Ovechkin lands in Moscow
Photo Life.ru
Upon return the players refused to give any interviews. Life.ru woman tried to talk to Ovechkin when he was going into the bus...
Alexander, can I ask you a question?
Ovechkin: About what? About how we spent time at the restaurant?
No, about the World Cup and why team Russia couldn't do anything after a great game vs. Canada?
Ovechkin: I couldn't do it (Ya ne smog)
That was the end of the interview.
Ovechkin's Dad said more. He was interviewed while he was waiting for his son. He said that the team didn't have enough of the team's spirit and that hockey gods turned away for the second year in a row.
He also hinted about the team management, he said that a lot depends on the Coaches, but didn't go too far...
He said in the last game Ovi was all over the place, but his partners didn't follow. "He would give a pass to another player for give and go, would open up, but wouldn't receive a puck back. You can't outplay 5 opposite players alone."
At the end he said that there was nothing tragic about the 4th place. "They lost, so what. The most important thing now is to prepare for Sochi Olympics".
Barry Smith, former head coach of St. Petersburg and former assistant coach of Detroit (via Sport-Express):
I honestly did not get why Ovechkin came to Bratislava. It seems to me that Alex, even after he got to the tournament, was only thinking about the missed opportunity at the Stanley Cup playoffs.
I have closely followed the NHL this season and I know what a great success was predicted for Washington in the playoffs. A sweep in the series vs Tampa was for the Capitals, and especially for the lead players of the club, a heaviest psychological blow.
These numbers (0:4) were in the head of Ovechkin, who arrived to Slovakia. There was the feeling that with the loss in playoffs Ovechkin was not ready to fight for the gold at the World Cup.
History has been made:
Team Russia had set their personal record, 5 losses in one IIHF tournament. Alex followed, for the first time ever in his career he finished a tournament with 0 points. Ouch!
But I think it's all good for Alex. If you are not ready, say it next time. Time to set priorities straight and hopefully he will find another very good fitness trainer this summer.
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16 comments:
he wanted to play for his country, who cares, that should be all that matters. if he scores 0 points or he scores more, there is no question that Ovie's heart and mind was in the tournament. He is the most passionate guy and I hate how people always question him and his desire, so things don't always work out for him, it's not because he doesn't want to win or because he isn't right. whether it's a stanley cup playoff game, or an olympic game, or an IIHF or even a regular season game, I never in my mind question that Ovie has both the heart and desire to win as well as the 100% of his mind on the game he is playing. like ovie experienced in this year's playoffs NO ONE FRIKEN BACKED HIM UP! he can't do it all by himself, and he shouldn't have to. 1 guy doesn't win a championship no matter what level it is at. Ovie deserves more credit, he always gives 110%, he never fails to step up, he always loves to play and represent his country, his team...how can you anyone even question a guy like that.
I wondered why Bykov didn't want Semin. I am sure he and Ovie would of played better together, plus Semin is a good player, probably only behind Ovie and Kovy on the team. After Bykov saw Ovie struggling and it was clear Datsyuk wasn't going to be available soon, why didn't he invite Semin, who was healthier than Datsyuk with his wrist or whatever injury.
Let's not get started on what Russia did with the goalies either. I don't understand their team at all, hopefully Bykov is removed before Sochi.
Rest up Ovie and enjoy the summer, but not too much and don't forget to work out and study film.
Bykov is an idiot. Do you know what he said after Czech's won @ Russia in 2010 final World? All Russian players and coaches etc, exept Ovi, removed the silver medal and the next day he (Bykov) said: "I don't know why our players did it (removed the medal)." But he was one of the people who removed it!
I really don't like him.
I.
(If there are in my comment some mistakes, please rectify them or ignore it, thx :))
I love Ovie's dad! not only is he a genuine great guy, but he's honest and always RIGHT!!!!!!!
Papa Ovie is darling. I didn't see him around Kettler as much this year. I wonder if he is less involved with Ovie's training.
