2008-09 Rink Wrap: Alexander Ovechkin
by J.P. on Jun 11, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
in Rink Wraps
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From Alzner to Varlamov, we're taking a look at and grading the 2008-09 season for every player who laced 'em up for the Caps for a significant number of games during the campaign, with an eye towards 2009-10. Next up, Alexander Ovechkin.
Alex Ovechkin
#8 / Left Wing / Washington Capitals
6-2
225
Sep 17, 1985
4
$9,538,461.54 cap hit in 2009-10; UFA after 2020-21 season
9.55 rating
Key Stats: For the second consecutive year, Ovechkin led the League in goals, goals created and points-per-game and the Caps to a Southeast Division title.
Interesting Stat: Ovechkin has been credited with more shots on goal in his first four years in the League than anyone in NHL history had in his first five seasons.
The Good: Ovechkin led the League in goals and even strength goals, was one off the lead in power-play goals and overtime goals and two off the lead in game-winners, and blasted a whopping 528 shots on goal (the second-highest single-season total of all-time) and still managed a higher shooting percentage than Henrik Zetterberg, Vincent Lecavalier and Ryan Smyth, among others. Alex Ovechkin isn't simply scoring goals at a better clip than everyone else, he's dominating goal-scoring in a way the League has seldom, if ever, seen before - since entering the League in 2005, the Russian Machine has scored 15.9% more goals than his closest competitor, comrade Ilya Kovalchuk. Oh, and Ovechkin increased his assists by 14.9% over his 2007-08 total along the way.
Seeking to become the first player to win back-to-back Hart Trophies as the NHL's Most Valuable Player since Dominik Hasek did it more than a decade ago (and the first skater to pull off the feat since Wayne Gretzky won eight in a row more than two decades ago), AO had eight more points than any other player in the League after the All-Star break (53) and has already claimed a handful of post-season awards. He was fifth in the League in adjusted hits (ninth if you'd rather not adjust 'em), wasn't held off the scoresheet for three consecutive games all season,and was the single most clutch skater in the NHL during the regular season (a conclusion drawn by multiple sources).
And then there was the post-season.
Ovechkin scored at a higher per-game goal and point pace in the playoffs than he did in the regular season, racked up plusses at a rate that would see him at plus-58 over an 82-game season, and, regardless of how tomorrow night's Game 7 plays out, AO is almost assuredly going to end up the fifth-highest scorer in the playoffs, despite playing two fewer rounds than anyone ahead of him. Throw in the fact that he was playing hurt nearly the entire time, and still managed eight goals and six assists in the Penguins series and, well, I think he's shed any lingering questions about his ability to turn it up come crunch time.
But, at this point, it hardly makes sense to compare Alex Ovechkin to his teammates or even the rest of the League; perhaps the most appropriate point of reference is AO himself. Coming off one of the truly great seasons in recent memory, the bar was set pretty high, and, in many ways, Ovechkin cleared it in 2008-09 - he actually increased his points-per-game (and probably would have again won the scoring title had he not taken a two-game leave of absence to be with his ailing grandfather in late-October). He had a much better Corsi rating (19.0 to 13.0), far more points-per-sixty minutes of five-on-four ice time (6.09 to 4.55), more adjusted hits (228 to 210), fewer adjusted giveaways (60 to 65) and even decreased his average shift length (from a League-leading 65 seconds to a second place 64 seconds... ahem).
Simply put, Alexander Ovechkin's 2008-09 season was a worthy encore to his previous campaign, and leaves just one question in mind - what will he do next?
The Bad: Ovechkin's penalty minutes per game increased by a whopping 85.7% (and not all of that is the result of opposition whining), and his penalty plus/minus per sixty minutes at five-aside was down 79% (from 1.4 to 0.3) over 2007-08 as a result of the increased penalties taken and 21% fewer minors drawn in those situations. His plus-minus rating dropped by 20 (though given the increased Corsi and a drop-off in five-on-five GFON/60 of just .07 and an increase in GAON/60 of .35, one wonders how much the difference in the last line of defense between the two seasons impacted this stat), his shifts are probably still too long, and he seemed, at times, either bored or preoccupied with on- and off-ice shenanigans (reminder: he's still just 23 years old). Finally, he apparently wasn't good enough to be an All-Star starter, so maybe he's not so great after all.
