Big Deal Or Not?

[Nick]

To say OV is the most competitive guy on the ice is a HUGE error, IMO; He's no where near it. He has shifts that he works hard, but that is not the same as being the guy who is ALWAYS working hard. Having 2 good back-checks in a game does not make up for completely floating for another shift.

Body language is actually universal, it's been well studied and found that MOST people (of the same gender) express the same emotions with the same body posture. Both Ovy and Kovy can been seen expressing totally unprofessional body language, stuff that you don't want to have any player on your team doing, let alone the leader. Messier changed teams a bunch, obviously had friends across the NHL, but after losing badly (or a few in a row) that's definitely not what you'd see from him.

Yes, we've all already said that a conversation with a friend on an opposing team is perfectly fine. On or off the ice it can be perfectly called for. But, given the situation, this is not what you'd want to see.

The guy is in a semi-slump, supposed to be the leader of the team. He's not showing the proper work ethic to break out of the slump, is demoted to the 3rd line, doesn't show any emotion in his pre or post game interviews and then can be found laughing with an opponent after a bad loss. His coach was clearly not happy about it


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0q4Ig-N5p60[/youtube]
I'd rather see him pissed off after a loss and tired of all the BS then just shrugging it off.

[MSP4LYFE]

To say OV is the most competitive guy on the ice is a HUGE error, IMO; He's no where near it. He has shifts that he works hard, but that is not the same as being the guy who is ALWAYS working hard. Having 2 good back-checks in a game does not make up for completely floating for another shift.

Body language is actually universal, it's been well studied and found that MOST people (of the same gender) express the same emotions with the same body posture. Both Ovy and Kovy can been seen expressing totally unprofessional body language, stuff that you don't want to have any player on your team doing, let alone the leader. Messier changed teams a bunch, obviously had friends across the NHL, but after losing badly (or a few in a row) that's definitely not what you'd see from him.

Yes, we've all already said that a conversation with a friend on an opposing team is perfectly fine. On or off the ice it can be perfectly called for. But, given the situation, this is not what you'd want to see.

The guy is in a semi-slump, supposed to be the leader of the team. He's not showing the proper work ethic to break out of the slump, is demoted to the 3rd line, doesn't show any emotion in his pre or post game interviews and then can be found laughing with an opponent after a bad loss. His coach was clearly not happy about it


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0q4Ig-N5p60[/youtube]
I'd rather see him pissed off after a loss and tired of all the BS then just shrugging it off.

We get it, you hate russians.

[inferno31]

We get it, you hate russians.

Just to play Devil's Advocate here, What happened with Ovechkin here is not something you'd see say Datsyuk, Zetterberg or Lidstrom do. I don't think its as cultural as people say it is, it varies person to person.
Again this isn't as big a deal as people think it is, unfortunate likely but thats about it. The only thing is they were stupid to do it right next to the press while your coach is giving an interview.

I personally think the Caps as an organization aren't very classy, from the owner down they just don't portray it. Ovechkins also been coddled, hes their superstar and he can do no wrong, ever.

[Shep]

Meh.

[MSP4LYFE]

We get it, you hate russians.

Just to play Devil's Advocate here, What happened with Ovechkin here is not something you'd see say Datsyuk, Zetterberg or Lidstrom do. I don't think its as cultural as people say it is, it varies person to person.
Again this isn't as big a deal as people think it is, unfortunate likely but thats about it. The only thing is they were stupid to do it right next to the press while your coach is giving an interview.

I personally think the Caps as an organization aren't very classy, from the owner down they just don't portray it. Ovechkins also been coddled, hes their superstar and he can do no wrong, ever.

Who knows really, you don't ever hear that much press from Detroit players, whereas with OV if he farts, we all know about it.

[inferno31]

Ted's Take

Much Ado About Nothing

I was at the game last night.

I witnessed first hand all of this activity mentioned in the article.

I also saw Alex Ovechkin and Alex Semin after the game in the locker room. They behaved in the right manner and were respectful to the process of losing a game on the road by the score of 5 to 0. They and all of their teammates were unhappy and quite somber.

They did have a quick chat with a player from the Devils in the outside hallway and at some point someone made a comment which elicited a guffaw from a player. It was too hard to figure out who made the comment and who laughed out loud.

The biggest issue was the location of this meeting which was too close to the media interview also in the hallway. There was no disrespect intended in any of the discussions and meeting, I am quite sure of that. It is a shame that this is being made into something that it wasn’t meant to be because honestly these meetings happen literally after every game outside the Capitals locker room in the little hallway that leads to the visiting locker room at Verizon Center - win or lose.

Let us nip this one in the bud.

Many of our players didn’t play well last night. We can take issue with team performance.

This impromptu meeting should have been held somewhere else but it was not a sign of disrespect in any manner and I was not offended. I didn’t like the way we played but I saw the players acting in the right way in the locker room after the game.

As I said earlier, its something that the entire organization is afflicted with, there are some organizations you can tell are classy the whole way through and others aren't.

[MSP4LYFE]

As I said earlier, its something that the entire organization is afflicted with, there are some organizations you can tell are classy the whole way through and others aren't.

