Ovechkin, "I just said, I won't comment on this."
Ovechkin disagrees on Bruce Bouidreau's comment after the game vs Bolts:
Boudreau:
I think he's got a long way to be where he should be or to be as good as he should be. He is our number one player, but he can be better. There's no doubt about it.
Maybe we'd all expect Ovi to say something more polite, but this time Boudreau got him, "It's between me and him," says Ovi.
Here's Bruce Boudreau response (starts at 2:20):
Backpedaling Boudreau:
If this was Game 38 and he had one point in a two-game stretch, I don’t think people would be being overwhelmed. … He could have been better, but there’s a lot of guys who could have been better.
Mark it, this is the first time Bruce Boudreau is publicly criticizing Ovi... Let's see how Ovi will respond in the next game...
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8 comments:
A poor mechanic blames his tools.........
The thing I noticed during the game was that Ovi looked bleak, even during warm-ups. It was the one week mark since his uncle's death and I think that was swimming around in his head.
Referring to what previous Anonymous said and what I've also noticed: Ovie has looked TENSE playing in games and also at the practice I attended. He also looked tired and gassed--a carryover from jet lag or is it related to his conditioning AGAIN? When he went off the ice with his linemates, Mike Knuble looked refreshed and ready to go within about 10 seconds. Ovie, on the other hand, was gasping for air, looked winded, and...dare I say this...BEATEN. I'm asking myself, is it physical, mental, or a combination of both?
During practice it seemed Ovie was the only player hunched over seemingly having difficulty breathing after a brisk skate or drill. I also noticed Dennis Wideman spent a lot of time talking to him and Backstrom but mostly it was Wideman with Ovie having long discussions. I heard a couple of times Ovie shouting out in confusion, asking about whether he should play offense or defense. In retrospect it sounds like he's having problems early with Boudreau's so-called hybrid system, and so it doesn't surprise me that Boudreau called him out, Ovie took it personally, and then Boudreau backed off a bit on his former comments.
I'm as curious as anyone as to what's going on with Ovie, and hope he responds appropriately. Maybe tonight's game against the Pens will awaken the sleeping giant. We'll see.
Thanks for that update Bobby G your observations have answered some and questions
Put more thoughts in my head. Very possible he is still worn down from his trip back home. Seems that he is frustrated about what his role is on the team. Everyone talks about him needing to be a team player and it seems he is trying to do that. On the other hand everyone wants him to score every night and have the same stats as before. People and fans can't have it both ways. At the moment I just feel bad and hope it all comes together soon.
Boudreau is a wimp. This is his last year here. Mark my words.
@Lissa: Whatever Dennis Wideman had to say to Ovie at practice must have worked. Ovie responded the best way he knows how, he scored his first goal of the season. And Wideman finished off the Pens by scoring the game winning goal in OT. Maybe this is what Ovie needed to jump start his season. It's interesting all the angst about him while the Caps have been WINNING. Imagine what would have been said if the Caps lost any of their early games. :)
@Lissa: I don't doubt that part of Ovie's issues this early in the season is his role on the team, how to balance his leadership responsibilities as Captain with his God-given talent to score goals. But whatever Dennis Wideman had to say to him at practice must have worked. Ovie responded the best way he knows how, he scored his first goal of the season. And Wideman finished off the Pens by scoring the game winning goal in OT.
Maybe this is what Ovie needed to jump start his season. It's interesting all the angst about him while the Caps have been WINNING. Imagine what would have been said if the Caps lost any of their early games. :)
Ha, I just realized I double posted. Apparently I opened 2 reply windows, wrote messages in each, and sent both. Maybe I caught what Ovie's got, a dual role complex. :)
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