Ovechkin Against The World.

By Ross McKeon, Yahoo! Sports, Sept. 29, 2008 "Dark horse with a capital ‘C’":

Alexander Ovechkin is the single most exciting player in the National Hockey League.

No one is a greater threat with the puck on his stick. No one brings more outward and genuine passion to the game. And no superstar whose game is all about offensive enjoys the raw art of delivering a clean hard hit like Ovechkin, night-in and night-out.

Ovechkin alone is worth the price of admission. And you’re better off watching him in person than anywhere else, because you’re sure to miss something if you’re not in the building.

It was no fluke last season that Ovechkin walked off with four major pieces of hardware, and he deserved them all, without question. Two of the trophies come attached to leading statistical categories – the Rocket Richard for Ovechkin’s NHL-high 65 goals (13 more than his closest pursuer) and the Art Ross for his pace-setting 112 points. Ovechkin can take special pride in winning the Lester Pearson and Hart Trophies, MVP designations as voted upon by the league’s players for the former and voted upon by members of the Pro Hockey Writers’ Association for the latter.

The first pick in the 2004 draft had to wait a year to display his immense talents as the league lost the 2004-05 season due to a labor dispute, but he has been the poster boy for the new NHL since the league’s return. Ovechkin has scored 163 goals and 310 points in 245 games. Just 23 years old, Ovechkin has people drawing comparisons to the greatest offensive players in the game and wondering how many records he could own by the end of his career.

Maybe the most impressive part of the story is how refreshing Ovechkin is in terms of his comfort with being a superstar, his ease in talking to everyone in English, and the fact he breaks all stereotypes of Russian players, who are usually more reserved and guarded early in their careers.

Ovechkin is the best thing that could have happened to the Washington Capitals, a franchise that was getting lost in the landscape of D.C. pro sports. But as exciting as Ovechkin has been during his short time in the league, the thing that really brought the fans back in the capital city was Washington’s remarkable rally from worst in the league to a division title in the span of several months.

On the hot seat: As crazy as it sounds, Ovechkin is the man who has no choice but to produce MVP-caliber numbers for the Capitals to excel. That’s not to say he’s going to be the subject of trade rumors or looked at in a bad light if he slips to 45-50 goals and 80-90 points. And certainly he’s not expected to do everything on his own, but Washington doesn’t have the depth, high-end defense or dominating goaltender unless proven otherwise. For now, it’s Ovechkin against the world.

Analysis and prediction: You want your dark-horse Stanley Cup champion? I submit the Washington Capitals. It’s no stretch to imagine this team venturing deep into the Eastern Conference playoffs. You may get some resistance in other cities such as Montreal, Ottawa and New York, but is it really that much of a stretch to imagine the Penguins and Capitals having a heated rivalry over the next decade or so?

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The Last Time D.C. Pro Athlete On The Cover Of The Mag?

DC Sports by Dan Steinberg:

What does Alex Ovechkin's cover appearance on ESPN the Magazine mean?


Besides granting us funny photos of various Caps dressed various supposed Washington D.C. archetypes? With Jose Theodore actually looking convincing as a press secretary?

A quick through the cover archives shows a shocking lack of D.C.-proper pro athletes.

All of which means the last time a real, honest-to-goodness D.C. pro athlete made the cover of The Mag? Michael Jordan, Oct. 15, 2001.

That's a long while ago, and he was never really ours, anyhow. So this is a moment.

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Ovechkin nets another in Caps 3-2 win over NJ

With Chris Clark not on the trip, Ovechkin had the captain's 'C'.

NHL.COM, Sept. 29, 2008:

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) Nylander set up two second-period goals and MVP Alex Ovechkin added a what proved to be a game-winning short-handed tally early in the third as the unbeaten Washington Capitals held off the New Jersey Devils 3-2 on Monday night for their fourth straight preseason victory.

Ovechkin, who scored 65 goals last season, got his third goal in two preseason games on a 2-on-1 rush with David Steckel. Ovechkin carried the puck into the zone, sent a cross-ice pass to Steckel and then dunked the return pass with Weekes out of position.

Johnson made 13 saves in the scoreless first period, with his best being a snapping glove save on Fedor Fedorov, whose brother Sergei was given the night off by Boudreau.

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Ovechkin got a GWG, +0 and his ice time was 24:52 (Power Play 08:29, Short Handed 01:33, Even 14:50), only Mike Green had more ice time (26:15)

Fedor Fedorov had 1 assist, +1, and 14:29 of ice time.

Corey Masisak, TWT:

Sure, it is just the preseason but the Caps continue to roll through the exhibition season, knocking off the Devils 3-2 at The Rock. Alex Ovechkin and David Steckel hooked up for a nifty shorthanded give-and-go 27 seconds into the third period. There was some debate about whether it was a pass or muffed shot by Steckel, but he told me afterwards the puck was in his skates and he had no chance to shoot it, so it was a pass all the way.

Other notes from the night:

• Bruce Boudreau said Viktor Kozlov is fine. He felt his groin tightening up, so the Caps gave him the quick hook.



• Boudreau wasn't too happy with the long shifts the Alexes were taking once they were paired together on the top line.



• Boudreau on Michael Nylander: "I think he's a little bit on a mission himself. Here's a guy who got [83] points two years ago and then he gets hurt and he misses the last half of the year and the team succeeds without him. He's come in here and said, 'I am a good hockey player. I am one of the elite guys in the NHL,' and he was two years ago when we signed him."




• Donald Brashear had a lengthy tilt with Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond (say that three times fast) in the third period, which ended with both players standing, but he clearly felt he was the victor.

Capitals Insider:

• With Chris Clark not on the trip, Ovechkin had the captain's 'C'.


• Boudreau expressed dismay over Ovechkin and Semin taking long shifts. For the game, Ovechkin averaged 1:18 and Semin averaged 1:10. The ideal shift is about 45 seconds.



• More good news for the Caps: Nicklas Backstrom appeared to be most recovered from his sprained right ankle. He skated on the first line with Ovechkin and Semin (who replaced Kozlov on the top unit).


"There were a few situations where it felt a little weird," Backstrom said of his ankle. "But it's okay. It's going to be like this for a few weeks or a month. I just have to do the best I can."


• The announced attendance was 8,536, though it was probably half that at The Rock.



• Donald Brashear got into a prolonged, bloody bout with Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond (that's one person, in case you're wondering). Both combatants landed their share of blows, but since P.L.L.L. had blood streaming from his scalp afterward, I guess Brash won the decision.
  
  He would probably agree with that assessment since he dusted off his hands (in the direction of the Devils' bench) as he headed to the penalty box.

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Update from Japer's Rink:

Fire&Ice, NJ Blog on Leblond:
For Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, it was about doing his job. But, as a French-Canadian from Levis, Quebec, the Devils rookie enforcer admitted his third period fight with Washington's Donald Brashear also meant something more than that to him.

"The guy is from Quebec-City, he's a French-Canadian and I've been watching him growing up and now I'm here fighting him," Leblond said after tonight's 3-2 preseason loss to the Capitals at Prudential Center. "It's kind of special."

Leblond ended up with a four-stitch cut on the back of his head (left side), but held his own pretty well in a fight with one of the NHL's toughest heavyweights. Although Brashear won the bout, Leblond landed a few pretty good shots and earned Brashear's respect enough that the Caps winger gave him a couple of pats on the rear end when it was over.

"All game long he was asking me if I was tough, in French," Leblond said. "He said, 'good fight.'"

By Rich Chere, NJ.com, "Tired Devils get a day off"

"We're trying to see what guys can do," Sutter explained. "Sometimes we put young kids out against experienced players like (Alex) Ovechkin's line. Just to see how they respond to it. When you're behind the bench, you're thinking of all these scenerios how we can help these kids in their development. What will help them down the road and what they can expect down the road."

Feel-good Stories Coming Out Of DC ?

Luke DeCock, Sporting News, Sept. 28, 2008, Raleigh News & Observer

There haven't been many feel-good stories coming out of the District of Columbia lately, but the Washington Capitals have had more than their share.

There was the minor-league journeyman -- with a cameo in "Slap Shot," no less -- who was named coach of a last-place team on Thanksgiving Day and led it to a division title on the season's last day.

There was the ebullient young superstar who won just about every trophy the NHL has to offer and made political history when he became the first Russian to be given the key to the city. (Somewhere, Ronald Reagan is rolling over in his grave.)

There was the defenseman who started scoring goals like crazy and, through hazy eyes, looked like the next coming of Bobby Orr.

