"I will miss 4-5 weeks."
- Alex Ovechkin on his current "upper body" injury
12 days ago
J.P.
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Is this Ovechkin’s own conclusion, or did the team doctors tell him this? Doesn’t seem to be any indication one way or another in the interview. Either way, this sucks.
"Walter, I love you, but sooner or later, you're going to have to face the fact you're a goddamn moron."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Nov 8, 2009 4:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Per Dmitry, “Keep in mind Ovechkin didn’t indicate if the following ‘diagnosis’ was from team doctors or his own evaluation.”
Of course, one would have liked to have seen the follow-up question asked at the time, but c’est la vie.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Nov 8, 2009 4:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not surprised, and with a body part as easily reinjured as a shoulder, no need to rush back.
by Cluster on Nov 8, 2009 4:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
That sucks, but I’m not crushed. Times like these, it pays to be in the SE division. I think the team may actually benefit from having to go without him (assuming no other big injuries).
by grapejoos on Nov 8, 2009 4:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
This, exactly. This has the potential to be the experience that takes this team to the next level that we’ve all been looking for. If they can get to where they win without Ovi, then carry the lessons learned after they’ve got him back … Wouldn’t that be a beautiful payback for Don Cherry calling for Ovi to get hurt.
Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood...Make big plans, aim high in hope and work. - Daniel H. Burnham
Fan Clubs: Sloan, Schultz
by gotsparkly on Nov 8, 2009 4:35 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
I hate to see Ovi out, but it is a great opportunity for the team. Time for Alex Semin to get on a hot streak.
Also, if we can get kids from HER to produce like MP and Aucoin have, that takes a chunk of scoring there.
by hockeyman33 on Nov 8, 2009 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
miss 6 weeks….no need, and I mean no need to come back even a day sooner. Better to be a week late than a day early.
by kovachs on Nov 8, 2009 4:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
One only hopes that the number of weeks includes the week that has already elapsed. No matter, it’s best to take the time and be 100% thereafter. If the rest of the team can continue to perform as they have the past two nights, when he gets back, watch out.
by gfcaps fan on Nov 8, 2009 4:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I agree with those that say it will be good for the team to learn to play without overly relying on Ovie. Last night was a good indication of what’s possible; I think the rest of the team just needed a good reminder. I also agree – no need to rush back. It’s a long season, and it’s the “second season” that’s most important, and for which we need everyone in the best shape possible.
by kfjje on Nov 8, 2009 4:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
This sucks. He was having a career year. I think the team will be able to do OK but man…
I guess the plus side is there won’t be any cap worries for awhile now. We should also get to see a lot of MP85.
One guy just drove his semi as a float. I guess semis are cool.
by zephyr on Nov 8, 2009 4:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I agree, I really wanted to see what he ended up with after such a ridiculously fast start. Oh well, now we just have to hope he heals fully and makes up for it in the post-season.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 8, 2009 4:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Individual stats obviously take a back seat to winning the Cup, but I would have liked to see him become only the third player in history to get 3 straight Hart trophies. It’s really a shame after his hot start.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Nov 8, 2009 6:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Note to Alex Semin: Maybe you could speak English/Swedish now? Kthxbye.
"I'm just doing karate and trying to get females pregnant."
by Bald Pollack on Nov 8, 2009 4:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
If he hasn't yet
and he cares at all, it’s a learning disability. Simple as that, and would explain everything else.
by bronco6778 on Nov 8, 2009 5:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The funny thing is that he’s still going to go 50+ this year.
by DrinkingPartner on Nov 8, 2009 4:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
i was just about to say “there goes 70…”
by twistedlogic on Nov 8, 2009 4:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
There goes MVP…
I feel the same away about avatars as Ovechkin does about speed limits.
by Ovechkin on Nov 8, 2009 4:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’d rather have him come back 100% and have a better chance at the Cup. And we all know he wants to do whatever will take the team there. MVP doesn’t matter to him.
