Heward: Ovechkin not a dirty player

 By Erik Erlendsson, TampaBayBlogs, Jan. 2, 2008:

“I didn’t really ask who hit me until [Friday] and once I found out it was Alex, and in my opinion he’s probably one of the cleanest players in the NHL as far as being honest,’’ Heward said.


Photo Credit: By Luis Alvarez -- Associated Press Photo

“He’ll play hard on you, but now that I know it was him, I know it wasn’t intentional. I played with him for two years and we were pretty tight when I played there, so I totally agree and think it was an accident.’’

On whether Ovechkin has attemtped to contact him: “He hasn’t, but he doesn’t have to. If he does, great, if not, I’m not too concerned about it.

I know how he feels, he said it in the paper and said it to some of the guys after he talked to Artyukhin and told them that he’s really sorry. Some of the other guys on the Capitals left messages and they said the same thing. As a hockey player, if he doesn’t contact me it could be a superstitious thing and I totally understand.

We’ll talk someday, maybe have a beer over the summer or something like that and rehash it.’’