Coach Bruce Boudreau, forward Alex Ovechkin and defenseman Mike Green, respectively, gave Caps fans plenty to cheer about last season, most notably their first playoff berth since 2003.

Optimism remains high in Washington, where interest in hockey surged after years on the wane thanks to disastrous trades (Jaromir Jagr, please step forward) and miserable, low-budget teams.

After taking Ovechkin with the first pick in the 2004 draft, owner Ted Leonsis promised fans he would eventually start spending some money and build a team around the star. It just took a few seasons -- and Ovechkin rewarded Leonsis by signing a contract extension for $124 million in January that will keep him in Washington for the next 13 years.

Ovechkin, who will turn 23 before opening night, remains the centerpiece of everything the Capitals do, from his enthusiasm on and off the ice to his incomparable skill. Not even Sidney Crosby shows the kind of flair Ovechkin displays on a regular basis and, as his English improves, he has the potential to become a crossover pop star. Already, he has his own clothing line.

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R.I.P. Reggie...

Sad day for hockey fans all over the World...
By Stu Hackel, NYT Slap Shot blog, Sept. 27, 2008, "Hockey Mourns the Passing of Reggie Dunlap"

The Charlestown Chiefs announced today the passing of former coach Reginald (Reggie) Dunlap, who famously coached the Chiefs to the Federal League Championship in 1977.

Dunlap (aka Paul Newman) died Friday at his home in Westport, Conn. He was 83.

capitals.nhl.com:

Boudreau had a bit part in “Slapshot,” and he was asked about his memories of Newman after Saturday’s game.

“It’s unfortunate,” said the Caps bench boss. “My wife phoned me [and told me] that. What a great humanitarian. A fabulous actor. I watched so many of his movies. As you know, I met him a little bit. A humanitarian to the end. He had a great life. My condolences go to his family.”

Ovechkin Role Model for Caps Rookies

Cory Wolfe, The StarPhoenix, Sept. 26, 2008, "Holtby relishes Ovechkin's parting shots":

Holtby, the Capitals' fourth-round selection last June, was one of six goaltenders at main camp. He and veteran Jose Theodore formed one goaltending tandem for the scrimmages.

"I've never had so much fun playing hockey in my life," said Holtby. "Every moment you're so aware. You're so focused, even in practice. (The veterans') hard work runs down and rubs off on you."

Ovechkin's enthusiasm was contagious, too. The Russian wunderkind clearly enjoyed even the most mundane aspects of training camp, said Holtby.

"The whole time we were doing fitness testing, he was there bouncing on a Swiss workout ball. He's like a little kid almost, but you can see the love he has for the game.

"He wasn't like any other veteran player. He was there for all of rookie camp, just watching or interacting with the players. It's amazing to see a guy like that. He makes $10 million a year, yet you can see his love for the game every second."
Holtby confessed he was a bit starstruck at first. Players he's watched on TV for years were suddenly pelting him with rubber -- and those shots were humming.

"Ovechkin and (Alexander) Semin have world-class shots," said Holtby. "They're outstanding. You make a little mistake and they can expose you. In your head, you go over what you can and can't do at the NHL level before you get there, but when you see it firsthand, you really see what you have to work on."

By RYAN PYETTE, London Free Press, Sept. 25, 2008, "Ovechkin role model for Taylor":

At the Washington Capitals training camp, Taylor didn't need to look far to find that kind of role model. It came from the same player everyone was watching.

"You're on the ice with Alexander Ovechkin and he's the hardest-working guy out there," said the 19-year-old Londoner and Caps' sixth-rounder in 2007. "He had the same intensity the whole time and it's nice to see. The best player in the NHL and that's the effort he puts out on every drill. It's an eye-opener. If he can do it like that, there's no reason everybody else can't.

"You see what it takes to be the best. I'm definitely taking that lesson back with me."

Taylor was returned to the Knights late Tuesday and practised with the club yesterday. After Ovechkin's example, don't expect to hear about head coach Dale Hunter or assistant Pat Curcio having to chew out Taylor for dogging it during a drill.

tricityherald.com, Sept. 25, 2008:

At 6-foot-5, Eric Mestery doesn’t look up to many people, but at the Washington Capitals camp this past week, the Tri-City Americans defenseman was the little man on campus.

With names like Ovechkin, Semin and Fedorov on the ice, Mestery soaked up every bit of information he could before returning to the Tri-Cities on Tuesday.

“It was pretty good,” said Mestery, a second-round draft pick (57th overall) of the Capitals in June. “I got to see (Alex) Ovechkin and all the superstars out there. I got to play against Ovechkin and (Alexander) Semin in the main camp. I don’t know if they were really trying, but I didn’t get scored on by them and they probably could have.”

Mestery, 18, participated in the Capitals rookie camp in July, but this time around, he said they offered some advice.

Top player contribution list

ALAN RYDER, Globe and Mail, Sept. 26, 2008

Lists of top performances generate considerable, passionate debate amongst hockey fans. As every individual looks at this kind of question through their own lens, there is no right answer.

My normal lens is the contribution of individual player performances to team success. This means that I am interested in a comprehensive assessment of a player's impact on a team. To do this properly one must consider the various things a player does to contribute to a team's success and give them appropriate weight in an overall assessment. But it is no small assignment to sort out the things that matter and those that do not.

The tool I use for measuring individual player impact is a method I call 'Player Contribution' (or PC). Because it has been scaled to team success, PC is denominated in team points. A PC point is approximately 1/10th of a standings point and the PC points allocated to a team are therefore about 10 times point in the standings.

The list you were expecting was probably the one below — the top six individual contributions by skaters:

   Player              Team Pos PC
1. Alexander Ovechkin  WAS  LW  162
2. Jarome Iginla       CAL  RW  141
3. Pavel Datsyuk       DET  C   132
4. Ilya Kovalchuk      ATL  LW  124
5. Nicklas Lidstrom    DET  D   121
6. Henrik Zetterberg   DET  LW  121

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Who is the highest paid hockey player in the World?

No, it's not Alexander Ovechkin, it's former Washington Capitals player Jaromir Jagr (h/t to Ranger Pundit)

Prague Daily Monitor, Sept. 2, 2008, "Jaromír Jágr now world's best-paid hockey player":

Prague, Sept 2 (CTK) - Czech renowned ice hockey forward Jaromir Jagr, 36, who has left the NHL and plays for Russia's Omsk now, has become the world's best-paid hockey player again, the daily Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) wrote Tuesday.
In Avantgard Omsk, which he joined in July, Jagr earns an annual 7 million dollars.

This is 3 million less than Dany Heatley earns in the NHL, but Heatley spends more than a half of his pay on taxes. Jagr pays only 13 percent in taxes, which puts his annual net income at the equivalent of 100 million crowns, MfD writes.

"Jagr's pay largely consists of a varying part that depends on his team's success and on how fit he is," says Jaroslav Zidek, who negotiated Jagr's contract with Omsk.

Unlike in New York, where Jagr, then New York Rangers player, rented a luxurious apartment in Manhattan, he pays nothing for housing in Omsk. Everything is covered by his hockey club.

He has received his own driver and is eligible for free catering at the local sports stadium.

"I spend 10 hours a day there," he admitted recently.

Jagr is clearly the best-paid and most cherished star of the new Continental League that started Tuesday.

George W. Bush never felt the lovin' Ovechkin is receiving in D.C.

By MIKE ZEISBERGER, SUN MEDIA, Sept. 25, 2008, "Ovechkin set to rock the Capital":

Alexander Ovechkin is in a rush.

It is Monday afternoon, and the reigning MVP of the NHL is on the other end of the line from Washington, politely slogging through yet another interview.

Yes, he will be disappointed if his Washington Capitals do not make the playoffs. Yes, he is excited at the team's prospects in 2008-09. And yes, goalie Jose Theodore has been welcomed with open arms.

"Why wouldn't he be?" Ovechkin said. "He is a former league MVP, just like me."

Finally the conversation ends with hockey's most electrifying superstar modestly saying: "Thank you very much."

No sooner has the phone been hung up than Ovechkin prepares to bust a move. No surprise here. Ovechkin is always on the go. That is his way. On this night, the destination is a night club in nearby Virginia. Time for Alexander The Great to transform from goal scorer to rock and roller.

Yes, rock and roller.

Ovechkin and a handful of Caps have traded their hockey sticks for musical instruments. They are the subjects of a video that is being filmed, one that will be shown at the Verizon Center on each game night before the Caps step onto the ice. Because the Caps' playoff marketing theme was "Rock The Red" last spring, the team's braintrust decided to play off that idea by making the guys into rock stars.

