Ovechkin: I just want to be ready for the playoffs

Here's the latest and greatest from Alex Ovechkin via CSNWashington's Chuck Gormley:

About winning the Cup this year:
"In hockey, it’s pretty tough to make promises. If you say, “OK, we’re going to win tomorrow 5-0,” and you lose 5-0, how are you going to look? Not good. So I try not to make promises."

Personally, you’re coming off a difficult season, at least statistically. A lot of people believe that if you don’t score 40 or 50 goals, this team can’t win. Do you agree?
Again, if somebody wants to be a hundred-point guy and not be in the playoffs, that’s wrong. I want to be a 50-goal scorer and I want to be a Stanley Cup champion. It’s hard work. You have to work all the time for your shot, for room to skate. I have a different feeling now. Last year my numbers (32 goals, 85 points) were not as great like a couple years ago (50 goals, 109 points). I just want to be ready for the playoffs. My shape is 100 percent right now. This year I changed a lot. I changed my workout stuff, I changed my mentality. I know if I can do that, this team can do it this year. I talked to lots of guys and this is a huge opportunity for us to build a team that can win the Cup this season.

It’s been said that players don’t achieve greatness until they’ve won a championship. Do you believe that?
Of course, when you win you are king of the world. But if you know my personality, I’m a winner and one day I’m going to raise the Cup. If I didn’t want to do it, I wouldn’t be here. I would stay in Russia, stay with my parents, stay in my house and have a good time there. But I’m here and I want to win the Stanley Cup. This is my dream. That’s why this team is built right now to be a champion.

Read more...

Based on preseason stats Ovi is not going to break his own record of 2007-08 season with 65 goals and 47 assists, but to break Washington Capitals playoff record is more important than anything else for everyone, including Ovi.

---

Share |

Link to the latest post