Ovechkin slump

[VECHKIN08 0]

Ovechkin has been slipping lately. He hasn't scored in his past 8 games and I've heard a lot of rumors going around. One thing I heard was that: The Caps are thinking about not letting Ovie come to practice for a while. Reason being, he is so tired from all the endorsement deals he's been doing he has no energy to play. Also, some people think he may have peaked as a player. They think that his breakout season was last year and that 56 goal year was a one time thing. I was just wondering what everyone else thought about it?

I know Ovechkin is a great player, but I certainly don't think he has topped out. I think the team that he has to work with is holding him back a little, but as for "having a bad season" I don't see it. He is still top 10 in points and top five goal scorers, can't complain. Of course being compared to Crosby right now isn't the best for him. Crosby is on fire and on pace for an amazing points total for the season.

What do you guys feel about it? Anybody else hear about the Ovechkin beeing fatigued rumor?

[mack 44]

He's peaked as a player? It's a damn slump and not even bad enough of a season to be called a sophomore jinx.

[Chadd 916]

Put some talent around him and there is no slump. Carrying a team on your back is what is tiring.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Ovechkins slump has coincided with the fact that the caps have been playing a sucky trap system since they got hit with injuries on the blueline. Pothier, Muir and Erskine all went down, and the defense went from poor to flat out horrible, so coach Hanlon installed the trap system to make sure the losses were only by one or 2 goals instead of 5 or 6.

Also, he should try more than the same in/out move when breaking away, and should vary his shootout shots.

His head is not inthe game because he can't think creatively offensively, and with the rest of the team playing inside their own blueline, he is often taking the puck into the zone with 3 opposing players and no support

"I have to be ready all the time. Maybe it's my fault. Because sometimes I have speed and I have puck and I go to the zone and I don't know what to do. We must forget this game and get ready for tomorrow."

That is what he said after their loss to Montreal. They played an OK game last night against the sharks, but again, stupid shootout cripples them again

[hockeyherb 1]

I coulda swore this week he'd catch fire. I'm playing against his owner this week in Fantasy hockey. I've given a kickstart to many a player this year!

[VECHKIN08 0]

I don't know if it's me, but he just isn't doing the individual plays like he was last year. It seems like when he gets the puck now he wants to drive to the outside or dish off to somebody else. Those one on one moves and between the leg dekes were amazing...and they worked! I would love to see some of those highlight reel goals like last year where he just did everything himself, the team is way better when he plays like that.

The reason he probably isn't doing that is from all the flack the team has given him for not playing defense. When they get scored against, they blame it on Ovie, when they don't score, they blame it on Ovie....I feel bad for this guy! He doesn't know what he should do!

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

I don't know if it's me, but he just isn't doing the individual plays like he was last year. It seems like when he gets the puck now he wants to drive to the outside or dish off to somebody else. Those one on one moves and between the leg dekes were amazing...and they worked! I would love to see some of those highlight reel goals like last year where he just did everything himself, the team is way better when he plays like that.

The reason he probably isn't doing that is from all the flack the team has given him for not playing defense. When they get scored against, they blame it on Ovie, when they don't score, they blame it on Ovie....I feel bad for this guy! He doesn't know what he should do!

The team isn't giving him flack for not playing defense. Hanlon said that he needs to play both ends of the ice.

He is still trying those moves, but its the same move every time, and it's readable now. He is not scoring because the caps are playing safe hockey, not allowing him to be creative.

Your entire second paragraph, I have no idea where you are getting the notion that the team is blaming him. As he goes, so goes the team, but he is not the reason for that. If they put better players round him, put a better system round him, he can thrive. But being made play trapping hockey with a team full of grinders.

He has no offensive partner on the team, but again, are you reading a quote here or there, where Hanlons says when the top line can't score, the team cant win or something.

He is not being blamed at all

[Quintin 16]

Although I do understand what you're saying, I'd like to see the Caps play as a the Capitals rather than Ovechkin and the Capitals.

Ovie's just using his linemates a bit more this season. Zuby's on pace for a better season in points and Semin's also helping out with the scoring. Ovie looks to me like a better 2 way player this year.

Like Chadd said, carrying a team on your own back is tiring enough. And as you said, all the endorsements and stuff, that'd be pretty tiring too. It's frustrating too cos as good as Brent Johnson might be, he's no Kolzig that's for sure. I do feel bad whenever the Caps face a loss because Ovie works his ass off for the team with whatever energy he's got. Also it's a pretty busy time of the season and that just amounts to stress. Ovie's just gotta remember to learn to love to play the game, have fun and do his own thing.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

And the good news keeps on coming for the caps. Captain Chris Clark is officially out injured now too, after the big hit he took last night early in the third.

