Two highly-paid underachievers who struggle to play complete hockey and fail to show up when it counts.
Regardless of their nationality, they deserve criticism.
This year, Kovalchuk is the golden boy. The year before, it was Datsyuk. In 2009, it was Geno. CBC has certainly praised Russian players who deserve praise. Ovechkin and Semin aren't on that list and shouldn't be.
Bull, Semin can be blamed as much as people want, not ovechkin. It's totally, sheer and utter nonsense.
I wouldn't listen to anything those 2 CBC clowns have to say about anyone. The only players they like have the last name of Sedin and/or wear jerseys with an elongated "C" made of some sort of fish. I mute them when they're on and consider it a waste of the Canadian taxpayers' and sponsors' money which goes towards paying them.
I think CBC watches the Russians with a very critical eye. Like a Dad. There is such a fascination with especially Ovechkin in the Canadian broadcasts. They show fans of Ovie seeking autographs before the game and highlight him in the introductions. Semin has constant attention paid to him also, not just because he's Russian, but because he can be that dangerous.
The obsession is out of respect and admiration actually. We all know how exceptional players like Ovie and Semin can be. When they don't deliver it's a big let down and the criticism is gonna flow. Which I guess it should.
I wouldn't listen to anything those 2 CBC clowns have to say about anyone. The only players they like have the last name of Sedin and/or wear jerseys with an elongated "C" made of some sort of fish. I mute them when they're on and consider it a waste of the Canadian taxpayers' and sponsors' money which goes towards paying them.
Isn't that a whale? i think there maybe too much TV on in Canada altogether.
Bull, Semin can be blamed as much as people want, not ovechkin. It's totally, sheer and utter nonsense.
Before these playoffs one could perhaps look beyond Ovechkin's mercurial attitude towards defense, extended shifts, and poor line changes by pointing to his strong point per game average (1.35). This season he improved his defense game to that of an average player and his PPG plummets (0.64). At this point in his career Ovechkin has yet to put together a complete playoff performance. He is by no means a playoff disappointment on the level of Semin and Green; however, it is fair for one to question why a multiple time league regular season MVP has yet to lead an annual pre-season Stanley Cup favorite beyond the second round.
Before these playoffs one could perhaps look beyond Ovechkin's mercurial attitude towards defense, extended shifts, and poor line changes by pointing to his strong point per game average (1.35). This season he improved his defense game to that of an average player and his PPG plummets (0.64). At this point in his career Ovechkin has yet to put together a complete playoff performance. He is by no means a playoff disappointment on the level of Semin and Green; however, it is fair for one to question why a multiple time league regular season MVP has yet to lead an annual pre-season Stanley Cup favorite beyond the second round.
i see that you havent watched the caps these past 6 years, maybe you can catch them next year
The Xenophobia towards Russians in the NHL is old and tired.
If any team has a Russian, he becomes the scapegoat or biggest factor in a team losing
-Look at Bryz in Philly
-NJD Fans were ready to destroy Ilya, and the media was already doing it
-N.A Media and fans love to bash on Ovie and Semin, but look how the coach is using them
It's just so insulting to see "smart" people lazily always bash the Russians
Jim Hughson just wondered aloud if Dale Hunter will be the head coach of the Caps next season. He didn't even mention that they took the Eastern Conference champions to seven games.
Clearly CBC hates Canadian-born coaches.
Pretty sure this has to do with whether Hunter wants to coach the Caps next year.
There was a lot of discussion we he started that it would be on a interim bases only.
I feel like most of the people that criticize Ovechkin didn't actually watch the series. I strongly disliked him before this year of playoffs and now have so much respect for the guy.
Blame Washinton's coach for not using Ovechkin and Semin the way they should be used. You want to play an ultra defensive form of hockey, fine but then you should get the players who are suited for it.
It shouldn't surprise anyone. Two high paid players, expected to play a large role on a team, under performed. Of course they are going to be criticized. They just happen to be Russian.
The criticism of Ovechkin, Semin and Anisimov is completely unfair.
Now, Don Cherry attacks lots of Euros. But everyone knows to take him with a grain of salt.
But it's pretty disgusting to here the CBC analyst blame Ovie and Semin on every shift.
On the second goal, Ovie took a pass in the skates and was tripped trying to get possession.
The play goes up the ice and Holtby allows a weak goal. CBC? They point out that Ovie "turned it over" and he's "still up the ice"
They don't point out the crappy pass in his skates. They don't point out that Ovie didn't need to be back because "his man" was behind him and didn't join the play.
Semin...You think Semin played well these playoffs?
If anything, there's been overwhelming consistent praise for Ovechkin's new found grit and dedication to team defence. At the beginning of the Washington piece, a graphic was held up showing Ovechkin and Chimera as the Caps leading offensive contributors and reference that the rest of the team (made up of a lot of non-Russians) needed to step it up.
And on the Rangers second goal, if focus was brought on Ovechkin, well, Del Zotto had a hand in the turnover did he not? And that Ovechkin didn't compensate for the turnover by either shifting or hustling back on a goal Del Zotto trailed behind the play, is a justifiable reason to point out a player's short-comings wouldn't you say?
It shouldn't surprise anyone. Two high paid players, expected to play a large role on a team, under performed. Of course they are going to be criticized. They just happen to be Russian.
Exactly. It's mostly Jim Hughson and my guess Glen Healey who did the bashing last night. Healey was dead silent on most leaf games until they started to fall apart. He doesn't enjoy the game, he just picks apart the highest paid, and biggest profile players. It has nothing to do with nationality, everything to do with a former crappy back up goalie feeling the need to take stars down a peg or 2.
Gotta love it when people use race/nationality/religion as an excuse for negative attention.
It shouldn't surprise anyone. Two high paid players, expected to play a large role on a team, under performed. Of course they are going to be criticized. They just happen to be Russian.
It's not about underperforming you see, it's about nationality and/or race.
It shouldn't surprise anyone. Two high paid players, expected to play a large role on a team, under performed. Of course they are going to be criticized. They just happen to be Russian.
This. The russian factor does add a little bit to that mix, but when a player gets paid like that the nationality doesn't and shouldn't matter.