Not sure how any of that points to poor class, no less poor class that is indicative of the entire organization top to bottom...This is one of those things you have be involved in, in some capacity to have a credible opinion.

[inferno31]

As I said earlier, its something that the entire organization is afflicted with, there are some organizations you can tell are classy the whole way through and others aren't.

Not sure how any of that points to poor class, no less poor class that is indicative of the entire organization top to bottom...This is one of those things you have be involved in, in some capacity to have a credible opinion.

Not regarding to what he said, just in general. How Bruce acts at press conferences, how their owner acts and how the players often act vs other organizations in the NHL. For the record I've had about 8-9 email correspondences with Ted in the past, and have a close friend who is a season ticket holder.

[Nick]

I don't hate russians... Kovalchuk has become a fav of mine over the past 3 seasons... Gonchar & Zubov are two of my all time favourite dmen... I dislike that because they are dominant players they get excuses that other players are not given.... TBH I typically dislike soft guys and players that don't seem to value the team -> nationality has nothing to do with it.

[inferno31]

I don't hate russians... Kovalchuk has become a fav of mine over the past 3 seasons... Gonchar & Zubov are two of my all time favourite dmen... I dislike that because they are dominant players they get excuses that other players are not given.... TBH I typically dislike soft guys and players that don't seem to value the team -> nationality has nothing to do with it.

See kyle wellwood

[Nick]

Honestly, Kessel is hard to like some nights.

[MSP4LYFE]

I don't hate russians... Kovalchuk has become a fav of mine over the past 3 seasons... Gonchar & Zubov are two of my all time favourite dmen... I dislike that because they are dominant players they get excuses that other players are not given.... TBH I typically dislike soft guys and players that don't seem to value the team -> nationality has nothing to do with it.

The problem is that you over criticize them. You need to find a fine balance.

[armandtanzarian]

I never made it through all these posts but maybe we can have fun here. Try and produce your own interpretation of what these "russians" were laughing about. could be interesting

[Robin Hood]

I never made it through all these posts but maybe we can have fun here. Try and produce your own interpretation of what these "russians" were laughing about. could be interesting

maybe the fact that ovechkin, semin and kovalchuk have a better shot, better speed, better handles, sigh more skill and everything else than phil kessel.

[inferno31]

I never made it through all these posts but maybe we can have fun here. Try and produce your own interpretation of what these "russians" were laughing about. could be interesting

Ovechkin - They offered you how much money?
Kovalchuk - 3.14 Billion Roubles!
Semin - What?! I'm a free agent next year what do you think I can get?
Kovalchuk - A Mcdonalds Happy Meal
*Laughter*
Semin - But no seriously, what do you think?
Kovalchuk - I don't know you just have to watch out for the short one, sort of like Napoleon
Ovechkin - Hey Semen did you see how shiny Bruce's head is, hes looking like hes getting upset.
Kovalchuk - I take back what I said, if you get paid in Mcdonalds you'll be in the coaches office everyday.
Semin - Seriously, I heard they haven't seen his neck since the cold war
Ovechkin - God that was a brutal Olympics by us.
All Three stare at their feet..
*nervous laughter*

[armandtanzarian]

hahaha, very nice Neel!

[Robin Hood]

I never made it through all these posts but maybe we can have fun here. Try and produce your own interpretation of what these "russians" were laughing about. could be interesting

Ovechkin - They offered you how much money?
Kovalchuk - 3.14 Billion Roubles!
Semin - What?! I'm a free agent next year what do you think I can get?
Kovalchuk - A Mcdonalds Happy Meal
*Laughter*
Semin - But no seriously, what do you think?
Kovalchuk - I don't know you just have to watch out for the short one, sort of like Napoleon
Ovechkin - Hey Semen did you see how shiny Bruce's head is, hes looking like hes getting upset.
Kovalchuk - I take back what I said, if you get paid in Mcdonalds you'll be in the coaches office everyday.
Semin - Seriously, I heard they haven't seen his neck since the cold war
Ovechkin - God that was a brutal Olympics by us.
All Three stare at their feet..
*nervous laughter*

LOOOOOL @ the McDonald's Happy Meal comment LOL.

[kimmer]

I just read the entire thread. A lot of different perspectives being discussed I do not disagree or agree wholeheartedly on one person's opinion but I must add this: Ovechkin is and have always known to be the most recent NHL clown and center of attention (you guys know the difference between him and Crosby if you've watched the Ovi/Sid contrast documentary), his actions after the game wasn't intentionally done to seek attention from the media I'm sure this time, but he is just so ingrained to act so naturally anywhere and everywhere at any time, that he may have screwed up there as a professional.

BUT, being it "only" a regular season game, with the caps on top of their division, and the Devils at the NEAR absolute bottom of theirs, does he really have that much to worry about? he may as well congratulate Kovy's team (although he did jack shit that game) and have some good time post-game. He knows his team is getting into the playoffs, and I CERTAINLY don't see him doing something like this after the Olympic medal round loss or playoff round loss.