Clean check by Doug Murray, may have caught a little bit of clarks head/neck, but not an intentional thing, just a hard check that turned out to be unfortunate for the caps.

I suppose the silver lining is we may get a look at Eric Fehr on the top line for a couple of games now, or else they will showcase Zednik to boost his trade value this week

[djinferno 2]

The fact is, Ovi is one dimentional, when he makes a good pass it's because people are concentrating on him and 1 sometimes 2 guys are open... he plays pourly without the puck and uses explosiveness over anything else...

Guys now make sure to make him get rid of the puck and finish checks on him every time, hes a dart to the net kind of guy, beat you to the spot and shoot shoot shoot...

Right now I would take Semin, Crosby and Malkin over him for the simple reason that there more mobile then him, they slip checks better and if you over commit on them or shadow them, they make you pay....

Crosby is by far the best setup man in the league and can score too, Semin is silky smooth out there, he has hands, a rocket of a shot and serious wheels... Malkin looks like a Bigger Semin with more vision and escapability (As Mcguire from TSN would say) Ovi is great but like at the world Juniors, guys like Phaneuf gave people the blueprint on how to stop him, I'm almost positive that he will never be a playoff performer because guys will just pound the explosive jump out of him...

Ask yourself, what is Ovy without explosion?

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Edit: Nevermind, not even worth it

[kosydar 0]

All I know is its killing me in my fantasy league. Good thing Zetterberg is picking up his slack.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Total Goals

1 - Vincent Lecav - 39 goals

2 - Frodo, Selanne - 36 goals

3 - Hossa, OVECHKIN - 34 goals

And he is 10th in points with 72 in 61 games, 1.18 points per game.

I daresay he has out hit every other elite scorer in the league this year to date.

One dimensional, sure he is

[VECHKIN08 0]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...7012301458.html

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...7012301458.html

Thats a month old article that came before this slump. The thread is about ovechkins slump, which has been since they implemented the trap because of defensive deficiencies.

He is not being blamed by anyone, he is being asked to do more, there is a world of difference

[Trooper 8]

He's fine, he'll come out of it. Besides, who cares what "they" say? "They" were talking about Crosby's slump recently. He wasn't scoring goals but they ignored his 2-3 assists per game he was getting.

[TBLfan 25]

I know that this year the lightning have done a pretty good job of shutting him down, it seems as if other teams are doing it as well. When he makes his move the defense waits him out and pinches him into the boards. They either send the puck in deep around or they leave the puck for the other defenseman or a forward to pick it up and just take his body.

[bainsstatic 0]

God, 8 game slump now defines a player's career? Talk about shallow.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

Too much Vodka!!!

[Datsyukiandeek 0]

Seriously, the kid hit 50 goals and 100 points last season. Teemu Selanne was the first and last rookie to do that. To consider him a bust, because hes not scoring 60+ goals this season is a joke.

[djinferno 2]

i don't think anyone is calling the guy a bust, ther just pointing out the facts and wondering why...

[Datsyukiandeek 0]

i don't think anyone is calling the guy a bust, ther just pointing out the facts and wondering why...

Hes five goals out of a Rocket Richard trophy in his second season. Hes having a bad couple weeks, its not the end of the world. The fact remains, at this point, hes one uping Kovalchuk career wise.

[Edge 0]

I really do believe he'll come out of this.

It is very apparent he is just having a hard time on the ice right now by watching the games, and i'm not completely sure why. Like said before, he seems far more predictable here recently and his creativity is what separated him from everyone else in the league.

I completely disagree on the point of the "only reason" he is a good passer is because guys are drawn to him and he has options...I have seen him make outstanding passes through several guys many times throughout the season.

Like said above, him being compared to Crosby is just a total distraction from how he is doing this year, much like last year just swtich the two players. Up until recently he was over his points pace of last year and his team was also winning a decent amount of games. He just has to get that spark again.

[GSHL99 0]

Every team that plays the Caps goes in with a huge advantage. The Caps have one weapon, if you shut down that weapon you control the game. In hockey a single player can't carry an entire team to a winning record.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Every team that plays the Caps goes in with a huge advantage. The Caps have one weapon, if you shut down that weapon you control the game. In hockey a single player can't carry an entire team to a winning record.

I would say Semin is a legit weapon also, so they have 2 weapons, the rest is sucking badly, but well, thats what I've come to expect as a caps fan, they better make some damn moves this offseason