Ovechkin Breaks Nose, Scores Four Goals!

[Sergeiwasmyfav 0]

To me, Ovechkin is just a more exciting player than Crosby. Personality wise, Crosby is kind of boring compared to Ovechkin. I'm not saying I want hockey players to do all the showboating you see in other sports, not by any means, but showing a little personality is never a bad thing. I find I get more of a sense of Ovechkin's personality when I watch him than I do with Crosby. I would take Ovechkin on my team over Crosby for all of the reasons everyone else has given, and I don't see how he cannot be considered for the Hart.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Man, what a player.

It's great to have this guy in the league. Now hopefully the Caps will put a better team around him.

[FinWing 26]

There's no denying that Crosby is a fantastic playmaker, a very humble guy and a great embassador for the league. But Ovechkin has all the tools and he can be flat out unstoppable. He scores goals, creates opportunities for others, can skate circles around just about anybody and also hits with an attitude. Not to mention he has a great personality and just seems to love every second he's out on the ice. It's great to see someone so happy and emotional after scoring a goal.

Huge man-love for AO right now.

[shannyfan1414 0]

Man he is f-=King good.

Hope he keeps up the pace this year and can lead the Caps to the playoffs.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

What you said was correct, but the bolded part is what makes me think this. Ovechkin is on pace for 975 goals, and his goal scoring prime is not over and will probably not end until, well, his contract is done (13 or so years). Gretzky's goal scoring fiasco ended by the time he was 26, maybe before then depending on how you look at it. I predict Ovechkin to score a max of 75 goals twice, maybe three times in his career... Sky's the limit. I just wish the lockout never happened. You can add another 50 goals to his arsenal.

Plus Ovechkin has the physique and the ability to protect himself to play a longer, healthier career than Gretz. He'll probably wind up playing more games, and I could see him netting a career 900 goals at least, and that's taken into account the fact that he could get hurt and/or slow down at a point in his career.

I'm going to spare the "OMG IF HE HAD A PLAYMAKER WITH HIM OMG HE'D BE SO GOOD OMGOMFG" argument, because Backstrom is doing just fine in that department. So that argument is done for.

I agree with everything you said, but I'm not getting too ahead of myself with the 975 possible goals statement. Goal scoring is Ovechkin's ability, and the shoot first thing probably won't die.

At the end of the day, Gretzky's 894 goals is the most touchable (big) record he has. His season totals, his career assists, points... Untouchable. It's not too far fetched to say guys like Kovalchuk, Ovechkin, and maybe even Tavares can break the 894 goal mark.

Backstrom is looking like a legit playmaker due to Ove. If you put him on pavels wing 70 goals ez. Don't get me wrong tho Backstrom will be a legit first liner in a a few years but for now all these 4 assist games are more the product of AO than him. Kinda the opposite of the Joe Thornton Cheecho thing.

[esteef 2,679]

Ovechkin for Hudler, straight up! C'mon Kenny! :hockeysmile:

:chug:

esteef

[WhiteLightning91 105]

...And my mom said I was wasting my money on AO rookie cards...

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

Of all the players not on the Wings, AO is probably the only one whose jersey I would buy.

Ovechkin > Crosby. Crosby gets all the love because he is Canadian and the NHL media is run by Canadians. Simple as that.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Why does any thread about AO also have to determine if he's greater or lesser than Crosby?

I can understand their rookie year, but aren't we over this yet?

They're both very different players. There's really not a reason to compare them other than they came in the league the same year. Completely different style of game, not to mention they don't even play the same position. An AO/Kovalchuk comparison would make more sense.

Edited February 1, 2008 by haroldsnepsts

[wingslogo19 281]

AO is exactly what the NHL needs.. AO= pure goal scorer.. I love this kid, he's scary good

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

AO is exactly what the NHL needs.. AO= pure goal scorer.. I love this kid, he's scary good

I keep forgetting he is just a kid, because he doesn't look that young and is so big and physical. But man, he's only 22!

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

Why does any thread about AO also have to determine if he's greater or lesser than Crosby?

I can understand their rookie year, but aren't we over this yet?

They're both very different players. There's really not a reason to compare them other than they came in the league the same year. Completely different style of game, not to mention they don't even play the same position. An AO/Kovalchuk comparison would make more sense.

It is tiresome. But somebody mentioned earlier in the thread that they couldn't understand why Crosby is the one that gets the most attention. It seems there's always somebody who throws Sid's name into the conversation when AO is being discussed.

[OsGOD 3]

Oven-chicken is sofa king good!

[wingsfan75 2]

After reading about this earlier in the morning, AO has totally gained my respect. Now that's determination and talent at it's best.

[wingslogo19 281]

I keep forgetting he is just a kid, because he doesn't look that young and is so big and physical. But man, he's only 22!

It's going to be scary to see him in his prime

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Ovechkin for Hudler, straight up! C'mon Kenny! :hockeysmile:

:chug:

esteef

Are you crazy? Washington would never take that deal. Throw in Sammy and a 3rd rounder, and it's done. That way they get 2 capable forwards in exchange for 1, and at a much cheaper price too.

[shadow47 1]

Let's not get ahead of ourselves though.

If Ovechkin keeps up this pace and scores 68 this year, his first 3 years in the league would look like this:

245gp, 166 goals.

Gretzky's first 3 years:

239gp, 198 goals

Gretzky was also 2 years younger.

The only thing Ovechkin has going for him in that race is that he is a pure goal scorer and Gretzky was a playmaker. As Gretzky got older, his goals tailed off as he was much more of a pass first guy, actually, he was always that way. Even when he had insane goal totals, his assist totals were much higher.

Anyway, Ovechkin will slow over time, it's natural law really. Also, you have to wonder if his game evolves over time as he matures, which could take some focus off of shoot, shoot, shoot.

Now, if Mike Bossy could have stayed healthy and played 1,500 games or so, that would have been something.

Things to remember:

1. Sid is a puss.

2. The nets are going to be made bigger so Gretz' records are finished. Get ready for 100 goal scorer Jason Spezza.

Edited February 1, 2008 by shadow47

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Things to remember:

1. Sid is a puss.

2. The nets are going to be made bigger so Gretz' records are finished. Get ready for 100 goal scorer Jason Spezza.

1) Have you actually ever watched Crosby play?

He's strong on the puck and isn't afraid to go anywhere on the ice. He even dropped the gloves with Ference (not that it's something he should or will be doing regularly).

2) I would be surprised if even Bettman were stupid enough to increase the net size. Unless you've got some link I haven't seen, it isn't happening anytime soon.

[Yzerfan1999 81]

Why does any thread about AO also have to determine if he's greater or lesser than Crosby?

I can understand their rookie year, but aren't we over this yet?

They're both very different players. There's really not a reason to compare them other than they came in the league the same year. Completely different style of game, not to mention they don't even play the same position. An AO/Kovalchuk comparison would make more sense.

QFT

Thank god someone else is sick of all these comparing Crosby with Ovechkin threads, which usually turn into Crosby bashfests.

Comparing AO to Kovie is much more appropriate.

[BeeRYCE 2]

1) Have you actually ever watched Crosby play?

He's strong on the puck and isn't afraid to go anywhere on the ice. He even dropped the gloves with Ference (not that it's something he should or will be doing regularly).

2) I would be surprised if even Bettman were stupid enough to increase the net size. Unless you've got some link I haven't seen, it isn't happening anytime soon.

3) Jason Spezza?