by hockeyman33 on Nov 8, 2009 4:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Everyone knows the Cup is more important, and he’s been clear about how much the individual awards mean. But there’s definitely a part of me that wanted to see him run off 3 straight Hart trophies and get in the company with the other guys that have done that. Obviously that all takes a back seat to a Cup, but I wanted my cake and to eat it to.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 8, 2009 4:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ha, the funny part is he can probably still get those 3 straight MVPs even if he doesn’t this year. Right into his prime, at what, 25, 26, and 27?
by hockeyman33 on Nov 8, 2009 4:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Part of me wants him to hit 70 at least once. I don’t know that it’ll happen, as it was looking like this year was his best shot.
by red army line on Nov 9, 2009 1:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Fewest games played by a Hart Trophy winner (modern era, non-goalie, non-lockout year):
60, Mario Lemiuex in 1992-93. Le Magnifique had 69 goals and 91 assists in those 60 games.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Nov 8, 2009 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That crossed my mind as well. If he ends up winning the Richard still and goes ~1 goal per game I think that might do it. We’ll see.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 8, 2009 4:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
In that case, what sort of thing would stop him? Flash scoring 40? Schultz or Green winning the Norris? Just curious, because assuming that he goes G/gm and misses significant time, the voters will come across a situation that hasn’t been seen for some time.
by red army line on Nov 9, 2009 1:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think the performance of other players on the team would matter much, but if Kopitar goes 55/80/135 he may get enough votes because his sheer points will overwhelm. I agree if he goes 60 goals in 60 games the voters probably wouldn’t be able to overlook that, but I could see how it could happen.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 9, 2009 1:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Unlikely, but yeah, that makes sense. The point came up that BB won the Jack Adams because of low expectations that were exceeded, whereas last year they exceeded expectations only slightly (while Boston did significantly). I suppose that will tie in to Kopitar, low expectations for LAK coupled with possibly a mid-playoff seeded finish.
by red army line on Nov 9, 2009 3:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I remember that, was the year he got Hodgkins, or found out at least. Still won the scoring title too.
by bigmac1124 on Nov 8, 2009 4:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Let's see...
Mike Green missed over 20 games and was a Norris finalist. If Ovi misses 5-6 weeks, he’ll miss less than 20 games. He’ll still be in the mix for MVP and might still lead the league in goals.
If it takes 5-6 weeks, then that’s what it takes. Better these weeks happen in November than in April an May.
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Caps on Nov 8, 2009 4:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
But if the Caps win a whole lot of games while Ovechkin is out, doesn’t that prove that he’s not actually very valuable?
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Nov 8, 2009 9:12 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
There’s the rub.
"Let the rest be scared of us." - Sasha Semin
by Scott in Shaw on Nov 8, 2009 10:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
So…not great, but not tragic either (because it’s still November). I wonder what this does to his Olympic chances?
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Nov 8, 2009 4:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Nothing, if “4-5 weeks” is accurate and the Olympics are still planned for February.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Nov 8, 2009 4:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
But he loses his chance to prove to Team Russia that he should be on the team. They are going to give half the spots to KHL players so that’s only 6 forward spots for NHL Russians. 2 are for Centers so that’s 4 winger spots. He could easily be outproduced by Semin, Kovalchuk, and maybe a couple others.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 8, 2009 4:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
How much longer is Kovi out for though?
by bigmac1124 on Nov 8, 2009 4:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Probably 2 weeks I think. It’s been about 2 weeks since he went down and he was supposed to be out for 4-6 right?
(And I was being completely sarcastic.)
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 8, 2009 4:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Haha half of me thought you were being sarcastic and part of me didn’t.
by bigmac1124 on Nov 8, 2009 4:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
sorry, but what more does he have to do to prove to Team Russia that he should be on their team? If they dont put him on the team cause he misses a few weeks this year, then they dont deserve a gold medal.
by DonCaps819 on Nov 8, 2009 5:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Olympic chances? He is a lock, unless you’re talking about him sitting for injury or rest time. But i think Ovi would play through some pain in the Olympics. Didn’t he say Olympic Gold is up there with a Cup?
by hockeyman33 on Nov 8, 2009 4:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I meant that I hope he’ll be back before the rosters have to be finalized. Because I would hate for him to push his way back to be able to play in the Olympics and have that jeopardize the playoffs.