Theodore is on guitar. So, too, are Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom. Brooks Laich strums the bass while Mike Green is on drums.

The front man? Ovechkin. Who else would be the lead singer of a band called "Ovie and the Caps."

Know this: When it comes to Ovie's vocals, Robert Plant has nothing to worry about. Caps owner Ted Leonsis might, however, had Ovechkin followed through with his gesture of pretending to jump into the mosh pit.

We can see the headline now: Caps' $124 Million Man Blows Out Knee in Poorly-timed Plunge!

Leonsis probably would faint at the thought.

Leonsis knows losing Ovechkin would be the biggest nightmare to hit the Caps since the ill-fated Jaromir Jagr experiment a few years ago. Ovechkin, after all, has managed to accomplish something Jagr could never do -- make hockey matter in Washington.

Nothing better illustrates this point than a keepsake Ovechkin received over the summer. It hangs on the wall at his Washington-area home, a silver, eight-inch key mounted on a mahogany plaque that serves as a reminder of just how big Alex Ovechkin has become.

Forget about the Hart Trophy. Or the Rocket Richard Award as the NHL's top goal scorer. Or any of the other countless items of silverware that Ovechkin, 23, continues to collect in his young career.

Of all his baubles, this is one of his most prized possessions. It is, after all, the key to the city of Washington, presented to him by mayor Adrian Fenty on June 15.

"It was a big honour for me," Ovechkin recalled, still excited three months later. "It was pretty cool. For one day, I was the president."

FEELING THE LOVE

With one difference: The existing prez, George W. Bush, never has felt the type of lovin' Ovechkin is receiving in D.C. these days.

Understandable, since pretty much everything Ovechkin touches turns to gold.

Alexander The Rocker can get a packed house singing no matter how out of tune he might be.

Alexander The Golfer carded a hole-in-one in 2006 during his first-ever round, a moment that was recorded on video.

Alexander The Fashion Plate has his own line of streetware, which includes hats, t-shirts and shoes.

And Alexander The Scorer, well, only Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy racked up more goals in their first three seasons than the 163 posted by Ovechkin.

Only one goal remains: Alexander The Stanley Cup Winner.

"I'm excited," he said. "We want to go as far as we can. It's amazing to see the change in the city. Our fans are crazy. Everyone is talking about the Caps. Our games are almost sold out. The summer has been too long. I can't wait to get started."

That's a tune opposing teams wish they hadn't heard.

Schmoozing with Ovechkin

By Greg Wyshynski, Sept. 25, 2008, "Schmoozing with Ovechkin: Summer vacations, fast cars and the undeniable expectations for the Washington Capitals this season":

In our first schmooze of the season, Ovechkin discussed the Capitals expectations, one extraordinarily busy summer for him and his adventures in glam rock:

Who do you think looks best with their rock makeup on today?
Ah, I think everybody looks best. Theodore looks awesome. Greener ... everybody.

It's unfair that Theodore can actually play guitar a little bit. Makes the rest of you guys look like amateurs. But you did sing a little Chili Peppers with him.
Yeah, I tried singing it. I faked it. I try.

Let me ask you this: Are you going to win the Cup this year?
We'll try. We learned a lot [last year]. Different game, different style. It was a good intense. Everything was awesome, just awesome.

What was your trip to Beijing like this summer?
It was cool, but the weather was no good. I was only over there for three days, at the Russia House. I spent the whole day over there, shaking hands and meeting everybody and being cool guy.
I was only at two Olympic games: Boxing and basketball. I had a pretty good time over there.

Your buddy [Andrei] Kirilenko's not going to play overseas, is he? He's still going to be in the NBA?
Yeah.

I was waiting to see you in attendance at the women's volleyball match, where Kobe was.
No ... no volleyball. (Ed. Note: I did not ask this question as a test for whether Ovechkin would pronounce "volleyball" with a Mr. Chekov "wubble-yoo" in front of the word. That said, I'm happy to report he's all but mastered the English "vee" phonic.)

Speaking of the Olympics, there's some talk now about the NHL ducking out after the Games in Vancouver. Are you going to be upset if they don't play in 2014?
It's still on right now. It's still a long time until Sochi. It would be pretty cool. I want to play over there.

I've been dying to ask you this all summer: How fast did you actually drive in front of the White House? I read the interview, and it was an amazing amount of miles per hour and there's simply no way you drove that fast. You didn't drive 150 MPH ...
[Smiling] One-sixty.

You actually hit it? You actually saw something that said you were going that fast?
Yeah. They show me.

What kind of car are you driving these days?
Mercedes. In Russia, BMW and Mercedes. BMW and Mercedes are white; and one Mercedes is black.

No red?
No.

No?
No.

There are a lot of interviews you did in Russia that are being translated over here in English. Are you surprised by how much your activities over there get back over here?
It comes because of Washington. Washington wants to know everything about me, about Semin, about lots of guys. I think it's good when fans try to find some news about you.

The summer was a little crazy for you, with the awards and with Beijing. Did you get any time to rest up?
Yeah, I went to Turkey with Semin, with a lot of good friends. We had a lot of fun over there. Fun time, fun summer.

With what you guys went through last year, how hard is it to approach this season? You've got expectations now.
We know we can do it. It's unbelievable when you were last place and then you win the division championship. It's pretty cool actually. Everything goes well, and we just don't think about the results. We think about our game. Just have fun. Play how we can.

Canadian Vice-President and Russian President, unprecedent!

H/t to Kukla's Korner...

How does a Russian become President?

What Beltway incompetence? With Commander-in-Chief Alex Ovechkin in charge, the Capitals are ready to put the hockey world on notice: the puck drops here

by Eric Adelson, ESPN The Magazine, Sept. 2008:

Alex Ovechkin, left, laughs with Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, right, after receiving the key to the city Friday. (Stephen J Boitano/Associated Press)




Standing at the podium, he smiles while waving at the masses gathered on the century-old steps beneath him.

"Thank you," he yells to the mob. "Thank you for your support." He looks across Pennsylvania Avenue to those chanting his name and notices that passengers on a sightseeing bus are craning for a glimpse. He's surrounded by Washington dignitaries—current mayor Adrian Fenty and former mayor Marion Barry among them—and framed from behind by a government building and men in dark sunglasses. Finally the cheers die down, and the new leader speaks:

"Today I am president, so there is no speed limit!"

The crowd roars with laughter as Alex Ovechkin grins. No, this isn't a frigid January Inauguration Day on the Capitol steps, just a key-to-the-city event on a steamy June afternoon at the Wilson Building a few blocks away. No, Ovechkin isn't a politician or an elected official or even an American citizen. He's just a 23-year-old hockey player from Moscow.

Not that he doesn't have political cred.

In the tradition of Teddy Roosevelt, Ovechkin is a maverick brought to DC to reform and rebuild. À la LBJ and Reagan, he has a glint in his eye and an ability to make friends and disarm enemies. And like Washington and Lincoln, his presence brings calm reassurance. Ovechkin has been in town less than four seasons, yet he has the entire Beltway buzzing. Obama and McCain can only hope to change Washington the way Ovechkin has. His 65 goals last season helped transform the Capitals from backbenchers to playoff-caliber power players. And good luck to the next POTUS in his search to find a cabinet as talented as No. 8's supporting cast.

Like the timetable facing any new administration, the first 100 days of the NHL season will test Ovechkin's regime. Momentum from last season's furious final run means nothing. Pittsburgh has a Stanley Cup Finals appearance in its rearview mirror; Detroit returns everyone and adds prolific scorer Marian Hossa; division rival Tampa Bay has Barry Melrose's mullet behind the bench. And, let's face it, the Caps are young and still not known for their defense department. But even as Americans decide whom to elect president, this red-white-and-blue-draped Russian will begin delivering on his own campaign promises—and on memorable presidential oratory from past and present.

Solutions are sometimes inspired by the darkest times: the Civil War, the Great Depression, the NHL lockout. The Caps finished with twice as many losses as wins in 2003-04, cutting ties with Jaromir Jagr, the biggest free agent bust in franchise history. "I had to face facts," says owner Ted Leonsis. "The only way to get really, really good was to get really, really bad."

Ovechkin, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 draft, became Leonsis' last, best hope. "Every great team has a major player," the owner says. "If it's the wrong guy, bang, you're dead." But Leonsis already had a feeling about Ovechkin. When the team sent him his first contract, he refused to sign it and mail it back. He wanted to ink the deal in the presence of GM George McPhee so he could shake his hand and thank him. Less than three years later, the Caps won the Southeast. What did Ovechkin do to reform Washington? Scoring 163 goals in three seasons helped. So did his infectious spirit, which energized the franchise.

