OV scored the highest percentage of his goals on the PP since '06-07, despite a middling PP. He needs to fix other aspects of his game(puck-handling, accuracy, etc.) to get back to his 50 goal self.
Maybe a system that allows him to forecheck as well.
Watching some of Ovi's clips from Worlds and seeing him forecheck well was... refreshing. He's very good at it. Remember his first playoff goal against Philly... awesome stick lift in the offensive zone, stole the puck and put it in. 'Twas a beauty.
Him not forechecking was all Hunter, I thought maybe he wasn't doing it, but he had no problem during the Worlds like Tycoon said.
Ovechkins goale in like 4 I believe was an example of what Hunter wanted, the guy he didn't trust, being the guy on the back check I guess. He had it like that the playoffs, a center and winger low. The 2nd line forechecking was Backstrom + Johansson and Backstrom was doing all the work.
Yeah, Hunter definitely put a lot on Nicky's shoulders. He had Nicky forechecking, backchecking, on the PP, on the PK. I am surprised Hunter didn't have him play goalie.
One thing Worlds showed me was that old Ovi is still in there. It will need the right coach and the right system to bring that guy back.
Yeah, Hunter definitely put a lot on Nicky's shoulders. He had Nicky forechecking, backchecking, on the PP, on the PK. I am surprised Hunter didn't have him play goalie.
One thing Worlds showed me was that old Ovi is still in there. It will need the right coach and the right system to bring that guy back.
agreed, its not the system; his line; his coach; "the league figured him out" whats holding him back... like someone mentioned, he simply needs to get his head out of his ass - if he gets that 50 goal pace going we dont need to worry to the last game to miss the playoffs
I have no issues believing Ribeiro is a locker room problem. It would explain how they were able to acquire him relatively cheaply.
That said, the right team should be able to deal with that. The Kings last year more or less proved that you can succeed by taking advantage of guys who are out of favor elsewhere due to character issues (Richards, Carter) or worth ethic issues (Penner, though it took some time for him to fit).
Now, I don't think I trust to Caps to have the right support structure in place to actually make it work, but that's another issue. Either way it's a one year commitment, no huge risk.
It took some time for penner to dump his ***** wife. Someone check into ribeiro's sig other.
If you want some entertaining reading go to the Stars Ribeiro/Eakin trade thread.
A lot of them feel like they were hosed, at least for the current season. They also see themselves in the Parise/Suter sweepstakes which is also enjoyable to read.
Best part is someone discussing how great Eakin was in the playoffs for the caps
Which came first... the pancakes or the wife problems.
Maybe if she provided him the panckaes he needed, he wouldn't have to go elsewhere to find some. The problem with her, is she liked feeding other's her pancakes more than her hubby... so a man's going to go munching elsewhere.
Which came first... the pancakes or the wife problems.
Maybe if she provided him the panckaes he needed, he wouldn't have to go elsewhere to find some. The problem with her, is she liked feeding other's her pancakes more than her hubby... so a man's going to go munching elsewhere.
It's not her fault the Kings traded for Jeff Carter.
Which came first... the pancakes or the wife problems.
Maybe if she provided him the panckaes he needed, he wouldn't have to go elsewhere to find some. The problem with her, is she liked feeding other's her pancakes more than her hubby... so a man's going to go munching elsewhere.
It's good to see you posting again. Always welcomed and enjoyed your thoughts and comments. Not enough levity displayed on these boards.
OV scored the highest percentage of his goals on the PP since '06-07, despite a middling PP. He needs to fix other aspects of his game(puck-handling, accuracy, etc.) to get back to his 50 goal self.
His biggest OFFENSIVE hole seems to be his ability to play along the boards and cycle the puck. Under Bruce, they played so much fast break style, which really fits his game...the problem is that playoff hockey eliminates most fast break opportunities....
Whether he likes it or not, OV needs to develop the ability to play along the boards and retain the puck within a cycle game, even if the new coach doesn't stress it. His positioning always seems to be off when playing on the boards, and he doesn't seem to be able to use his size to hang on to the puck...
His biggest OFFENSIVE hole seems to be his ability to play along the boards and cycle the puck. Under Bruce, they played so much fast break style, which really fits his game...the problem is that playoff hockey eliminates most fast break opportunities....
Whether he likes it or not, OV needs to develop the ability to play along the boards and retain the puck within a cycle game, even if the new coach doesn't stress it. His positioning always seems to be off when playing on the boards, and he doesn't seem to be able to use his size to hang on to the puck...
Is that why Ovechkin's career playoff number's are so bad?
Is that why Ovechkin's career playoff number's are so bad?
He's often found other ways to score, but seriously, you can't deny that the concerns about his play on the boards and in the cycle is lacking. I wish he recognized things like that for himself and made a point of improving in those areas. The best we can hope for is the next coach trying to work with him on making his game more complete. I think he's open to learning.