But I’m being alarmist, I think.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Nov 8, 2009 5:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ha, yeah you’re going more in-depth than I’m thinking. I would think that Russia gives him a spot even if he wasn’t playing at the time.
When are the rosters released, btw?
by hockeyman33 on Nov 8, 2009 5:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Russia is scheduled to announce on Christmas
Fight, you time-wasting figure skaters!
by boutros23 on Nov 8, 2009 5:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Additionally, in the event of an injury or some compelling reason why someone on the roster couldn’t play, they can replace him with another player up until the day before the Olympics start. So there’s no reason why Ovechkin wouldn’t be on the team come Dec 25.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Nov 8, 2009 5:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I was under the impression that the rosters named on the specified dates (in, this case, December 25) were the Olympic rosters and no substitutions would be allowed.
Did I misunderstand the “no taxi squads” thing?
by RedBirdie on Nov 8, 2009 6:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
thank you. I had misunderstood how “taxi squad” was being used, and some websites were not clear on what the final roster date was, just noting the December date.
by RedBirdie on Nov 8, 2009 6:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Of course it’s tough. I want to be in the game. But there is nothing I can do.
Does any one else read this and think he is exaggerating a little or am I being to optimistic?
by hockeyman33 on Nov 8, 2009 4:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I would sooner infer that he’d be out longer than 4-5 weeks from that than shorter.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Nov 8, 2009 5:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
even with the latest news from the team, that’s got to be the assumption. rare for a player to give a more conservative timeline than his team.
by Natty Bumppo on Nov 8, 2009 8:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
But the going thinking now is that Ovechkin wasn’t even serious when he said 4-5 weeks, as indicated by his response to “Are you serious?” with “actually…”
by sixsevenfiftysix on Nov 8, 2009 8:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
One thing I noticed, that might be worth speculating about…
Q: You’re in good mood. Are you getting better?
O: I am better. But I will miss 4-5 weeks.
Q: Are you serious?
O: I actually plan on starting practice on the ice next week.
The weird thing about this exchange is the word “actually”. Assuming that this was translated faithfully, it almost sounds like his answer to “are you serious?” is “no”. There are already two posters on the PD story saying they think Ovechkin was joking. What do we think?
by sixsevenfiftysix on Nov 8, 2009 5:38 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
he then goes to say that the doc’s wont even let him hold a stick
by hockeyman33 on Nov 8, 2009 5:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The not skating for a week was already established, so I’d guess at least a total of three weeks is the minimum, so four isn’t out of the realm of possibility. This could be a cross between yes, he’s serious and no, he’s planning to be ready sooner than that.
Oh, and never trust a PD commenter.
by gfcaps fan on Nov 8, 2009 5:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Related… this
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Nov 8, 2009 5:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, then we’re back to where we started — baseless speculation.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Nov 8, 2009 6:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
This is just great! Sad to say, my pessimistic comment saying “Ovi needs to go on LTIR” is actually optimistic. We won’t see the guy until close to Christmas, if then.
by CapsFan75 on Nov 8, 2009 5:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Who knows what the real story is at this piont.
by CapsFan75 on Nov 8, 2009 7:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And to think, he could have been traded to Montreal or Toronto or New York, or some other real hockey town when the Caps might have gotten some value.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Nov 8, 2009 8:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
It will be what It will be and it will take how long it takes....
I’m firmly in the camp of I’m glad it’s November and not March so he doesn’t need to rush back till it’s healed…
by markbona-capsfan99 on Nov 8, 2009 9:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
21 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 30 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 23 |
|
Atlanta
|
18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 22 |
|
Florida
|
19 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 18 |
|
Carolina
|
21 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 13 |
(updated 11.20.2009 at 9:16 AM EST)
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