Ovechkin named Captain

[Wings_Fan_In_Exile 3]

As soon as they traded Clark I assumed this was the next move. However, without being inside that locker room, I have no idea how good this move is. While he is the most talented player on their team, that iis far from the only requirement for a team captain. For example, IMO, Crosby was given the responsibility of the C a lil too early.. although they did win The Cup with that C on his chest, those first years of him as captain, i didnt buy it...

edit- spelling

Edited January 6, 2010 by Wings_Fan_In_Exile

[Guest zackmorris]

Usually quirks like his keep some guys from being captains.

But those guys aren't Ovechkin. He's a leader. His team follows him because of everything that's made him popular now. His raw enthusiasm, skills and attitude are going to be legendary one day. No one else has that, and that makes him the exception to the rule.

On some nights you can just feel him changing the whole mood of the team by himself. Making him captain is as obvious as nominating Datsyuk for the Selke.

[Datsyerberger 279]

How surprising.

[Guest Lidstromboli]

Now whenever The Captain flies down the ice, the commentators can say "What a leader he is!" in addition to "He just loves the game so much."

[Wings_Fan_In_Exile 3]

Now whenever The Captain flies down the ice, the commentators can say "What a leader he is!" in addition to "He just loves the game so much."

If he ever wins The Cup (which I expect he will), that man is going to EXPLODE with joy, he won't know which part of the boards to climb and dance on.

[Guest Lidstromboli]

Every play by play guy's head will explode because they will be at a loss for words to describe the greatness that is The Captain.

[Wings_Fan_In_Exile 3]

Every play by play guy's head will explode because they will be at a loss for words to describe the greatness that is The Captain.

Well he is so incredibly dynamic and electrifying.. there are only so many superlatives available...

-and I actually like both AO and Crosby (to a degree)

[Guest lnvincible]

I think most of all , he speaks with his actions. He loves the game and he one amazing player, i get excited watching him play !

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Incoming losing streak.

I know, right? That loser's only posting in excess of 1.5 points per game. No way they can win now that the best player in the league is their captain.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Gotta copy the Pens....

Like the Wings did when they named a very young Steve Yzerman as their captain.

[Seraph 240]

to me it's better for the team and for AO if he can just be himself and not worry about what he's saying or doing as captain.

I read in some article that from the organizations perspective, it was Ovie's "special energy" and "attitude for the game" that landed him the captaincy. I guess they are trying to promote his kind of behavior. Definitely different from the captain we grew up watching, but I think it'll be fun to see what happens.

[WingsFanInBeanLand 30]

Great and obvious choice. The thing I like most about it is that Caps did it right unlike the Pens. They let Ovi get seasoned and conditioned in how the on-ice politicking works in the NHL while allowing him to perfect his game. He got to learn from example.

Compare that to the Pens which really screwed up by naming a whiny little ***** as captain before he was ready.

[Guest Shoreline]

I'm kinda skeptical but I think there's some promise. I think some are right to mention his ability to communicate, and I don't know the extent of how much French Koivu had to speak to the referees, since that has more to do with the game than merely being in Montreal, but I do hope Ovy can be a decent captain for that team since he seems to care quite a lot. One thing for sure is they didn't rush him to the captaincy, so there's more to the notion that he earned it than was merely given it in a rushed fashion for his superstar status.

[Carman 387]

Great and obvious choice. The thing I like most about it is that Caps did it right unlike the Pens. They let Ovi get seasoned and conditioned in how the on-ice politicking works in the NHL while allowing him to perfect his game. He got to learn from example.

Compare that to the Pens which really screwed up by naming a whiny little ***** as captain before he was ready.

Yeah, Penguins really messed that up. They haven't even made the playoffs with Crosby as captain, oh wait.

Geez, Crosby wasn't given the captaincy right when he entered the league either. He earned it from consistently working hard, setting an example, and producing.

Ovechkin only sets an example on how not to back check, deliver cheap hits, excessively celebrate goals while losing the game, and taking bad penalties. He is one of the greatest offensive talents probably ever to play the game, but that doesn't mean he is a leader, or a winner. He's still young, but until he puts the effort on both ends of the ice I won't call him the best overall player in the league. Best offensive player? Sure.

[edicius 3,269]

If he ever wins The Cup (which I expect he will), that man is going to EXPLODE with joy, he won't know which part of the boards to climb and dance on.

But I bet he'll be sure to shake the opposing captain's hand after he does so!

[Shady Ultima 40]

Like the Wings did when they named a very young Steve Yzerman as their captain.

Yea, I realize that. The Pens have totally modeled their team after the early 90's Red Wings. Young, Canadian Superstar Captain, The young, underappreciated russian, who is ARGUABLY more talented then said Superstar... there are more... just can't think.

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

http://twitter.com/TarikElBashir

http://capitals.nhl.com

What ya think about that? his english isn't very good... a bit on and off with the media and can be moody.. is that really captain material?

crosby is the pens captain...why not ovie in washington??

[Rivalred 630]

greatest captain of all time

Captain Jack

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Yea, I realize that. The Pens have totally modeled their team after the early 90's Red Wings. Young, Canadian Superstar Captain, The young, underappreciated russian, who is ARGUABLY more talented then said Superstar... there are more... just can't think.

Actually I hadn't though about it before but those parallels are right on the mark.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Captain Jack

Captain Morgan

[Travis 576]

Kind of surprising this move didn't happen sooner. I wouldn't have been at all surprised to see him get it right away, but there are language barriers to think about. Also, I can't imagine how hard it is to strip a man of his C.

[Free_Candy 38]

He had the opportunity to be Captain sooner but declined, as the only thing delaying it was the language issue.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...6090501204.html

Edited January 6, 2010 by Free_Candy

[Datsyuk2Zetterberg 1]

Yeah, Penguins really messed that up. They haven't even made the playoffs with Crosby as captain, oh wait.

Geez, Crosby wasn't given the captaincy right when he entered the league either. He earned it from consistently working hard, setting an example, and producing.

Ovechkin only sets an example on how not to back check, deliver cheap hits, excessively celebrate goals while losing the game, and taking bad penalties. He is one of the greatest offensive talents probably ever to play the game, but that doesn't mean he is a leader, or a winner. He's still young, but until he puts the effort on both ends of the ice I won't call him the best overall player in the league. Best offensive player? Sure.

Gary?

[Carman 387]

Gary?

Nope, although thanks for the complement.

[Guest zackmorris]

Gary?

Must be the intent to blow