Ovechkin will answer the phone at 3 a.m.—it's called accountability. "He's the first guy at the computer after the game, wanting to see his shifts," says coach Bruce Boudreau. "He wants to think about the game. If he doesn't understand something, he makes sure he gets it right."

Ovechkin has so much energy he's practically radioactive. On the ice, he moves from zone to zone so quickly that linemates struggle to keep up. In the locker room, he darts around like a horsefly. After the Caps won the Southeast last season, Ovechkin pulled a freshly printed championship T-shirt over his dress shirt and announced he was going out on the town. D-man Mike Green shot him a no-way-I'm-going-out-like-that look but joined the party after forwards Alexander Semin and Sergei Fedorov copied Ovie. "He's full of life," says Caps captain Chris Clark. "Gets everybody going, jumping around. We ask how he does it, and he says, 'I don't know what I do, I just do!'" In Ovechkin, the Caps have a leader who is ready to roll up his sleeves, a star who is still a working stiff.

Every leader needs a populist strain—a little something to remind followers that he's not that different from the common man. Witness Ovie's goal celebrations. He checks himself into the glass and bounces around like a bumper bowler who has just rolled a four-carom strike. "Half the time he ends up knocking somebody over," says forward Brooks Laich. "Sometimes you get scared." Ovechkin could carry himself like some hockier-than-thou arugula-eater, but when he was asked for an autograph by a fan named Phil, he signed it "To Fill." Sure he loves Dolce & Gabbana, but, says Laich, "he has this pair of sweatpants-jeans combination, and you'd swear some bum in an alley sewed 'em together. His hair is a mirror of his personality. He even lost a tooth, and he doesn't care about that. He doesn't care that he's not the most marketable player. He sells the game with how he plays it." True that. His goals make him a YouTube staple (an homage set to Aerosmith's "Dream On" is a classic), but his zest for life makes him a perfect fit for Wonkette. And how can you not love a guy who gives out all but two cell-phone digits during a contest, offering a date to the first woman who calls the right number?

Ovechkin's transformation of Washington has been remarkable because DC puckheads are not accustomed to voting with their wallets. "Let's be honest," says Caps legend Peter Bondra. "Washington is not Hockeytown." No wonder: When it first joined the league in 1974-75, it finished 8—67—5 with a 1—39 road record. Rod Langway, one of only four Caps Hall of Famers, arrived in 1982 from Montreal, where, he says, "18,000 people knew my entire life." In DC, he adds, "it took two years for people to know me."

Now, a Russian has turned the Verizon Center into a hockey mecca. During the playoffs, media from as far away as Edmonton and Europe were regulars at morning skates. Ovechkin has even reached across the sports aisle to appeal to the bases of other teams. "Alex has the confidence of the fans and the city," says Hoyas hoops coach John Thompson III. "He has enthusiasm and cares about what he's doing. He's gonna make us win games." Note the use of the word us. The Caps have Capitalized on Ovechkin's dedication to a Washington rarity: trust.

Every leader needs a climactic story point that illustrates his character. For John McCain, it's his time in a POW camp; for Barack Obama, it's his speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention. For Ovechkin, it's a game in Pittsburgh last season when he took a skate to the leg and left the Igloo with a six-inch gash. None of the Caps would have blamed him for returning to DC to heal, but Ovechkin traveled with the team to Ottawa and played two nights later, scoring four goals and an assist in an 8-6 win. "Every time he moved, the stitches opened," says Boudreau. "And he played through it." Fans may remember the ass-over-teakettle goal he netted in a 6-1 win over Phoenix in 2006, but Caps officials cherish that cold night in Ottawa when their leader proved he could be counted on when needed most.

Time and again, Ovechkin has proved he is at his best during a crisis. On Thanksgiving Day last season, the Caps fired coach Glen Hanlon and promoted Boudreau. The ex-Slap Shot extra told the team he considered them playoff- worthy, and Ovie backed him up. That support inspired young players like Green (18 goals, tops among D's) to take chances and move the puck. The league's fourth-overall pick, Nicklas Backstrom, finally started playing like one (ending his rookie year with 69 points), and Laich turned hot and finished with 21 goals. "It was good for us to hold tight and keep with the game plan," says Clark.

CHANGE IS COMING IN WASHINGTON THIS FALL.
The team finished the regular season with seven straight wins (and seven straight sellouts)—a.k.a. The Surge—to complete a worst-to-first run. The Caps then pushed the Flyers to seven games before bowing out in the first round of the playoffs. "We finally got some fans into the building," says Laich. "The Verizon Center was the loudest arena I've ever played in." How loud? Fedorov broke his stick in Game 1's 5-4 win, but didn't even hear it snap. "Where else would the No. 1 superpower be a Russian and embraced?" says Leonsis. "It's a new world! New rules!"

No, he's not American. But in a way, that makes Ovechkin's leadership qualities unique. His mother, Tatiana, also wore No. 8 and won Olympic gold as a point guard for the Soviet Union in 1976 and 1980. She raised her youngest to be aware of everyone on the ice. The concept was reinforced by coaches from the Soviet hockey program, who taught players to think of themselves as part of a five-man unit. "It's a lot of passing, skating, creating space," says former Red Wings great Igor Larionov. "There's no way one guy is going to carry the team. You have to have a core of players."

Ovechkin brought that style to America, taking command of the game when necessary but cheering just as loudly for a teammate's blocked shot as for a goal. Before a shootout in Pittsburgh in January, Ovechkin gave teammate Quintin Laing a high-five for critical late-game blocks, then picked up the puck and scored. Ovechkin also calls Caps brass repeatedly during the summer to make sure contract negotiations with teammates and free agents move quickly. And for good measure, he has decorated his BMW M6 with a Caps flag. Ovechkin may have a Soviet background, but he's developed an appealing American backstory.

Not many Washington outsiders have turned victory into influence as quickly and completely as Ovechkin. After he collected his four trophies for the 2007-08 season—Hart (the team's first league MVP), Lester B. Pearson (the players' MVP), Maurice Richard (most goals) and Art Ross (most points)—Ovechkin told Leonsis he would trade all four for one Cup. That's managing up. And for the first time this American century, a DC Cup run sounds feasible.

"We think we can be good," says Laich. "We aren't afraid of anybody. We're very curious to see how good we can be." Ovechkin already knows: "Washington can do the same as Pittsburgh, except we'll win the Cup." Even Detroit coach Mike Babcock is convinced, telling Leonsis, "No one wants to play you guys." You know change has come when enemies are believers.

We even have a sneak preview of how Ovie might celebrate. Back in June, he took his league hardware along with the accolades and went directly from the awards stage in Toronto to the nearest McDonald's drive-through, where he ordered $60 worth of Big Macs for his entourage.

It doesn't get any more American than that.

by audiko.net — ringtones.

One Man's Plan To Make Washington Great Again

Alex Ovechkin on the cover of ESPN The Magazine, h/t to Ted's Take

Mike Vogel:

Also, Alex Ovechkin (looking somewhat Alfred E. Newmanesque) graces the cover of the NHL preview issue of ESPN the Magazine. That's a huge, huge deal. When is the last time the Caps were featured on the cover of a national sports magazine, excluding hockey-specific publications?

I only know when they were on the home page of ESPN.com, it's close, but can't be compared...

Caps top 5 heavyweights

Source: capitals.nhl.com , "Updated Training Camp Roster 9-23-08":

Player             Height    Weight      Born

1. JURCINA, Milan     6’4”       240      06/07/83
2. KOZLOV, Viktor     6’5”       237      02/14/75
3. BRASHEAR, Donald   6’3”       237      01/07/72  
4. SCHULTZ, Jeff      6’6”       227      02/25/86      
5. OVECHKIN, Alex     6’2”       225      09/17/85    

Kind of surprising, isn't it? Of top 5 only two are defensemen and 3 are forwards.
Ovechkin is the shortest and he has exactly the same weight as of last year. 2 were born in 70s and 3 in 80s.

Jeff Schultz added 10 pounds over the summer. Last year he was 8 pounds lighter than Ovechkin. Brashear is 12 pounds heavier than Ovechkin.

