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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Mar 20, 2009 18:03:46 GMT -5
I seem to be on a congratulatory kick, so I'll continue with Alex Ovechkin.
Last night in Tampa, the greatest goal scorer in the league netted number 50 on the season. If I'm not mistaken, this makes him the only three-time 50 goal scorer in the NHL today.
Well done Alex. I'm sure Mr. Cherry will have some more stupid comments for him, but whatever. I appreciate all he brings to the game.
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Post by NYRangersGM on Mar 21, 2009 11:51:25 GMT -5
roger, his over acting when he scores will get him killed one day. taking nothing from him because he is a great player but all the runs he takes at players and the celebrating he does after scoring will catch up.
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Post by Detroit Cherni on Mar 21, 2009 12:25:18 GMT -5
See this is a prime example of what is wrong with today's NHL. I, personally, enjoyed it. But in the old days, when hockey players were hockey players, someone from Tampa Bay would have and downright should have skated over to him and decked him, or at least pushed him away. But, this is where I feel for the players of today. They can't do that because referees and the NHL would frown upon that with penalties and suspensions.
This is a perfect example as to how the game has been dumbed down by the politically correct over the years. This is why I don't like watching the NHL over Junior Hockey. If this happened in a WHL game, there would have been hell to pay, with a fight or a brawl or something. Instead, we see Lukas Krajicek skating away while watching. Players of today have no balls because they're not allowed to. And now, with these new, rediculous rules on "staged fighting", there's no more "eye for an eye" in the NHL. Because they don't allow it.
Sad to say, but as much as something should have happened to OV for doing that, there won't be any retribution. Too bad too, because I'm pretty sure, the type of player Rich Tocchet was, with his coach's hat on, I'm sure he went up one side of his team and down the other. At least I would hope he did.
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Mar 21, 2009 13:39:13 GMT -5
Guys, I absolutely agree with you. I wasn't upset with his celebration after the goal. I was upset with no one challenging him, not just while he was celebrating, but nothing happened for the rest of the game either.
Having said that, I like players with flair that can back it up with their play on the ice. AO reminds me of my personal favorite player ever (well, since I've been alive anyway) Jeremy Roenick. Big time personality who hits everything that moves and can and will fill the net. Obviously AO has more natural talent than JR, but their style is pretty similar.
I don't mind celebrations at all. Hell, last night I watched Adam freaking Burish d**n near jump over the glass after he scored. I realize that's a rare event in his life, and the goal tied the game, but it was cool to see. I think people are WAY to sensitive nowadays. God forbid anyone actually enjoy what they are doing, because we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings! Give me a break. Why is it that no one ever brings up that AO acts the same way when he's on the ice after anyone on his team scores? Is it ok that he gets a little happy then too? I'm sure no one notices Mike Green being, how should I say, over exuberant and jumping around as well. Someone should REALLY get a hold of Patrick Kane and keep him from going for the skate and doing that little arm pump thing he likes to do after scoring as well. Oh, they're both North American kids? Never mind then. Tell that Russian kid to stop enjoying what he lives to do.
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Post by Detroit Cherni on Mar 21, 2009 14:02:58 GMT -5
Roger, I agree with you 100%. I like the emotion. And one thing I like about AO is the fact that he gets just as excited about when one of his teammates scores as when he scores. I think it's great for the NHL. If Sidney Crosby were to show any emotion whatsoever I think the NHL would be better off for it.
Little story about AO. Where I noticed he wasn't the typical "European", was at the NHL draft in 2006 in Vancouver. The Washington Capitals brought AO into town with them. With GM Place packed during the draft, all of the sudden, you'd hear the crowd somewhere going nuts. When you looked up into the stands, whether it was in the lower area or the nose bleeds, you'd see Ovechkin, standing up there with the fans, signing autographs and taking pictures with people, as well as shaking hands. To me, Alexander Ovechkin gets it. He understands and takes full advantage of who he is and his marketability. He knows he's the face of the NHL. He knows he's good for the game. And best of all, he has fun doing it. To me, Ovechkin acts the way a hockey player should act. He's fearless, and to me, he is the best player in the NHL right now. And if he wants to be excited or show some emotion, I'm good with that because I think the league needs it.
Now, at the all-star game, I think he looked like an idiot during the breakaway contest. But I'm not going to sit here and rip a guy for his 50th goal celebration, when he shows the same emotion and excitement when his teammates score as well. He's a bright face on a boring league that's become too politically correct.
However, two things......#1) The Tampa Bay Lightning should have done something about it though. #2) I think it's quite ironic that besides Barack Obama, that the most popular person in Washington, D.C. is Russian. To me, that makes me laugh. Who would have thought that those in the Capital would love a former Communist so much. That makes me laugh.
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Mar 21, 2009 14:25:42 GMT -5
Well said Cherni. Yes, the Lightning should have done something. I know for a fact that Tocchet wasn't happy that they didn't. That's the type of team they are right now though, and it's pretty sad to watch on a nightly basis.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Stephen Strasburg will be more popular IF the Nationals actually do the right thing and take him #1 overall in the MLB draft this summer. Obviously it will take a couple years, but that type of talent doesn't come along too often. Let's not try and believe that hockey will ever be more popular than baseball in this country, and having a pitcher with his skill in DC will be fun to watch. That said, yes Dave, that is pretty funny as well!
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Post by NYRangersGM on Mar 21, 2009 14:54:39 GMT -5
celebrating when you score a goal is fine, I'm all for it but when you take this opportunity to show up the team your playing it becomes bush league antics. hes too good a player to act like this on the ice, there will be a team that goes after him and when someone gets hurt it will be the leagues fault for not curbing it when they had the chance.
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Post by CalgaryGM on Mar 21, 2009 18:22:58 GMT -5
I agree with you Dave, what AO did created some controversy, even some non hockey people are talking about it from what I hear, is that good thing for the NHL?
Too bad someone from the TBL didn't do something though, it was disrespectful to the Lightning and their fans. Although I don't think that was AO's intention, he just wanted to have some fun scoring his 50th. From a story I heard on the radio today, he told his team mates he was going to do what he did. Mike Green was asked about it because he was seen skating away from AO's celebration, Mike said "Yeah, I didn't want any part of it."
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Mar 21, 2009 18:31:46 GMT -5
Well as the story goes, everyone's favorite net minder Jose Theodore came up with the idea. It was supposed to involve AO, Green and Nicklas Backstrom. I'm not really fond of orchestrated team celebrations, and I think them backing out of it is pretty funny.
Not quite as funny as the goal Jaroslav Halak just gave up...YIKES. Montreal is in serious trouble.
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