Charismatic Ovechkin

 Hopefully one day Ovie will wear "C" for good:

Alex Ovechkin tops the list of the Best of Everything in Hockey for 2008-09.

• The Best of Everything in Hockey: THN ranks the top scorers, stoppers, smashers and other criminally great players in 19 different categories. The guilty parties include thief Tim Thomas who robs his opponents nightly and arsonist Alex Ovechkin who continues to set the league on fire.

"It’s beyond dispute that Crosby is the one who best lubricates the NHL’s marketing and promotional gears, despite the fact that Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin is the game’s greatest talent and its most charismatic performer."

~ The Montreal Gazette

By Jason Kay, THN, Jan. 30, 2009 "Ovie's charisma-skill combo makes him NHL's top dog":

[Ovechkin] dropped by The Hockey News Radio Show last Friday in Montreal and, when he was handed a copy of an edition on which he graced the cover, he grinned widely and seemed genuinely impressed and excited. He thought the treatment we gave the layout inside was cool. A couple days later, we spotted him in a Montreal nightclub, “working” the DJ booth.

In short, his charisma still matches his considerable talent. He’s open and honest and vulnerable and fun-loving. And he’s in line for the Rocket Richard Trophy and quite possibly his second consecutive Hart.

Crosby, by contrast, remains typically Canadian. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. His public persona is guarded, his interview answers measured. He is polite and gracious with the media in the face of gargantuan demands on his time and almost always remains within his comfort zone.

It’s doubtful he’ll ever match Ovechkin when it comes to charisma and playing to the crowd. That’s not Sid and that’s fine. But NHL marketers should take note if they haven’t already. Ovie is ‘The Guy’ and they should leverage his appeal and goodwill for all it’s worth.

And why is Crosby a typical Canadian? Bobby Hull is Canadian too, but he wasn't guarded, his interview answers were not measured. Eh, what about Sean Avery, isn't he Canadian?



Nate Ewell (at All-Star in Montreal):

When it was all done, Alex went to relax and enjoy a sushi dinner. Before he did, I showed him the quote above. He asked what "charismatic" meant.

"It means people like you," I replied. "You could tell today, right?"

Speaking about All-Star game and overhyped controversy about Komisarek giving up his number 8; today was a day for Ovechkin's fans, Alex replied to them via Twitter:

• I gave Komisarek my stick for #8 - he was cool in reply to GoingFiveHole


• I wanted a Russian flag to but couldn't find one in reply to RyanGHShow


• nice name -- sounds good in reply to MarymeOve


• ia znau chto eti sluxi idyt,no mi ne xotim chtob nam zapreshali vistypat za nashy strany!!!!!tak chto vi nas yvidete!!!!!))) [translation: I know about those rumors, but we don't want not to be allowed to play for our country!!!!!so you will see us!!!!!))) [Olympic games in Sochi-2014]] in reply to sapegka


• I feel good. I was kind of afraid when I fell but I thank god -- still can play hockey [about the stinger injury] in reply to VTnicci


• Thanks guys who read this. It was fun and thanks for all the congrats.

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