Player                 Height    Weight      Born

 6. ERSKINE, John      6’4”      218      06/26/80
 7. STECKEL, David     6’5”      217      03/15/82 
 8. MORRISONN, Shaone  6’4”      215      12/23/82  
 9. FEHR, Eric         6’4”      210      09/07/85   
10. BACKSTROM, Nicklas 6’1”      210      11/23/87 
11. FEDOROV, Sergei    6’2”      208      12/13/69 

The trend continues here, more forwards that are heavier than defensemen. All were born in 80s except Fedorov, look at him, the oldest Caps player is 11th. He is in a great shape.

Tarik El-Bashir talks about Theodore, Ovechkin's captaincy

This is a few days old, but a good stuff. Tarik El-Bashir talks about Theodore, Ovechkin's captaincy and him helping young Russian rookies.
(from Comcast Sportsnet TV)

91 raises the Duchesne Cup

Photo by Tarik El-Bashir, Capitals Insider

capitals.nhl.com

Mike Vogel interviews Fedorov, Laich and Boudreau.


Fedorov scores last in shootout and wins the Gaetan Duchesne for team B.
Seems like he is really happy, that's a joy of winning, doesn't matter what. It's still a joy, even for a guy who won 3 Stanley Cups. He says "I'll take anything I can win right now, especially at my age"

Fedorov: It was a lot of fun, I enjoyed it. This Cup is one stone into a big, big house.
Vogel: A lot of guys don't touch a small Cup until they win a big Cup.
Fedorov: That's alright, I don't have any prejudice... :-)
Vogel: Of course...

Boudreau: It was exciting, it was good. When it was getting closer to the end and it's tied, you start picking up, it's a human nature. I think it was a good idea [about the Cup]. All worked out real well.

Mike Vogel, Dump and Chase, Sept. 23, 2008:

In the shootout, Gordon and Laich scored for Team B. Gordon's was a laser of a wrister that nestled right under the crossbar, and Laich's came on his patented can-opener move. Ovechkin ripped a wrister past Braden Holtby at other end, and Matt Bradley replicated his Verizon Center heroics against Edmonton last January with a shootout goal. He also replicated his post-goal reaction, spreading his arms wide as if to say, "Was there ever any doubt?"

That set the stage for Fedorov, who skated in with speed. Just above the top of the crease, he carved at the puck with his stick like a skilled chef with a Ginsu knife. Having created an opening, he tucked the puck between Neuvirth's pads.

"It was a five-hole move, I guess," recounted Fedorov. "Right at the end the goalie has to go and cover the left side, and I'll be able to slide it in. Right at the end, though. It was a dangerous move, but it was all I had at the time."

Chris Bourque had a chance to even it for Team A, but his shot went wide, making a winner out of Team B and Holtby. After the tournament was over, Boudreau named Boyd Gordon as the MVP of the three-game set.

Lead singer: Alex Ovechkin

Greg Wyshynski reports about the Washington Capitals glam rock music video shoot:

The Washington Capitals performed an annual rite of passage last night: The filming of their opening video for the arena Jumbotron.

This was a fist-pumping rock performance, bathed in strobe lights, smoke machines and some of the most garish glam rock makeovers you'll ever see on a hockey player...

Lead singer: Alex Ovechkin
Drums: Mike Green
Guitar: Jose Theodore
Balalaika: Alexander Semin
Guitar: Nicklas Backstrom
Bass: Brooks Laich
Band Manager: Chris Clark
Security: Matt Bradley, Donald Brashear

Greg Wyshynski asked Ovechkin why he didn't do what rock'n'rollers do, the stage dive into the waiting arms of 200 fans.
What's the deal? "Too many kids over there," he said. "I don't want anybody dying. Or at least get hurt."

more...

Ovechkin - Fedorov - Semin ?

Seems like Alex Semin is enjoying playing right wing. He had a big success at the Worlds playing with Ovechkin and Fedorov. Now he plays the right wing for Group B team on Laich-Fedorov-Semin line.

Corey Masisak writes:

With Alexander Semin's semi-permanent move to the right side, the Caps have four players they expect to dress (Viktor Kozlov, Semin, Chris Clark and Matt Bradley) at the position.

Big chance we might see World's Championship line with Ovechkin, Fedorov and Semin. And why not? If they dominated the Worlds and beat team Canada with the likes of Dany Heatley and Rick Nash, they can dominate in the NHL as well.


AP Photo by Jacques Boissinot

World Championship 2008
Quebec City and Halifax, Canada
May 2-18, 2007
Gold medal final: Russia 5 (OT) - Canada 4
Goals: Semin (Ovechkin, Fedorov), Semin (Korneev, Markov A.), Tereschenko (Semin, Tyutin), Kovalchuk (Proshkin, Radulov), Kovalchuk (Fedorov, Ovechkin) - Burns (Roy, Green), Kunitz, Burns (St. Louis, Heatley), Heatley (Getzlaf).

Alex Ovechkin, video interview, Sept. 22, 2008

capitals.nhl.com

After the morning skate Alex Ovechkin was interviewed by Mike Vogel about the training camp.

Q.: How many games you need before the season?
Ovechkin: 4 or 5 games, you have to feel the ice...

Jose Theodore's career trend

By Mike Heika, Dallas Stars Blog, Sept. 20 ,2008 "Season preview, Washington Capitals"

The Washington Capitals had an amazing second half to the season last year, thanks in large part to MVP Alexander Ovechkin and coach of the year Bruce Boudreau.

Can the dynamic duo pull off another Southeast Division championship? It won't be near as easy.

Goalie Cristobal Huet left to sign a big free agent contract with Chicago, and Capitals GM George McPhee went with a bit of a stretch in signing Jose Theodore to try to jump in and continue the magic that Huet started. That, in itself, makes the Capitals a bit of a wild card.

But in what could be the weakest division in hockey and the most difficult to predict, I'm going with the Capitals to keep things moving forward.

The big reason, of course, is Ovechkin. Simply put, the 23-year-old winger is a dynamic force of skill and energy. His enthusiasm for the game is infectious, and his ability, without question, puts him among the top five players in the league. Ovechkin had 65 goals and 112 points last season to lead the NHL in both categories, and he did that while playing with two different center icemen. He started the year with Michael Nylander, but ended it with rookie Nicklas Backstrom when Nylander was sidelined by a shoulder injury.

In both cases, Ovechkin made his center a better player.

Interesting comment was left there:

Posted by Frederick Senkeeto @ 4:53 PM Sat, Sep 20, 2008

Hey Mike,
Caps have a great skill and speed up front, they could get a little more physical on defense, but they do get the puck up in a hurry.

Jose Theodore's career has basically be one year up (2002,2004,2006,2008) and one year down (2001,2003,lockout,2007) and that trend would suggest that this year would be a bad year.

I didn't follow Jise Theodore, if someone did, please leave a comment if it is true.

Update:
From Sabres blog, Sept. 21, 2008 by PeterS "Eastern Conference - Who will make the playoffs?"

Washington Capitals - My 2nd favorite team next to my beloved Sabres. I love watching Ovechkin and the boys play. Their inexperience bounced them out of the playoffs early last year, but that won’t slow them down much. Goaltending could continue to be a problem for such an offensive minded team, but I have little doubt the taste they got last year will bring them back. Playoff bound? Yes

So here’s your list - take it to the bank and see how much the teller will give you for it. My guess is its worth as much there as it is here. Two new teams from previous year, Buffalo and Tampa.

Playoff teams:
Buffalo Sabres
Montreal Canadiens
Boston Bruins
Philadelphia Flyers
New Jersey Devils
Pittsburgh Penguins
Tampa Bay Lightning
Washing Capitals

First day of skating in 09 training camp

Alex Ovechkin talks with members of the media during media day at the team's training facility in Arlington, Va., Friday, Sept. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)


BY Corey Masisak, TWT, Sept. 20 2008 10:08 AM "And so it begins":

Group 'A' is on the ice right now. Over the course of today, I'll try to get all three groups up here so people will know who is scrimmaging who the next couple of days.

Oh yeah, Nicklas Backstrom is on the ice, but in his own color jersey. And don't read much into these lines.

FORWARDS

Ovechkin-Aucion-Kozlov
Osala-Broda-Bradley
Pinizzotto-Joudrey-Lacroix
Bourque-Beagle-Gordon

Backstrom

DEFENSEMEN

Poti-Schultz
Dovgan-Godfrey
Sloan-Pokulok
Helmer

GOALIES
Varlamov
Neuvirth

Update (11:17 AM):
Group 'B' is just getting started on the other sheet of ice while Group 'A' is finishing up here on the main stage. Here is a look at who is in Group 'B'.