The Vote: Rate Ovechkin below on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best) based on his performance relative to his potential and your expectations for the season - if he had the best year you could have imagined him having, give him a 10; if he more or less played as you expected he would, give him a 5 or a 6; if he had the worst year you could have imagined him having, give him a 1.
The Discussion: How friggin' unbelievable is this guy, anyway? What would you like to see Ovechkin improve on in 2009-10? What will it take for him to earn a 10 rating next year?
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Ovie’s performance in the playoffs pushed him to a 9 in my mind.
by Moonage Daydream on Jun 11, 2009 7:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I was honestly tempted to give him a 6, just because his playoffs were better than I could have hoped for, but his regular season was about what i had expected ;-).
I gave him a 10, instead.
by DrinkingPartner on Jun 11, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
1) While its unrealistic to expect a guy to be a Hart candidate annually, AO isn’t the average player. If healthy there is no reason to expect anything less (if not more-scary) than what he has brought the previous seasons. As the players around him improve, his stats might even get more impressive.
2) The only thing that might be a cause of concern is the injury issue. As hard as Ovechkin plays its inevitable that he’s going to get hurt. Especially as he gets older. Though it’ll be hard for the coaching staff to ask him to play any other way.
3) For Alex to get (another) 10 he’d have to duplicate the feats of the past 2 seasons. Perhaps another 60+ goal campaign. Fewer PIM’s, and healthy for 80 or so games
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else
by Fauxrumors on Jun 11, 2009 7:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Simply put, Alexander Ovechkin's 2008-09 season was a worthy encore to his previous campaign, and leaves just one question in mind - what will he do next?
Uh…win a Cup?
Because at some point, it’s all just numbers (much as we love the little buggers). Without the hardware, he’s just another A-Rod.
Is that fair? In what is probably a more “team-dependent” sport than any other team sport? No, but if he’s going to be mentioned in the same breath as Gretzky, Howe, Lemieux, and Richard, he’s going to have to have his name on one of those rings around the Stanley Cup.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Jun 11, 2009 7:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It’s also an unfair comparison in that A-Rod has been in the Majors for 16 years and then there’s the little matter of his cheating.
I don’t disagree that if AO gets to the end of his career and hasn’t won a Cup he simply can’t be in lumped in with the all-time greats, but he’s got time (though I know the ages at which Mario and Gretz won their last Cups) and I don’t think it’s out of line to talk about how great he – as an individual in a team sport – has been so far in his career. He’s a long way from being A-Rod, in just about every conceivable way.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jun 11, 2009 7:44 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Not sure the cheating matters, since just about everybody near the top of the score-sheets in the MLB over the last 15 years has been on something illegal.
How about this one, then. He’s just another Dan Marino?
by FFSEnough on Jun 11, 2009 8:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My god. What does the guy have to do to get a ten? Win the Cup every year? Well it aint going to happen. There a lot of talented players in the league, he just happens to be arguably one of the top 3. He’s 23 and at the very least will play until he is 35. He has 12 years to bring home 2 or 3 SC. That should be the organizations goal, compete every year and win a few.
Alex gets a 10, anything less is absurd. Is there room for improvement? Yes, in some places, but he makes up for those small deficiencies by the havoc he creates on the ice. No player in the league is more dominant than he is.
by JSchon on Jun 11, 2009 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My god. What does the guy have to do to get a ten? Win the Cup every year?
No. The rating system is relative to expectations. So continuing to get better is the way to go about it.
Alex gets a 10, anything less is absurd.
He had fewer goals, fewer points, a lower plus-minus, and more penalty minutes than he did one season ago. That’s not the best season I could have imagine from him, which would have been something like 70 goals, 60 assists, and a +30 rating, which he wasn’t anywhere near.
In September I projected Ovechkin at 82 games, 58 goals, 53 assists, 111 points, +27 which, save for the plus-minus, he was pretty darn close to. I feel comfortable with my ‘7’ rating.
by David M. Getz on Jun 11, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He also carried us when Green, Semin, Fedorov, Flash, Poti, Clark and Schultz were all out with injuries, most of them were out simultaneously. He lays it on the line every game, pounding other players, playing 25mpg and doesn’t complain about pain or injuries.
