Alexander Ovechkin Live Chat

[ThePurpleCobra 0]

He will be Chatting live with Fans On NHL.com at 1:15 EST thats 6 mins PPL

[pldhockey4 0]

im at school and i think we are leaving the library soon, i hope it starts on time!

[mack 44]

Dear God I hope he doesn't have a translator. That guy's quotes are gold.

[pldhockey4 0]

i just tried to get on, but its proxied.....any suggestions onhow to see it?

[ThePurpleCobra 0]

I have no clue maybe a differnt internet browser

and at the end ill post the CONVO

[ThePurpleCobra 0]

Moderator

Thank you for joining us today. Alexander is here now and we are ready to begin.

HatTrickChick

What tips can you offer other hockey players who want to be as skillful a player as you?

Alexander Ovechkin

Work hard. If you have a dream, chase the dream. If you see other guys doing things wrong, don't copy them. Do what is best for you and go after your dream.

deetroyt

How do you go about deciding what you're going to try on any given shoot-out attempt?

Alexander Ovechkin

I decide what I'm going to do when the coach taps on my shoulder or calls my name on the bench before the shootout. I base the decision by what I've seen from the goalie during the game, not from previous shooters.

ironchefcanadian

What was your biggest fear about coming to North America?

Alexander Ovechkin

How I'd fit in on a new team, make friends and adjust to the NHL, where the best players in the world play.

saranis

Most Caps fans know that your brother is living with you in Virginia. How difficult has it been to transition to an "American" lifestyle?

Alexander Ovechkin

My brother has helped me a lot because he speaks better English than I do, but the language barrier has been tough. It's a different world and everything is an adjustment, but I want to be in the NHL, so I try to learn and improve everyday.

harleyj

Alex, it seems like your one of those players who truly loves what you do. Do you find yourself more successful when you treat hockey as a game or as a job?

Alexander Ovechkin

Well, it's a job, but it is fun. I approach it as fun, because hockey is my life.

Guest

Hi Alex -- So far in the NHL, who has been the player you played against who has most impressed you?

Alexander Ovechkin

Peter Forsberg, because he is one of the best passers I've ever seen and he's so good. Scott Hannan from San Jose and Andrei Markov from Montreal are the toughest defenders I've had to play against.

dochabes

Alex, what nickname do your teammates have for you?

Alexander Ovechkin

Ovie and OV-1. I like both of them.

cstoneno37

Would you like the chance to play against Olie Kolzig in Torino? You will get to play against Ivan Majesky on Slovakia. Have you three talked about that at all?

Alexander Ovechkin

Yes, I've talked to both of them. I told them that Russia is going to win the gold medal and also told Ivan that he has no chance against me when Russia plays Slovakia. I'd like to face Olie too. I know a place I can score on him but it's based on situations.

lauren08

What thoughts were going through your mind as you were scoring "the goal" against the Coyotes? [Watch "the goal" (WMP)]

Alexander Ovechkin

I was thinking that I must try to shoot. I saw the net, then I saw the puck, but not at the same moment. I shot the puck without really knowing where the net or I was.

Stv3752

Are you tired of the "Ovechkin-Crosby" comparisons?

Alexander Ovechkin

I'm not tired of it, because I don't think about it. He's a great player, but we're very different. All I think about is how we can win games in Washington. I don't think about how many goals I must score or winning Rookie of the Year.

Hckey4life

Do you prefer to play on a European size rink or on an NHL size rink?

Alexander Ovechkin

Doesn't really matter. I feel comfortable on both. I like the NHL-sized rink, because it suits me better.

vaness_habs

Hello Alexander! Do you have a role model in the NHL? Who have you modeled your game after?

Alexander Ovechkin

I want to be a passer like Pavel Datsyuk and a scorer like Ilya Kovalchuk. I admired Pavel Bure and Igor Larionov growing up. I watched Owen Nolan and the San Jose Sharks and Jarome Iginla and the Calgary Flames a lot before I came to the U.S.

Stckchck

Alex, what's your favorite American movie?

Alexander Ovechkin

A funny movie I like is "American Pie". "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" is my sensitive favorite.

Guest

Alex, what kind of music do you listen to?

Alexander Ovechkin

Techno dance music. I like hip-hop and rap too. I listen to 50-cent, Tupac, Eminem and Fat Joe... lots of American rap.

belfourfan

What is your favourite city on the road?

Alexander Ovechkin

Montreal has been my favorite so far. New York is good too.

briggs9727

Why do you wear the number 8?

Alexander Ovechkin

Because that is the number my mother wore when she won two gold medals for the Soviet Women's Olympic basketball team. One in 1976 in Montreal and the other in 1980 in Moscow.

capsrule84

What do you do on your days off in DC?

Alexander Ovechkin

I hang out with my brother and my teammates. We go out to eat and I try to learn as much as I can about this great city. I'm trying to get to Capitol Hill and learn the significance of all the beautiful monuments around the city.

timengland

What do you think your best strengths are?

Alexander Ovechkin

I think my strengths are I have a little bit of everything and work hard.

redlight_rog

Do you have any before-game rituals or superstitions?