FORWARDS

Laich-Fedorov-Semin
Brashear-Gordon-Reid
Taylor-Giroux-Fehr
Dubuc-Morin-Kugryshev

DEFENSEMEN

Jurcina-Erskine
Carlson-Collins
Arsene-McNeil

Cutta

GOALIES

Theodore-Holtby

Update (12:50 PM):
Group 'C' is just getting started and the second group just came off the ice. Here's the final group:

FORWARDS

Fleischmann-Nylander-Clark
Laing-Steckel-Maxwell
Morin-Wilson-Bouchard
Leffler-Perreault-Della Rovere

DEFENSEMEN

Green-Morrisonn
Lepisto-Amadio
Alzner-Mestery

GOALIES

Johnson-Machesney

Update (2:35 PM):

Bruce Boudreau has added a new wrinkle to the intrasquad scrimmages during camp this season. Starting tomorrow, the three groups will compete for the Gaetan Duchesne Cup. Each groups plays the other, and the team that goes 2-0 wins the Cup. If all three go 1-1, then goal differential is the tiebreaker. Boudreau wanted to add extra meaning to the scrimamges, and also to honor Duchesne, an eighth-round pick who made the Caps squad despite the long odds and became a popular member of the franchise (something the longshots in this camp can aspire to).

Team 'B' (coached by Boudreau and Bob Woods) faces Team 'C' (coached by Jay Leach and Mark French) tomorrow. Team 'A' will be coached by Dean Evanson and Blaine Forsythe.

By Mike Vogel, Today, 01:20 PM:

The first practice of the camp was not an easy one. After a brief warm-up, the players participated in drills and then were skated hard for several minutes. Each group was on the ice for about 90 minutes in total.

“The biggest difference as a player coming from playing shinny is you’re on your own time,” notes Boudreau. “If you’re tired, you don’t push it. If you want to get off, you get off.

“Now, we’re going to be pushing. Coaches are going to be pushing them on the ice and to keep that pace going all the time, and that’s what gets you in shape. That’s what we’ll be doing, we’ll be pushing it. It will be different because they haven’t been pushed like they’re going to be pushed.”

Because of the team’s success last season and the large number of returning players, there are fewer jobs available at camp this fall than in the last three seasons. But that doesn’t mean that young players have no hope of cracking the roster. It does mean that they’ll have to really impress if they hope to claim a regular role.

Bruce Boudreau interview to media after the first day of training camp.

Boudreau The Biggest Loser

By Corey Masisak, TWT, Sept. 20, 2008 "Coach Boudreau unknown no more":

During the offseason, Boudreau dropped 20 pounds in part because of a healthy dose of walking around golf courses and an busy schedule. Between May 1 and Sept. 6 (the day his family moved into their new home in this area), Boudreau said he was at his house in Hershey a total of 28 days.

"No, he's still the same guy - easy going, always chirping guys - he hasn't changed," defenseman Mike Green said. "Obviously he has a lot on his plate, but I don't think that will affect him at all or the way he handles things."

Added Brooks Laich: "I don't think he's changed, but I have seen him walk [into Kettler] a couple times with his golf gear on. You know, a collared shirt and it looks like he just got off the course. I say, 'You used to be a hockey man, Bruce. Now you look like a golfer.' No, he's so excited. I see him pacing around, and he can't wait to get started."

One day last week during rookie camp he noticed a stain on the front of his polo shirt. He dreaded a return home Thursday to change clothes for the rookie game against Philadelphia because the suit waiting for him was missing a button and doesn't fit his new, sleeker figure.

"At some point I've got to go get some new suits, but I'm waiting for some guy to come up [to me] and want to do a suit deal," Boudreau joked. "C'mon, I'm pretty visible behind the bench."

"It has been a whirlwind, and honest to God, I still wake up and go, 'Wow, I am in the NHL.' It is pretty exciting," Boudreau said.

more...

2008-09 Training Camp Starts

By HOWARD FENDRICH, AP Sports Writer, Sept. 19, 2008 "MVP Ovechkin, Capitals getting ready to improve"

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP)—Alex Ovechkin strolled into the Washington Capitals’ practice facility to report for training camp Friday, wearing a tight-fitting tank top, faded camouflage shorts and flip-flops.

A little while later, the NHL’s reigning MVP swapped that outfit for team-issued red mesh shorts and a bright, white T-shirt reading, “The Future is Now” in red on the front and “Good is Not Good Enough” on the back.

Oh, how quickly the outlook around these parts changed. That’s what a league scoring champion, a late-season surge, a surprising playoff appearance and a coach of the year award for in-season hire Bruce Boudreau will do for a hockey team.

“When Bruce first came in last year, his message to the players was, ‘Working hard and trying hard isn’t good enough anymore. We’ve got to start winning,”’ general manager George McPhee said. “We’re now at a point where we think we have a good club and we don’t want to set any limitations on what we might be able to do. It’s not about just making the playoffs. We want to go a long way, as far as we can go. We’d like to win a Cup.”

Hockey fans around the league to Ovechkin skating with rookies

It was 4 days ago when WP blog Capitals Insider reported this:

So how exactly did Alex Ovechkin end up on the ice with two dozen prospects at KCI this morning? He came to Coach Bruce Boudreau at 8:30 a.m. and asked if it would be okay, that's how. "What does that say about the character of the guy?" Boudreau said. "I thought it would be quite a thrill for some of these young kids to get a pass from Alex." ..."My shot right now, actually, it's not good right now," Ovechkin joked.

The reaction to Ovechkin skating with rookies is coming not only from Bruce Boudreau and Caps fans, but also from places like Flyers blog and Toronto Maple Leafs forum. A very authentic and geniune response from fans around the league...

From chat.mapleleafs.com:

Barilkos Ghost: That's a fantastic story. Washington, give this guy the "C"!!

joewalters: Coolest player to lace them up ever. It's as simple as that. He really loves the game.

logan: how can you not root for washington with him on the team?

Sakic 91: Great story. I give it one more year, until Ovie's given the "C".

Howbluecanyouget: Good character guy to go along with the endless stream of talent he has.

ModGod: yup...Sid may be the "face of the league"...but Ovie is the "Facebook" of the league. Everyone wants to be poked by him....lol....no pun intended!!!

inc: Newton had another law he didnt share with the world til now. Its physically impossible to not like Ovi.

ajrs2000: I like what he said about his shot not being good right now....... I wonder what his thoughts are regarding a good shot.

blair14: He measures based on how many goaltenders he can murder per shot. Right now, he can only kill one or two per shot.

StickofWellwood: ovechkin is the new world of hockey player

jareklajkosz: This guy is the definition of class. Anyone who hates him, for whatever reason, needs to re-evaluate their opinion. >.>

ModGod: I don't think he defines "class" per se. Having said that, he's certainly not classless. I think he could be more a definition of character though. You'd kill to have a guy with that type of infectious enthusiasm on your squad!! He's there to produce, have fun doing it and doing it with passion. He's what hockey is about. He's is the embodiment of the Leafs slogan...The Passion That Unites Us All.

Flyers blogger "Flyers Rookies Got Shelled 7-0":

A few hundred Caps fans (a surprising number of them in jerseys) packed the Kettler Center, along with the likes of Mike Green, Alex Ovechkin, and Alexander Semin, to watch the game.

Have you ever speculated about all the cool stuff you would do on the ice, or field, or stage for that matter if you were skilled enough to be out there? Like "if that was me I'd sign every single autograph, no matter if I had to stand there for 4 hours doing it." Of course you have. Well, apparently Alex Ovechkin is living that dream.

OV took the ice with the Caps rookies during the week just to get to know some of them and hand out some pointers. That's pretty cool of him. A lot of these kids were just taking down their Pavel Bure posters 3 years ago and now Alex Ovechkin, the most exciting player in the game, is patting them on the ass telling them they have a "cool backhander."

Laing aims to continue storybook

Q: Is there a Washington player whose inner strength surprises you?

Ovechkin: We all have a character, all of us. But the most unusual is [Quintin] Laing. He blocks shots, any shots. Sometimes it is impossible even to imagine, is he going to block this one too? A charismatic fellow.

By TIM LEONE, Of The Patriot-News Sept. 19, 2008 11:21AM:

After a storybook 2007-08 season, Quintin Laing found he'd become a prominent Saskatonian, which is what residents of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, are called.

"A lot of people back home were coming up saying they watched me in games," Laing said. "They wanted to hear stories, mostly about [Alex] Ovechkin. Once you start telling the stories, you realize it was a pretty special year."

