The new Mr. Hockey

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/2009/10/the..._mr_hockey.html

[furlanitalia 1]

It is definitely impressive how he performs day in day out. Since he first took the ice in the NHL he has been an all star, never slumped, and never been held back by his opposition.

I agree more though with the fact that the guys of the 50's couldn't shake a stick a today's players. When Gretzky was with Edmonton in their hay day, their was no one else to compete with. He was the best. Ask any GM (of that era) who they would build their team around, and they would say Gretzky.

Now go ask a GM who they would build around today. Some would say Crosby because he elevates his game when he needs to and leads the team (just look at the WSH - PIT playoff series). Some would say Malkin after he dominated against Carolina in the Conference Finals. And some would say Ovechkin because he is absolutely terrifying every goalie and team he faces.

The even crazier part is guys like Stamkos, Parise, Nash, Semin, Backstrom, Green, and a handful of others are all excellent players that any team would gladly take as their franchise guy (and I know I'm forgetting a bunch of names). The calibre is just that much better.

[chippa13 1844]

Function of the growing talent pool. Fifty years from now folks will be saying the same thing about our current crop of superstars.

"Sure, they were great in their day but.................."

[DarkStar50 679]

"It might be because he embodies effort on every shift. It could be his courage to be vulnerable to make a play or to confront the behemoths of the NHL. Maybe it's his ability to create a dangerous play when there seems nothing available. Or it could be his ability to release the puck with frightening speed and velocity."

Those words right there are the truth of Alex Ovechkin. Fearless, undeniable, unstoppable, the adjectives are endless. If everyone else played with 50% of the effort and 25% of the results of AO, the NHL would be 110% better. OK, hit the showers!!

[fieldofdreams 0]

"It might be because he embodies effort on every shift. It could be his courage to be vulnerable to make a play or to confront the behemoths of the NHL. Maybe it's his ability to create a dangerous play when there seems nothing available. Or it could be his ability to release the puck with frightening speed and velocity."

Those words right there are the truth of Alex Ovechkin. Fearless, undeniable, unstoppable, the adjectives are endless. If everyone else played with 50% of the effort and 25% of the results of AO, the NHL would be 110% better. OK, hit the showers!!

"Ok..... let's play some hockey!!"

[fawn111 0]

I've been a hockey fan since, early 90's and I can say that in nearly two decades the only player that can single-handidly make make me want to watch a hockey game is Ovechkin.

Crosby is a pretty boy, a good hockey kid who just happens to be a superstar, but he does not have the dynamic personality with the media and the public to make people want to watch him the way Ovechkin does. He's the Russian bad boy, there's some mystery surrounding him.... He just has that "media aura" that makes people want to see what he does.

He probably will need to beat Crosby heads up in the next few years to solidify all this and win a cup or two if he really wants achieve hockey immortality.

[chippa13 1844]

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.

[The Mafia Line 0]

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.

There will be haters but I can't imagine why. The knock on Euros was that they just didn't hit, were afraid of the corners and just generally played too much of a finesse game. That could not be said of Ovi. I think that Don Cherry and his followers just generally look for anything to dislike about non-North Americans. He plays the best game in the NHL, but I'm going to complain that he has to much fun when he scores...that kind of thinking is for the NFL (No Fun League).

[mack 44]

Not to mention the players Chippa mentioned, tho all great for at least some part of their career, were in a more superstar-laden NHL and can't stick out the way an AO can. It was also an arguably better product then.

[DarkStar50 679]

The NHL in the 90s, the famous "Garage League." Of the ten Cup Final rounds, five were 4-0 sweeps. The losing teams in the Cup Finals won only nine games in ten years and Vancouver won three of those games against the Rangers. The 94 Cup Final was the only one worth ever watching again. The NHL had its stars then but the hockey wasn't that great to watch. There were also less teams, less players to be spread around.

[fawn111 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.

[n3ss 0]

"the russian machine never breaks"

[chippa13 1844]

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.

Off the top of my head; Neely, Shanahan, Tkachuk, Roenick...........................

[mack 44]

The NHL in the 90s, the famous "Garage League." Of the ten Cup Final rounds, five were 4-0 sweeps. The losing teams in the Cup Finals won only nine games in ten years and Vancouver won three of those games against the Rangers. The 94 Cup Final was the only one worth ever watching again. The NHL had its stars then but the hockey wasn't that great to watch. There were also less teams, less players to be spread around.

I wouldn't judge any sport by how its finals turn out. Less teams appeals to me because I liked teams having more than one, maybe two stars at best on a team.

[DarkStar50 679]

Fans of all sports remember the last round of games more than the regular season or what happened earlier in the playoffs. The final round is where the casual observer can either get hooked or walk away from following a sport.

[chippa13 1844]

I think we're slowly working our way back to the multiple stars per team NHL.

[mack 44]

There are a handful of teams that are, but there are a lot of teams lacking any. Some will get some with the cap breaking up possible dynasties, but it's still going to be spread thin.

[The Mafia Line 0]

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.

Off the top of my head; Neely, Shanahan, Tkachuk, Roenick...........................

All those guys are power forwards. And they're good power fowards. It was their job to jaw and bang down low then put some pucks in. Ovi is definitely not a power forward and neither is Mess.

[mik3 1]

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.

[chippa13 1844]

ummmmmmmmmmmmmm.............................ok.

Edit: directed at mafia boy.

[furlanitalia 1]

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.

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

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.

Off the top of my head; Neely, Shanahan, Tkachuk, Roenick...........................

All those guys are power forwards. And they're good power fowards. It was their job to jaw and bang down low then put some pucks in. Ovi is definitely not a power forward and neither is Mess.

lmao.

[Iamhockey08 0]

Mr. Hockey=John Mayasich

[Da Beez 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.

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

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.

Off the top of my head; Neely, Shanahan, Tkachuk, Roenick...........................

All those guys are power forwards. And they're good power fowards. It was their job to jaw and bang down low then put some pucks in. Ovi is definitely not a power forward and neither is Mess.

You must've not seen Mess when he was young...