other than Crosby and Lundqvist im not sure there is another player in the NHL who plays better at MSG than AO. hes having a "down" year. but he's still one of the 3 best players in the world.
Still? When was he ever? He's not having a down year, he's just always been a tremendous shotwhore with a very limited repertoire that everyone has figured out by now. Without Backstrom and Green, he has a far more difficult time getting high quality scoring chances, which would put him in the same class as a number of other very good goalscorers who need playmakers with great vision to help them get numbers. Not unlike Rick Nash, for example. Combined with the fact that the Caps' failure to win in the playoffs led to coaching philosophies that didn't allow him to shoot the puck as often as he wanted, his numbers have settled to more reasonable levels.
Still? When was he ever? He's not having a down year, he's just always been a tremendous shotwhore with a very limited repertoire that everyone has figured out by now. Without Backstrom and Green, he has a far more difficult time getting high quality scoring chances, which would put him in the same class as a number of other very good goalscorers who need playmakers with great vision to help them get numbers. Not unlike Rick Nash, for example. Combined with the fact that the Caps' failure to win in the playoffs led to coaching philosophies that didn't allow him to shoot the puck as often as he wanted, his numbers have settled to more reasonable levels.
all great goal scorers take a ton of shots. very limited repoertoire? the guys has elite speed, is a bodychecking machine, has a canon for a shot, etc.
lol, i love it when ppl wouldnt want a 50+ goal scorer on their team.
failure to win in the playoffs is usually a result of mediocre goaltending and defense than offense. their entire system was flawed for the p/o.
all great goal scorers take a ton of shots. very limited repoertoire? the guys has elite speed, is a bodychecking machine, has a canon for a shot, etc.
lol, i love it when ppl wouldnt want a 50+ goal scorer on their team.
failure to win in the playoffs is usually a result of mediocre goaltending and defense than offense. their entire system was flawed for the p/o.
Their system may be flawed but what is really flawed about the Caps is their mentality. They just aren't a team, a lot of individuals worried about their own stat lines.
I hate how people call Ovechkin a no-show in the playoffs, when he has 1.35 PPG in the playoffs, while Malkin is 1.18, and Crosby is 1.32 PPG in the playoffs. You win as a team, and Ovi has never had the defense or goaltending to win, added to that is that Haagen Dazs decided to go into a defensive system after we embarrassed them 7-0 and 6-0, which his roster wouldn't be so great at anyway.
Still? When was he ever? He's not having a down year, he's just always been a tremendous shotwhore with a very limited repertoire that everyone has figured out by now. Without Backstrom and Green, he has a far more difficult time getting high quality scoring chances, which would put him in the same class as a number of other very good goalscorers who need playmakers with great vision to help them get numbers. Not unlike Rick Nash, for example. Combined with the fact that the Caps' failure to win in the playoffs led to coaching philosophies that didn't allow him to shoot the puck as often as he wanted, his numbers have settled to more reasonable levels.
2 Harts, 3 Pearsons, an Art Ross, and 2 Rocket Richards in a 3 year span tend to disagree that he was never a top 3 player...
Still? When was he ever? He's not having a down year, he's just always been a tremendous shotwhore with a very limited repertoire that everyone has figured out by now. Without Backstrom and Green, he has a far more difficult time getting high quality scoring chances, which would put him in the same class as a number of other very good goalscorers who need playmakers with great vision to help them get numbers. Not unlike Rick Nash, for example. Combined with the fact that the Caps' failure to win in the playoffs led to coaching philosophies that didn't allow him to shoot the puck as often as he wanted, his numbers have settled to more reasonable levels.
It could be argued he was a top 3 player when he won back-to-back Hart and Richard Trophies and an Art Ross.
Edit: Beat me to it. Has he scored the most goals since the lockout?
the guy has scored 50+ goals 4 of his last 6 seasons How many of those guys can make that claim? 0.
And yet these past 2 seasons he won't even come close to 40 goals. Have you seen anything these past 2 seasons to give you reason to believe he's going to return that that previous form? I have not. This is the new Ovechkin.
Remember when the Rangers had that rough start to the season, and Edmonton started really well, and everyone was talking about Renney for Addams and stuff?
How's that one working out for ya? 3rd consecutive year finishing 29th or 30th. lol.
Remember when the Rangers had that rough start to the season, and Edmonton started really well, and everyone was talking about Renney for Addams and stuff?
How's that one working out for ya? 3rd consecutive year finishing 29th or 30th. lol.
yep. i guess if you give any coach enough firepower, eventually they will stop sucking...right?
Except for the fact that the Penguins began their tanking with drafting a goalie, and had Orpik and Letang. Oilers don't know what defense and goaltending is.
Gang, you're all looking at this from the wrong angle. The problem with Ovechkin this year is he has a girlfriend now, that Russian Tennis Star. This is not an anti dating rant but how many people have had their lives changed when they start seriously dating someone? Workout routines? Diet? Etc. He's only 25 going on 26 and had his parents living with him as of 24/7 last year so he's still a kid. Those out of shape pictures of him during the summer, not having the same snarl and fire; when you're dating a model/athlete, it does tend to make you a little less agitated.
Anytime I've had a g/f in my mid 20s I've gained weight and got out of my normal routine. It doesn't matter that she's an athlete, they don't play the same sport.
OV will be fine next year. He is far from done. And if he's seriously lost a permanent edge, might as well change his name to LOVEchkin on his jersey.