Heart-warming special for anybody familiar with the earnest and classy left winger, who'd spent most of his previous seven pro seasons in the minors. Laing grabbed an unexpected roster toehold with the Washington Capitals, played 39 games in which he impressed with his shot-blocking valor, scored his first career NHL goal, and was nominated for the prestigious Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

But last season is history. Caps players reported for 2008-09 training camp today and begin on-ice sessions Saturday at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va.

"I'm going to have to have a really, really good camp to stick," Laing said. "That's what I'm going to have to do."

Alex Semin is in the building

Corey Masisak, September 19 2008 10:49 AM:

Us media types haven't physically seen him yet, but word is that Alexander Semin is in the building. If so, then everybody is here and ready to start ... except for Nicklas Backstrom. The second-year center will not pratice tomorrow, so says Bruce Boudreau. He said if it were Nov. 3, Backstrom would be on the ice, but they want to be extra cautious with their star center so he won't be out there. Brian Pothier also won't be on the ice, but he is also around and still trying to comeback from his post-concussion issues.

More later as guys trickle through their photo ops, autograph sessions and media interview responsibilities.

Flyers blogger reported that Green, Semin and Ovechkin attended the rookies game yesterday, probably not true since Ovechkin was involved with that stupid hair cuttery promo thing...

Update: Japer's Rink just found the proof (a photografic evidence from AP) that Semin is, indeed, in the house.

Imagine that, AP! Where are team's beat writers? Went to the brewery to choose next Masterton Award candidate? :-)

KHL Fight: Chris Simon vs Denis Baev

Крис Саймон (Chris Simon) - Денис Баев (Denis Baev)

Datsyuk talks about Russian NHLers and Washington Caps

By Slava Malamud from Washington DC, Sport-Express, Sept. 19, 2008

Let's look at other Russians in the league. How do you think of them so far, who has the best technique?
A [hockey] technique is a complex concept.

Well, let's go in details. Who has the best hands?
Between all Russians? I think it is Semin.

Interesting...Semin said that Datsyuk is his favorite player and that he has the best hands.

And legs?
Hands, legs... Main thing is not that, it is the tail! Legs... ...hmmm... Probably Ovechkin.

And brains?
For some reason I immediately think about Malkin.

Very interesting choice. And that makes his brains so bright?
He reads the game perfectly. He can score and he can create. In any situation. He makes non-standard decisions.

Judging by your answers, since the best limbs are found in Washington, you surely expect a lot from the most Russian NHL club, don't you?
Did they strengthened the team by someone in off-season?

In general the team is the same except goalkeeper. They got Jose Theodore who came from Colorado.
They will get into playoffs. But I think they won't leap, they will progress with small steps. The team is still young, they must gain experience.

It is all clear about Ovechkin, he is a superstar. And what can we expect from Semin?
He will become even more experienced and confident. With the understanding what they have done at the World Championship, it will bring him a sense of hunger. He will take more initiative and he will become the leader of the club.

What's left for Kovalchuk, the tail? :-)
Slava Malamud has the same question:

And what about another World Cup hero, Ilya Kovalchuk? He might become the Atlanta's captain soon. Nobody expects anything good from his club...
Ilya is gaining with each passing year, he is keeping up. He still remains one of the best scorers in the league ... But a lot happened this year with his team... They lost Hossa and didn't not replace him. Now everything will be on Ilya's shoulders as if he didn't have enough before. He will pull the team alone. But he will remain a top scorer. And his play will make people happy in Atlanta and in Russia.

We still might see Ovechkin at Sochi-2014

DAVID SHOALTS, Globe and Mail, September 19, 2008 at 1:09 AM EDT

Any attempt by the NHL to pull out of the Olympics after the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games will face a stiff fight from the NHL Players' Association.

Paul Kelly, executive director of the NHLPA, said Thursday that “NHL management does not have the right to make unilateral statements that we will not participate in the Olympics again. Players have strong views about the issue.”

The comments were in response to a recent story in The Globe and Mail in which an anonymous NHL executive said: “We're not going to the Olympics again,” in part because of rising insurance costs for players.

“If someone is expressing his personal opinion, that's one thing,” Kelly said. “But if a person is making a statement on behalf of [all NHL] owners, it's not something that is embraced by the players.

“Our players believe international competition, particularly Olympic competition, is critically important to the sport. There is a lot of national pride involved. They believe it's a terrific way to grow the sport and expose it to an international audience.”

He also said if the poor relations between the NHL and Russia's new Continental Hockey League become a reason for the NHL to drop out of the 2014 Games in that country, the union will not blindly side with the owners.

“From a player perspective, we want keep an open mind,” Kelly said. “We're not going to roll over just because the owners want us to roll over. At this point, [NHL players] very much favour Olympic participation.”

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in an e-mail that while “there is no certainty” about international hockey beyond 2010, the league will not make any unilateral moves. He also said the insurance costs need not be a problem.

“This whole area is one that we and the [NHLPA] work very closely together, both now and historically,” Daly said. “I don't expect that to change. I agree with [Kelly] that the insurance issue is not one that I consider to be a prohibitive obstacle.”

Alex and Victoria, another photo

From TeleWeek.ru, Sept. 19, 2008:

Victoria Lopyreva talked about her incoming trip to the island for the reality show "Last Hero" and for the first time admitted dating Alexander Ovechkin. "Our relationship goes very well!" she said.

"I don't know how I agreed to this adventure", says Vickie. "All my relatives discouraged me, but I decided to risk, to test myself. Of course I was worried about the lack of comfort, but I'll try to get used to it. This is a great opportunity to escape from the bustle, computers and mobile phones, to think about higher order."

Incidentally Vickie admitted that she agreed to travel to the island for another reason. Her young man, a hockey player Alexander Ovechkin left to Washington where he plays for the NHL team Washington Capitals. While continuing to work on NTV on her weekly program, Lopyreva wouldn't be able to visit Alex. And while she doubted, to leave her job or not, the First Channel proposal prompted her to take action.

"I'll go to see Sasha as soon as it will be over", dreams Vickie.

Watch out! :-)

#8 Honored at DC Sneaker Ball

from capitals.nhl.com/

Supported by his teammates, Alex Ovechkin was honored as DC's Sportsman of the year at the annual Sneaker Ball.

Ovechkin: "I love this city, I love people here... and life is good."


Photo from marylandnighthawks.com


From Greater Washington Sports Alliance

The 5th Annual SneakerBall is where over 50 professional athletes & Olympians, the Greater Washington’s sports franchise ownership groups, and the leaders of the region’s business community and the Sports Alliance charitable partners come together for the only formal celebration that honors the region’s sports pioneers & their accomplishments .

Tuesday, September 16th, 2008
National Building Museum, Washington, D.C.

6:30PM - Cocktail Reception & Silent Auction
8:00PM - Welcome & Dinner
8:30PM - Greater Washington Sports Alliance Hall of Champions Ceremony
9:30PM - Games & Amusements

Beneficiaries:

Friends of Fort DuPont Ice Arena
Progressive Sports & Entertainment Alliance
Special Olympics District of Columbia
United for D.C.
Winners Lacrosse


Hall of Champions:
Each year three individuals are inducted into the Greater Washington Sports Hall of Champions. These individuals have made significant contributions to the region’s sports community and have created opportunities in our region for “great moments to happen.”

Update fromDump and Chase by Mike Vogel:

Ovechkin’s father (Mikhail) and brother (Mikhail) joined him at the event, as did Capitals teammates Matt Bradley, Chris Clark, Mike Green, Brent Johnson, Brooks Laich and Shaone Morrisonn. Many other local pro athletes were also in attendance as (D.C. native and Basketball Hall of Famer) Adrian Dantley, (ex-Redskin) Brig Owens and (ex-Redskin) were inducted into the Hall of Champions.

In addition to his family members, Ovechkin also brought along 21-year-old defenseman Viktor Dovgan, a fellow Russian native. For Dovgan, it was a chance to rub elbows with some premier athletes and to enjoy a nice dinner.

While he was on stage, Ovechkin was asked about the leadership and kindnesses he has shown to the Caps’ trio of young Russians (Dovgan, Dmitry Kugryshev and Simeon Varlamov) who are in town for the team’s rookie camp. For Ovechkin, it’s just a matter of paying it forward. He told the assembled crowd that when he arrived in D.C. as a rookie three years ago, Morrisonn, Brian Sutherby (now with Anaheim) and Steve Eminger (now with Philadelphia) greeted him warmly and invited him to go out fishing with them.

