The new Mr. Hockey

[Hockeyman11385 1]

Gonna have to throw Iginla in there.

[Law Goalie 147]

Come on, now. Jagr, in his heyday was a must watch. Bure before his knees went was the same. Lindros when he was steamrolling over the league. To call Ovechkin your only must watch player of the last two decades is rather laughable.

That first rush of Bure's against Winnipeg may have been the single most electric hockey play I've ever seen - and he didn't even score. The Toews goal where he walked through Colorado was similar, but at about half the speed. I still remember Cliff Ronning - who was a pretty fast dude himself - saying that he'd never seen anybody move as fast as Pavel.

I generally don't like Mike "the worst GM in NHL history" Milbury but I have to agree with him. Ovechkin is must see TV. Sure Chippa, Bure and Jagr were amazing players, but I don't remember a player since a young Mark Messier that will hit you, talk shit, maybe scrap with you and then score a few goals to boot and Ovi has more offensive skill and flair than Mark ever had.

Even taking that qualification strictly, there have been exceptions. Ovechkin frankly reminds me of Maurice Richard more than anyone.

[technophile 0]

Jagr never crossed his own blue line, Bure was exciting when he had knees and Lindros was just a bully with 23 concussions,

All great players in their own way, but none of them had the excitement or presence of AO. Just my opinion.

You can't really make your knock against Jagr that he doesn't play defense then praise Ovechkin.

Yah I'm gonna have to agree here. Boudreau himself talks about Ovi's lack of defense. Not that its a knock on him if he keeps putting pucks in, but the ice is definitely tilted pulling him to one end when he's out there.

Ovechkin is leading the league with a +34 or something (Lidstrom--perennial Norris favorite--is only a +20, by comparison). [My numbers are a few days old, but whatever.]

Sometimes the best defense really is a good offense. ;)

(That said, I'm equally happy watching Ovechkin, Crosby, Malkin, or any of the other good young players in the league today. They're all amazing to watch, honestly.)

[the_game 452]

Am I the only one who thinks Eric Lindros in his prime (92 to about 96) was more of a 'must-see' than Ovechkin?

Lindros could (at that time and when healthy) play more physical than Ovechkin, actually get in the D-zone and play some defense better than Ovechkin can. Imagine Lindros on the fore check w/ current NHL rules and the reckless abandon he played with as a healthy youngster? The only aspect of Ovechkin's game that is superior to Lindros would be shooting, but at the same time Lindros was 10 times the playmaker Ovechkin is. And I won't even begin to mention that Lindros actually stood up for himself and would drop the gloves.

Keep in mind, I paid to see Ovechkin in Boston on Tuesday. He was the sole reason I bought a ticket, to see him play live. Not his best game, but still fun to watch. Let's just hope Ovechkin stays healthy

[Trooper 8]

Ovie is +36, his defence can't be too bad.

I think the guy is a bit greasy but his physical skills are unmatched.

+/- in a vacuum without context tells very little of the story of how an individual plays the game. AO is great and has an awesome +/-, but it's not because of his defensive prowess.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Ovie is +36, his defence can't be too bad.

I think the guy is a bit greasy but his physical skills are unmatched.

+/- in a vacuum without context tells very little of the story of how an individual plays the game. AO is great and has an awesome +/-, but it's not because of his defensive prowess.

His defense has been a hell of a lot better this season, he backchecks, doesn't hang high near the circles all the time, has been first man back in a number of breakaway opportunities.

His D was lacking and lackluster in years past, but this season it's something he has definitely worked on, and it is something that has improved, and I would even say improved dramatically since being named captain

[psh 25]

I was just talking about this sort of thing the other day. It is really hitting home this year how hard both Ovechkin and Crosby are working at rounding out their games. I'm loving watching Crosby win faceoffs and try to free himself up in the slot for shots, and I'm loving watching Ovechkin beat everyone else back on the backcheck and perform on the penalty kill. The NHL is loaded with talent right now and it is blessed that its two brightest stars are really approaching the game as professionals.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

I was just talking about this sort of thing the other day. It is really hitting home this year how hard both Ovechkin and Crosby are working at rounding out their games. I'm loving watching Crosby win faceoffs and try to free himself up in the slot for shots, and I'm loving watching Ovechkin beat everyone else back on the backcheck and perform on the penalty kill. The NHL is loaded with talent right now and it is blessed that its two brightest stars are really approaching the game as professionals.

Ovechkin is averaging about 3 seconds a game on the PK so not sure what performance you are seeing, but I agree with the post in general, that both are rounding out their games.

Ovechkin is having the best PPG of his career, he is 1 goal off the league lead, and 2 points off the league lead and has missed 10 games.

That's impressive

[cdoug55 0]

Keep in mind, I paid to see Ovechkin in Boston on Tuesday. He was the sole reason I bought a ticket, to see him play live. Not his best game, but still fun to watch. Let's just hope Ovechkin stays healthy

I think this says it right here. Its this type of attention that really makes him stand out. Don't get me wrong there are def a ton of people that go out and pick games just to see Crosby...why wouldnt you. I have warmed up a lot to Crosby since last years playoffs. After seeing him match OV's hat trick and just the level that he can go to, not to mention how he has really up'd his game this year - you would be dumb to miss out on seeing him live. But really its the flashiness and excitement that really makes him stand out. He really is just a freight train when he is out there. I think most people can admit that each time he touches the puck in the offensive zone he has a chance to score and its the "what highlight reel play is he going to make now" thinking that has people tuned in.

Does he deserve to be called the next Mr. Hockey...think he needs a bit more time for a statement like that. Is he absolutely the most exciting player to enter the league in two decades... I think so. Bure was awesome, absolutely without a doubt, I was a huge fan as a kid. Did he take the body...hahaha yeah ok. Lindros was def a new type of player when he hit the scene, but people figured him out and he got his bell rung way too many times.

[psh 25]

I was just talking about this sort of thing the other day. It is really hitting home this year how hard both Ovechkin and Crosby are working at rounding out their games. I'm loving watching Crosby win faceoffs and try to free himself up in the slot for shots, and I'm loving watching Ovechkin beat everyone else back on the backcheck and perform on the penalty kill. The NHL is loaded with talent right now and it is blessed that its two brightest stars are really approaching the game as professionals.

Ovechkin is averaging about 3 seconds a game on the PK so not sure what performance you are seeing, but I agree with the post in general, that both are rounding out their games.

Ovechkin is having the best PPG of his career, he is 1 goal off the league lead, and 2 points off the league lead and has missed 10 games.

That's impressive

I'm probably thinking of seeing him being put on the ice at the end of the game facing 6 skaters and am empty net. I'm definitely seeing Boudreau use him more in key defensive situations--admittedly Boudreau is also putting him out there to pick up more points, too.