Alexander Ovechkin

I eat two Filet Mignons, green beans and potatoes on the road. At home, I try to do the same. I have no other rituals or superstitions. I just go out and play.

drfeelgood39

Who are you closest to on the Capitals?

Alexander Ovechkin

Dainius Zubrus because he's helped me so much with English. Shaone Morrisonn, Steve Eminger and Brian Sutherby I hang out with too. We are all young.

AwesomeAlex8

Hey Alex, how many goals are you hoping to score this season?

Alexander Ovechkin

As many as I can get to help the Caps win more games. I don't worry about statistics. I very rarely look at my numbers, so I don't think about how much I could score.

number8thegreat

What is the reason for the TINTED visor rather than a clear one?

Alexander Ovechkin

Because that's my style. I used to wear a clear visor in practice. I wear a tinted one in games because that's my style. It's just fashion.

Moderator

Alex has to get going now. Thanks everybody for joining us today. We hope you enjoyed the chat, and we appreciate your continued support.

Alexander Ovechkin

I'd like to thank everybody in Washington and in all the NHL cities for your support. I look forward to visiting more cities. I'm having a lot of fun and love the NHL! For all my fans in Russia and in Washington I hope to bring the Stanley Cup home to you soon.

[teamriot38 0]

Yeah, great closing question of "Why do you wear a tinted visor" hahaha

[JSchultz 25]

This guy's going to be great in the coming years. Seems like an off-ice class act too.

[Fonya 0]

Interesting how he likes the tinted visor just for looks.

[donkey87 0]

Interesting how he likes the tinted visor just for looks.

Just wants to look good on the highlights. :P

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

Interesting how he likes the tinted visor just for looks.

Some people or just like this, Kovalev is the samething with his skates, he wears them just to be different from the others and for the looks.

I actually like Ovechkin more than Crosby now, I know Crosby has a passion for the game, but Ovie seems too have it to and he doesn't do an ass of him on the ice each time he gets hooked or slashed and Ovechkin kinda get respected more and more by the other players in the league.

[beaver5 1]

honestly i think ovechkin is better then crosby.

Its just because crosby came from Canada and all these comparisons and rumors came around about him being the next great one. Then is alexander dude slides in under the radar. No pressure really, just go out and play.

[2-Keys 1]

i like Ovechkin way more than Crosby. he acts more grown up and professinal. plus he's an excelent player.

[malcb33 97]

I know its hard but people have got to stop comparing Ovy and crosby! They play a different game, and with all the expectations on Crosby you just have to remember he is only 18(?) and Ovy is 21! Just let Crosby develop and become a great player!

[twiztidwrista10 3]

i like Ovechkin way more than Crosby. he acts more grown up and professinal. plus he's an excelent player.

Same.

[Duder84 0]

you'd think mario would have taught crosby a couple of lessons on professionalism <_<

[D3nZ 0]

Nice his fav city so far is Montreal.

[#94 3]

I like how Ovechkin speaks his mind, whatever he wants to say comes out. Whereas, Crosby talks like a robot, always thinking of the right thing to say. But, hey, just my opinion...

[cobrAA 0]

Nice his fav city so far is Montreal.

i was thinking the same lol!! and one of the toughest is MARKOV!!!! lol...

IMO, cap and montreal have approx the same team, if not montreal is better...

why not trade theo ribeiro and anybody else except koivu and kovalev for ovech lol...oh well i can dream... :P

[Dougie8 0]

Just one quick question, I'm not sure on this. But, the visor that Ovechkin was wearing in the WJC's last year(mirrored) is he allowed to wear that in the NHL? or did he just switch, just because?

But, that was a great conversation. I wish I could of asked him a question!! He's becoming one of my favorite players, and he also wears #8 :lol: I like him way more than Crosby, I find that Crosby whines too much, and it looks like he is trying to be physical out on the ice rather than Ovechkin, just is physical.

Thanks guys & Thanks PurpleCobra for posting that

[Patrick67 1]

Yeah thanks for posting, nice read.

I think the chances of Washington trading Ovechkin for any player(s) to be slim and none....

Guessing the reason he switched visor's might have something to do with CCM's purchase of Oakley.

He play's in CCM from top to toe, so it's natural to give him a "CCM" visor.

I'm in need of a new Taper shaft, and was thinking about either a v130 or Salming's new Evo shaft. Am leaning more towards the v130 because of this guy, and nomally I don't give a rats ass about who uses what. + Reg flex (95) is perfect for me, while salming offers 85 & 100 versions.

[Miike 1]

I heard Salming to be more durable. Jason is sending me out 2 shafts. Better prices aswell IMO.

[pldhockey4 0]

ovechkin seems like a real nice guy. i think its funny that he weard the tinted visor for "style".

[Berger 0]

i have always been a fan of ovechkin. But him taking his time to answer questions from his fans that is just very respectful and seems like a cool guy.

[ryno 0]

I'm pretty sure we already have a thread for everyone to talk about how much they hate Crosby.

http://www.modsquadhockey.com/index.php?showtopic=16628

Ovechkin seems like a pretty good guy, anytime I've seen him interviewed he seems like he's having a lot of fun and just happy to be doing what he's doing.