Earlier in the week, Ovechkin mentioned to me that Dainius Zubrus (now with New Jersey) had taken him in and helped him get acclimated to the area and to North American culture upon his arrival in D.C.

“I just try to help the young guys because I remember when I came here Zubie helped me a lot," Ovechkin said. "I just tried to take care of them.”

Radulov has spoken

From vremya.ru, Sept. 17, 2008

When General Manager of Salavat Yulaev Oleg Gross learned about [Paul Kelly's statement], he was very much surprised.

"You know I don't even want to talk about this subject", said Gross. "All the time they try to invent some rumors, they constantly send us letters which we are tired to read, all the time they are threatening us with disqualifications. I spoke with Alexander recently. He said that he'll never go back to the NHL. Where such rumors are coming from? It is incomprehensible."

Radulov doesn't want to talk on this subject, but when he learned what was it about, he too, was greatly surprised. "I am satisfied with everything in Russia. If someone believes that we have a weak league here, let them come and try to play here. I am not going anywhere in the next three years. And after that I will look for a team in my native country rather than in America".

Update: Found this link on HFBoards, the interview with Radulov on Sports.ru. Here's the excerpt where he explains one more time why he left. What is interesting there, a reaction of Nashville:

Q: Having signed a contract with Salavatom Yulaev you have already explained many times in the press the reasons for your decision, said the right words about changing the leagues and desire to play in Russia, but still we'd like to know the truth. You had the last year of the contract mandatory for rookies in Nashville. You could sign a decent contract next summer corresponding to your status as a rising star. I don't understand your logic.

Radulov: There is no secret truth. I am not an advocate of creating scandals and I didn't want one. When I received the offer from Ufa I went to the management of Nashville and honestly told that there was such interest in me in Ufa and that they were counting on me.

They replied to me that it was my business to decide.

I chose Salavat Yulaev and then suddenly I am in the center of the scandal and received the threats of disqualification. I try to not think about it anymore.

My logic was simple. I have never played in the Russian Superleague, well, one game for Dynamo does not count. I missed home. Is this too little?

Of course hockey in the NHL so far is better than in KHL, but do you see how many guys have already returned home from abroad? How many foreigners are arriving? If it'll go like that, the hockey in Russia will rise its level very, very noticeably.

Did Nashville think he was bluffing?

Where is Alexander Semin?

Alex Semin with the 2008 World Hockey Championship Cup.
Photo by Galina Dombrovskaya.


Alex sure looks proud and happy on this picture. The event maybe a reason why Alex arrives to Washington right before the training camp starts.





Sergei Chernykh for Sport-Express, Sept. 17, 2008

Photo by Sport-Express.ru

Krasnoyarsk became the 9th and the last city in Russia where 2008 World Championship Cup has arrived. The honorary trophy was introdiced by Washington Capitals player Alexander Semin who was born in the land of Enisey river. The cup was displayed to public at the Falcon arena where any resident of the city could look and photograph with the Cup. Naturally the focus was on Semin who signed a lot of autographs. He signed on notebooks, diaries, sticks, helmets, on hockey ammunition of young kids and even on the puck with the logo of the Washington Capitals, it is unknown how it ended up in Krasnoyarsk. After that the world champion had a hockey session with local children.

Today Semin is flying to Moscow and from there he will be leaving to the U.S. capital for training camp.

Update: According to Sporting News Craig Custance Blog who has the list of all NHL 2008 training camp starting dates:

Washington: Sept. 20 at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, VA. Rookie Camp opens on Sept. 14.


Related: Semin's interview in Moscow:

Dovgan on training with Ovechkin

From Mike Vogel | WashingtonCaps.com Senior Writer Sep 16, 2008, 5:16 PM EDT:

Over this past summer, Dovgan trained with Caps’ star winger Alex Ovechkin in preparation for his return to North America.

“It was very difficult at the beginning,” Dovgan admits. “I tried to keep up with him, but Sasha is Sasha. He is who he is; he is the best player in the world. I tried to keep up with him. I tried to do the same cross-country training and the same gym training as he did and in the end, I was getting a little bit up there. It was good motivation for me to go up against a guy like him.”

Ovechkin saw some good things in Dovgan, too.

“I know he’s a pretty tough D who can hit guys,” says Ovechkin. “He has a good chance to play in the NHL, but I think he has to wait maybe a couple years to get much bigger and much stronger. He has a great future. It’s all up to him.”

more...

Dave King will be new Avanguard's and Jagr's Head Coach

Sports.ru, Sept. 17, 2008:

Dave King will be new Avanguard's and Jagr's Head Coach. A number of Avanguard players were against Hartley and he was too expensive salary wise ($1.5 mil)

Update: Not so fast, SovSport.ru, Sept. 18, 2008 (yes, it is Sept. 18th in Russia already), reports this:

To check the rumor about King's appointment SovSport correspondent called the general manager of Avanguard Anatoly Bardin.

SovSport: Anatoly Fyodorovich, the internet media reports that the Head Coach of your club will be King…
GM: King? A "writer" King? Avanguard doesn't need a writer, we need a coach! King was not even considered. This I can say to you responsibly.
SovSport: When will you announce the name of the new head coach?
GM: The supervisory board will meet on Thursday. And this is all that I can tell you now…

Alex Ovechkin is 23 years old today

(Sept. 17, 1985, Moscow hospital #8).

Phil Booth, TheStar.com "Horoscopes for Wednesday, September 17":

Thought for the Day: Reconciliation often manifests in unusual ways when Venus and Neptune line up as they do today. If something is amiss in an important relationship, here's a chance to patch things up.

If today is your birthday: If you're not feeling enthusiastic, you soon will. Much is set to change for the better. Happy birthday to Alexander Ovechkin, 23.

Virgo (Aug. 23 — Sept. 22)

Your normal rule of thumb is to recognize your limits and avoid indulgence in delusional aspirations. You can safely suspend those tenets and reach for the sky.

Ovechkin video interview "Day 2 Rookie Camp"

Alex Ovechkin Day 2 Rookie Camp (from capitals.nhl.tv)

Ovechkin's video with kids "Crazy Eight skills session"

Reigning NHL most valuable player Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals took to the ice Monday night, hosting nearly 100 youth hockey players age 6 to 14 in the Crazy Eights Skills Session at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va.

Update:

Thanks to Marge for still frames from the video...

Ted in NHL 09 game

Ted's take, Sept. 16, 2008 "Father/Son Call:"

My son says, “Dad, I have something to tell you.”

I say…(gulp)…”What is it son?”

He says, “I am in my apartment with my roommates. We are killing some time and we decided to play NHL 09 together. And Dad - YOU are in it! You have to be the coolest dad ever. Wow many kids can say their dad is in a video game that they are playing with their buddies while in college?!”

Now that is the kind of father/son talk that I love to have! Go Caps!

That is definitely awesome. Now we need to check if Sombrero guy, and the right Sombrero guy, is there too. If you see Ted talking to Sombrero guy in the NHL 09 game, that's a wannabe Sombrero guy on the loose.

Ovechkin at Mystics game

(By Luis M. Alvarez - AP)
By Dan Steinberg, DC Sports Blog, September 16, 2008; 9:52 AM ET

But you don't necessarily expect to see the best player in the NHL showing up for the final game of a 10-24 Mystics season, a game that turned into a disastrous 26-point home loss. Still, no gnashing of teeth for this guy; in fact, I can't remember the last time I saw a reigning league MVP and international sports celebrity look so happy at an WNBA game.

(Turns out he brought the team's three young Russian players to the game; welcome to Washington, guys. "I'm big daddy," Ovechkin told Tarik, describing his role as mentor.)
Also: Way to support Sochi 2014.

Also: Someone might want to start taking advantage of his Hair Cuttery sponsorship.

Also: Here's the official caption: Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin, of Russia, left, laughs with an unidentified man during a WNBA basketball game between the Washington Mystics and Minnesota Lynx. Viktor Dovgan might have just gotten himself a nickname.

(And yes, he was also doing some sort of meet-and-greet for the Mystics. And yes, I also realize Ovechkin's brother works for the Mystics, but still. My sister works for Yeshiva University, but you don't see me at many Maccabees games.)

Unfortunately NHL won't allow Ovechkin to participate in Olympics at Sochi-2014.



Ovechkin with Caps rookies (Slava Malamud's blog)

Malamud: Where Ovechkin drove a rapidly growing Russian contingent of the team in his white Mercedes (the correct answer is: to chicks).
Answer (Sport-Express article in Russian): He drove them to Mystics game. :-)