessed to read where the two-time defending MVP of the NHL says - in regards to new line changes and schemas because of injuries on our team - ”I don’t care where I play. If the team needs me down low, I am going down low.”

That kind of team-oriented attitude and selflessness is what separates Alex from many other great players. He is all about team. He is coachable still. He respects the game. He is a winner.

I hope to say tonight, “Welcome back Alex! We missed you. Go have some fun out there. Go Caps!”

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The return of Ovechkin (update)

Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals smiles as he skates off the ice after a 4-3 win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Thursday. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Capitals Insider:

It's been a couple of weeks since we've seen this: Alex Ovechkin practicing on the top line. Coach Bruce Boudreau, meantime, has shuffled his forward combos this morning at Prudential Center.

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Clark
Laich-Morrison-Semin
Fleischmann-Perreault-Bradley
Laing-Steckel-Fehr

Coach Bruce Boudreau was coy when asked whether Alex Ovechkin would be back in the lineup tomorrow, saying: "As of today, he's in."

So it appears that as long as there aren't any setbacks, he should return from a 16-day layoff against the Rangers tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden.

Here's a video of Ovechkin from this morning's practice at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Ovechkin ready to return from Wash Post Sports on Vimeo.

Tweets:

• TarikElBashir: Alex Ovechkin is the first player on the ice at Prudential Center. He's on the top line with Nicklas Backstrom and Chris Clark.


• JapersRink: Is this the week Ovechkin returns? Is this the week Nylander is gone? Is this the week?


• washcaps: The Capitals' morning skate tomorrow at MSG will be at 10:30 am. NYR skating at practice rink, so Ovi can sit on the bench beforehand.

Update:

Ovi, BB talk to media after morning skate

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Missing Ovie

The day is coming, maybe this Tuesday Ovi will be back...


Old stuff, but worth watching it for true Ovi fans; Ovie tries to re-create THE GOAL at practice.

More from Emily:

This is not my picture but it is from that day: My brother and I went to Kettler to watch practice on Veterans Day and we got the singular treat of having Ovie shoot pucks at us for about fifteen minutes.




And apropos of nothing, his water bottle

Again, thanks to Emily!

Update:
Got email from a person who actually took those pictures:

The 2 photos you posted (Ovi and Semin at Kettler and his water bottle) are actually photos that I took. I don't mind that you use them at all (in fact, I'm quite honored!!!) but if you could please give proper credit, that would be wonderful. Thank you!

Heather Mabb

Here are Heather's photos on flickr.

Thanks to all Ovi fans and I am just one of you.

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Give trap its due respect

It was kind of laughable when I read Pierre LeBrun's blog where Pierre claims that only after Scotty Bowman told Yzerman to play defense first the Red Wings were able to succeed. Pierre forgot to mention that about the same time the famous talk happened Red Wings had installed the trap named "left wing lock". And why they did it? They lost to NJ Devils in playoffs.

Even if Ovechkin will play as a defenseman, without a some form of trap Caps are not going far in playoffs.

Here's an article by Rob Rossi, the Penguins beat writer, "Give trap its due respect":

I know what to expect from the Devils, and it doesn't bother me at all. Indeed, I'm caught up in defending the neutral-zone trap.

Call me a sucker for strategy and a fan of rigid discipline when it comes to appreciating what hockey's most hated system routines offer — the best chance for teams to win on the road.

New Jersey's trap is perfectly designed for winning on the road during the regular season — though having Martin Brodeur between the pipes is a nice part of the equation.

Watch how the Devils trap under head coach Jacques Lemaire, the godfather of its modern-day standing. His players are seemingly never out of position. They almost always know when to flip the switch from patient to aggressive. Opponents are left shaking their heads by midway through the first period — because the Devils' trap not only denies time and space to force turnovers; it also causes frustration that leads to unforced turnovers.

In its own way, the Devils' trap is a thing of beauty.

If anything, the NHL would do well to educate its fans on the history of the trap, which was a championship-system before the Devils reintroduced it to the masses in the mid 1990s.

As legendary Penguins adviser Eddie Johnston told me last year, "Those great Canadiens teams in the '70s played the trap."

Well, no negativity here. I say it gets a bad reputation. I also say that it will keep the Devils in the thick of the Atlantic Division race until the very end.

Penguins do play trap, not always, but they know how to play it. And that's why they beat Caps in the 7th game on the road.

Rossi is right, trap is perfect for the road game, but it is obviously unbelievably boring system. Here's the suggestion for Caps: play road game trapping the neutral zone and play Boudreau's run 'n' gun style at home.

Until that happened even the greatest player in the World won't be able to win playoffs singlehandedly.

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