I don't get this "set your priorities straight" thing. His priorities are to help his national team whenever he can. This is the right kind of priorities. After all, a player usually plays for several teams during his career, but remains Russian/Czech/Canadian/etc. for life.
@ Anonymous,
His professional priority is to the Capitals since that is the team with which he has a contract.
The Stanley Cup is also the most important and prestigious award in hockey followed by Olympic gold and, at a distant third, World Championship gold.
As for nationality, some players become multi-nationals which makes sense when you play and live in another country for the duration of your career. A broader worldview makes more sense and is less dangerous in this global world we live in.
Ovie is a proud Russia. He is always quick to say it. Some find gratification playing for their country of origin or adoption, and Ovie is one of those. However, just because a player is on the national team does not mean that the tournament is automatically more important than another.
I agree, Bykov is an idiot and if he's behind the bench for Team Russia in Sochi in 2014, I don't expect a good result for them. But he alone isn't the only problem, Russian hockey in general is a mess. They have learned next to nothing from past failures IMO, and seem determined to keep doing the same things hoping for a different outcome next time. This is the epitome of craziness. And their treatment of Semin was awful. Why they dissed him waiting for Datsyuk to become available makes no sense to me.
As for getting his priorities straight, I don't have any problem with Ovie deciding to play for his country in the World Championships. What I think Barry Smith was suggesting is, maybe Ovie didn't have time to properly adjust to the Capitals elimination when so much was expected of them. IMO Smith was suggesting that in this case, Ovie would have been better off skipping the WC. I'm divided about this, but whether it was a good or bad decision will have to wait to see how Ovie responds with new training methods.
My biggest disappointment with Ovie this past season is, it seemed to me he went overboard partying very late over the summer disproportionate to the time he spent training. He also chose not to follow his regular trainer to his new location, and instead stayed in Moscow. BIG MISTAKE! Ovie was too close to the party scene, and he started training late and not very well, which carried over into his being in poor shape and out of condition when he reported to training camp. He was out of breath soon after his shift, and during games needed oxygen.
Ovie played hurt, which IMO was a result of his poor training and conditioning. Ovie's priority this summer should be to spend more time training and looking at video, and less time with the Moscow party crowd, otherwise he will have learned nothing and will again struggle in training camp and in games when the season starts. He has to decide what's more important to him, and adjust his behavior accordingly. He can still have fun on vacation, but in moderation. He should display more maturity and discipline when he decides who to spend his time with, how late he stays out, and how to balance his disire for fun with the necessity to prepare himself better for a new hockey season. Partying shouldn't take over his time entirely if he's serious about being a better hockey player and leader for the Capitals. The Captials pay him a handsome salary, so playing and doing his best for THEM should be his #1 priority.
On the World Championships, it was a no win situation for Ovi no matter what.
If Russia had won Gold, the complaint would have been "Who cares about this 2nd rate tournament? Guess Ovi cares more about Russia than the Stanley Cup."
With anything less than gold, Ovi is criticized, especially with finishing out of medaling.
I think Ovi essentially had nothing left to give after the playoff elimination. Too jet-lagged and not adjusted to his linemates for Russia.
Well, Ovi, find a better trainer. The one that he and Kovalchuk used last summer was obviously less than stellar.
Thanks to everyone for the comments, and all of you are right one way or another. The bottom line is that we all are die-hard Ovi's fans no matter what. It hurts less for me than in previous years when Caps were eliminated, I guess you get used to it. But I caught myself waking up depressed in the morning. And I ask myself why so? The sun is up, the sky is blue... I guess it's Caps and Ovi...
Oh well, in the end it's just a game, but it is unbelievable how it affects us, Caps fans...
There would be the day, and I know it will be... it could be like for Yzerman in 10 years, it could be next year, but it will come and it will be more cherished because it was not easy...
