Ovechkin is an official adviser to Moscow Dynamo
By D. Ponomarenko, SovSport.ru, July 17, 2010:
Here we go. Believe it or not, but on July 1st, 2010 NHL star Alexander Ovechkin started working as an adviser to a Mikhail Tyurkin, the president of Moscow Dynamo hockey club, and he is even gets paid. The news are stunning. Yesterday evening I talked to the president of HC Dynamo Mikhail Tyurkin about when the team would come out from summer vacation and about the training camp for the new season. I also asked if Dynamo alumni's Alexander Ovechkin, Andrei Markov and Maxim Afinogenov would prepare for the new season at Dynamo's Novogorsk training facility as they used to...
Ovechkin at Dynamo's Novogorsk training facility, July 15, 2008, Novogorsk. Photo by Konstantin Ivanov.
Sasha is already working
"Oh year, Ovechkin already had called me," suddenly answered Tyurkin. "I can say more, Sasha is now my official advisor."
What do you mean? Does he now work for HC Dynamo?
Yes. He is now the advisor to the president of the Moscow Dynamo.
On what issues?
On any issues! Sasha is now a member of our club. I could say to the rest of our Dynamo alumni's, "You are welcome to prepare for the new season at our facility!" I don't see anything but good coming out from our alumni's. We want NHL players to come and train with us, with a team or on their own.
When Ovechkin officialy started working for the Dynamo?
On July the 1st. Sasha will be our Dynamo's evangelist. And he'll work with kids from our sports school as well. He'll do some hockey clinics with them... I think that the famous people like Ovechkin should benefit not only to their NHL club, but also to Russia, and in particular to their alumni hockey club. You can't squander the people like Ovechkin.
Did Alexander already manage to do something at his new position?
We discussed a number of questions on his work at KHL. I was interested in his views about some of the nuances that we could take from the NHL to improve our league. Let me remind you that I am a member of the KHL Board of Directors. We had a long discussion. We also agreed that he would hold several joint trainings with our players. In addition to that Alexander expressed his wish to sponsor young Dynamo players. Right now we are discussing the best way to help to our children's school with hockey equipment.
Is it for real that Ovechkin will even get paid by Dynamo?
Yes, we already set up the salary for him.
Is it big?
It is really quite symbolic. We are not talking about serious money. Look at me, I am not even get paid by Dynamo for the post of the president. But since Sasha is on our payroll, there should be some kind of salary. Although if he wanted to make the same amount, he could probably say three words somewhere and would get paid as much...
Is it possible that maybe Alexander would recruit you the players from the NHL?
There is no need for that. We have completed our free agent's signing. We have a dynamic, smooth team ready to compete for the highest awards.
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13 comments:
I don't know what to think about this news. Is Ovie already considering what he would like to do after his hockey career ends, and wants to get a jump start learning the ins and outs of Dynamo operations while working as a consultant? Or is he preparing for the possibility that NHL players won't be participating in the Sochi Olympics in 2014, and is setting himself up to bolt from the NHL to join the KHL? How is this "job" with Dynamo going to affect his REAL job with the Capitals once their training camp opens and games begin?
To be honest, I'm more concerned about this Dynamo development than any possible relationship with Valeria and if she's really his gf.
Wow, good for him. As long as it doesn't mess around with his NHL career, why not? He's very smart and would probably make a great adviser and even coach or manager one day!
Also, pretty cool that he's getting paid- because he totally needs more money lol
But really,it's good that he's looking after his club, and it's youth players.
Yeah, I agree. Good for him, he's very smart and I think would make a good adviser and even coach or owner in the future. As long as it doesn't mess around with his NHL career, I think it's awesome!
It's good to see him take interest in his club and it's youth members.
I doubt he'd bolt from NHL- even if he helped them work into a better league, I don't see it happening. I just think he wants to be more involved with his country.
And yes, I couldn't really care less about who he's dating. I hope this works out for him without causing too much trouble.
Well, the article sez he assumed his new role on 1 July. A look back through TJ's archives will show that Alex has spent much of the past three weeks in Latvia or Ibiza, with a quick swing through Moscow to lay down some tracks and take his lady to the disco.
IOW, his new advisory position is not exactly consuming his days and nights.
A recorded advisory conversation:
Ovi: Hello?
(Pause)
Ovi: Yes
(Pause)
Ovi: No
(Pause)
Ovi: Okay
(Ovi hangs up)
I mean people have to understand Dynamo is where Ovie started, I mean we all know how much he loves his country and how passionate he is about that so doesnt it make sense that when he sees the club where he started it all suffering and in trouble he would want to reach out and help? it makes perfect sense to me, and I think it's awesome.
Attention Alex Ovechkin - we need a picture of you in your Caps hat at Dynamo HQ.
Thanks in advance.
@TJ and others: thanks for the reality check. Maybe my hyperactive imagination saw negatives here where there aren't any. You're right, this is an example of Ovie doing something positive, something awesome for his "parent" club and to do even more for his country. Maybe I'm so antsy for the Caps season to start, I don't want ANYTHING to interfere with Ovie getting ready for next season.
However, I agree with Emily that Ovie needs to show himself in a Caps hat at Dynamo HQ to demonstrate his dual team loyalties for the game he's so passionate about.
Giving back to the team that helped develop you is a good thing. The sponsoring and working with kids just seems to be an expansion of what he already does, and being an advisor can give him valuable experience and perspective, but I hope the latter doesn't distract him during the season.
What I find strange is that he is on the payroll. To me, it would make more sense for him to do these things in an honorary capacity. I hope it isn't a conflict of interest since the KHL is a rival of the NHL and I hope it doesn't run afoul of NHL and NHLPA rules.
@BobbyG,
I wouldn't worry about Ovie "bolting" to the KHL. He has integrity and respects the Caps organization too much. Also, even if the NHL decides not to let their players go to Sochi, Leonsis has said the Caps would release Ovie (give him permission) to play in the Olympics. The NHL could still suspend or fine him, but the Caps have his back.
@TJ,
That advisory conversation didn't mention anything about coke and getting Verizon Center nachos for the Dynamo rink. LOL
@O: another voice of reason, as usual. I hadn't considered the possible conflict of interest aspect with Ovie getting paid for this. You and I share some concern about any distraction this advisory post could create for him.
BTW, maybe I'm just dense but I honestly don't know if you're male or female. Please enlighten me if it's not too personal a question.
Female. The superior gender.
@O: As I suspected, we're online sisters.
"The superior gender"
If only more males, superstar hockey players included, would realize this.
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