Nikulin: No need to change for Ovechkin, just give him more ice time

Pavel Lysenkov (SovSport.ru) conducted an interview with Ilya Nikulin, Ovechkin's teammate from the national team. Here are some excerpts:

How did you meet Ovi?
We both had the same agent, Dima Goryachkin. [First time] we crossed our paths at Sheremetyevo airport. Back then he then was about 16 years old. Or even 15 and a half. Then he came to watch Dynamo training sessions. We chatted. And somewhere the middle of the season Ovechkin was called to play for the first team. We had common interests, became roommates on the road.

He is noisy.
I know Sasha differently. Absolutely quiet, well-balanced guy.

Did you invite him to your wedding?
Yes, Ovechkin was the only hockey player there. Katya and I were married in August of 2007. All the guys in our league have already been at pre-season training wit their teams. We had about 60 guests, close friends.


Baptism of Ignat, Ilya Nikulin's son, Jurmala, Latvia, June 29, 2010


Have you immediately decided that Ovechkin will be the godfather?
He asked me about it. I offered him the role of a witness at the wedding. Ovechkin said he wanted to have something to be a little closer, to be a godfather of my first child. Katya wasn't even pregnant back then. But Sanya was already chosen as a godfather.

Nowadays many people criticize Ovechkin. It is said that he has just one move that everybody knows. Can you tell as a defenseman, should Alexander change his style? His ice time is cut, he shoots less, hits less...
I've never played against Ovechkin. But I believe that he is extraordinary forward. Maybe now it is not the most productive period in his career. But I don't think that Sasha's playing badly.

Any coach before the game says that Ovechkin should be covered personally. One or two players always skate by his side. It is twice as difficult for Alexander than to any other forward. But, then, his partners get more freedom.

Why Ovechkin should change? He is already at the top of the hockey hierarchy. He needs to keep his game. Of course he does not stop to improve his game, and understands that if did not score today, he needs to score a double in the next game. I know him well. Sanya is taking it hard when his game is not going right.

But if I would be in Ovi's shoes I wouldn't get upset. His performance is related to the fact that his ice time was cut. I believe that forwards of his statue should be given as much ice time as they want. It's ok even if he'd spend 60 minutes on the ice as soon as it give results. Fans in Washington go to see Ovechkin. And he justifies what is expected of him.

As of hockey writers, this is their personal opinion. That's it. And Ovechkin did not become less liked in America and Canada because of his critics.

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