"The most important thing now is to prepare for Sochi Olympics"
Pretty chilling. If Ov feels like his dad (and heaven knows his play this past year didn't suggest otherwise), the Caps go nowhere.
Ov floated all year. His game hasn't advanced a step in the last 1.5 years. it's gone backward and having everybody associated with the Caps from Ted to fans not holding him accountable for his actual play (vs. his past play) doesn't help Ov.
I'm not shocked he had a terrible tournament. There was NO reason to suspect otherwise given what Ov actually did this entire year. Thinking he'd play any better in the Worlds was fantasy thinking.
I'm also delighted he lost and was horrible. Maybe THAT will get his attention -- nothing else has.
"The most important thing now is to prepare for Sochi Olympics"
I take this comment as specific to the preparation of Team Russia. When Russians talk to Russian media their comments are tailored to the Russian audience.
Papa Ovie understands the importance of the NHL and the Stanley Cup, When you listen to Ovie, you can tell he craves the elusive Cup more and more after every elusive year. It has been his life goal since he was a child.
also someone was wondering about his Dad and how they didn't see him much around Kettler. He had a minor surgery involving his heart in December (that's also why his dad wasn't at the Winter Classic) that's why (at least I hope) you won't see Ovie's Dad smoking as much anymore. All I can say is, I feel sorry for Ovie, I'm not going to make excuses for him or try to explain anything. but I still love the guy, he's my favorite player, russian, and capital but most importantly I love him as a person and he is genuinely one of the nicest "well-known people" I have had the pleasure of meeting. I am a bit sad I won't get to see him in Vegas this year, but I'll just chat it up with Green instead.
@Marge,
I was the one who said I hadn't seen him around as much. Thanks for the information. Sad to hear he had surgery at such a relatively young age. Do you know if the surgery was done in the U.S. or Russia? I hope Papa Ovie's health doesn't get worse.
@Marge: thanks for the info about Ovie's Dad having heart surgery in December. I hope that whatever was involved turns out to be a blessing in disguise if he quits smoking and heads off even more serious problems in the future. It might also explain how and why Ovie might have been distracted or otherwise not as "into it" with his game. IMO you can't just turn off your emotions and focus completely on hockey, or whatever your job/occupation is when a family member, someone you love, is hurt or ill. And considering how emotional a guy Ovie is, I empathize with him.
TJ is correct, we are all Ovie fans and want the best for him. We also are realistic enough to know he isn't perfect, he's made mistakes due to his young age, lack of maturity/experience, or just plain poor judgment with respect to how he spends a lot of his off-ice time and who he surrounds himself with. I continue to hope that eventually, as he becomes aware that his actions have consequences, he will grow up enough to make playing hockey and improving his game the #1 priority. We'll see if there are any changes in his preparation and training this summer, and how it affects his conditioning.
Also like TJ, the elimination of the Capitals from the playoffs this year didn't affect me as badly as it did last year. Last year after the Habs series, I cried. I felt badly for Ovie, not only for the playoffs, but also for the Olympics. I felt then I wished I could have had the chance to do or say something to him to make it hurt less. This time, I don't know what it was. I think now that I was already prepared for what happened in the playoffs because deep down I knew Ovie didn't do what he needed to do to prepare for the season. I already braced myself for exactly what happened with the Lightning. I guess you could say I hoped for the best but expected the worst, and when the worst happened it didn't have the sting that last year's elimination did.
Bottom line: I still love the Caps and Ovie, they are my favorite team and player. I'm looking forward to Ovie making a fresh start with a fresh new attitude about his preparation for training camp. Yes, the sun came up this morning and shone brightly all day. I'm grateful to be alive to witness it, I cherish each and every moment I have to experience life. When the Caps start anew next season, it will be for me a new season of hope for them and for Ovie in particular. Faith, hope, and love are powerful emotions even when sports teams and athletes are involved. I am and always will be a fan.
@Marge, how did you hear that about Ovi's dad having surgery?
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