I would imagine that his +/- took a tailspin midway through the season when everybody was out hurt.
by JSchon on Jun 11, 2009 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
While I do agree that Ovie is tough and plays through pain better than most of the team, I still think when the guys you mentioned were injured, a big part of the Capitals success during mid-season should still be accredited to the Bears players that stepped in for them.
by bigmac1124 on Jun 11, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Hershey kids played great under the circumstances, no doubt, but not having 40% of your scoring ytd puts more pressure on OV because he now has more defensive pressure put on him. We could have easily gone on an extended losing streak during the middle of the season but we didn’t, OV was the biggest reason why.
by JSchon on Jun 11, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
don’t mean to hijack this line of discussion, but how do you come about being a fan of the caps, phillies, steelers, celtics, duke blue devils (basketball), AND virginia cavaliers (football)?
by Natty Bumppo on Jun 11, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m 37. I started watching sports in 1979/80. What teams were good then? Phillies, Celtics and Steelers. Mike Schmidt is childhood idol. I became a Blue Devil fan because of Grant Hill. We graduated the same year and played at South Lakes our #1 rival. Followed his career. UVA Football? Well a lot of my friends went to UVA, no football team where I went, so I ended going to a lot of their games, still do.
Caps… Im a STH.
I’m also a KC Royals fan, I been to at least 30 of their home game. George Brett, another childhood idol.
by JSchon on Jun 11, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
by Natty Bumppo on Jun 11, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Look, I have something critical to say about most of our players but is a machine, he isn’t an ordinary hockey player. Remember that play against the NYR, where he was driving to the net. There were 2 defensemen inbetween him and the goal crease. He left control of the puck, skated ahead of it and slammed into one defensemen that fell back into the other one and regained control of the puck and placed a shot on goal, he didn’t score but who the hell does that? Only one player/
by JSchon on Jun 11, 2009 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He also disappeared at the start of the season and arguably regressed defensively (although that may have been the coach’s call and not his).
It doesn’t matter if you can excuse his negatives, of course you can excuse his negatives, but he clearly didn’t meet up with last season’s bar in quite a few areas. It’s far from absurd to give him less than a 10 if you didn’t expect some of these areas to suffer.
by brs03 on Jun 11, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Its absurd to not give him a ten if the reason is he didn’t win the SC. He, by himself.
by JSchon on Jun 11, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wonder if his decreased defensive responsibility (most notable at the end of season and playoffs – he rarely skated below the faceoff dots except to chase down breakaways) is attributable partially to his injuries?
If it is painful to skate, that might have been a conscious choice to cut out that part of his game.
by Stormblue on Jun 11, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would imagine that his +/- took a tailspin midway through the season when everybody was out hurt.
It actually went downhill at the end of the year – he was -3 in both March and April.
by David M. Getz on Jun 11, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah…when Semin was leading the NHL in like every offensive category, I think Ovechkin peaked at +18.
by red army line on Jun 11, 2009 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I gave him an 8 for roughly the same reasons. Relative to expectations, he didn’t have the best year possible. I expected another 60-goal campaign, a better +/- and a whole heck of a lot less penalties. He’ll get a 10 from me next year if he does all that, now that I’ve lowered my expectations a bit.
by Scott in Shaw on Jun 11, 2009 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
8 is about right for Ovie, but it is comforting that he can take a minor step back (as in not scoring as many goals or winning the Art Ross, etc.), and the team can take a big step forward and cruise to a playoff spot—advancing further in the playoffs—only to lose a seven game series to a possible Stanley Cup champion.
by bigmac1124 on Jun 11, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pure goal scorers don’t age as well as playmakers or playmaking goal scorers (like Mairo and 99) – Ovie’s window is almost assuredly smaller than someone like Crosby’s (even taking away the age difference and teammate strength and only looking forward) or Thornton’s at his age (assuming he or his teams didn’t choke in the playoffs consistently).
-d
by meep_42 on Jun 11, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What about Dave Andreychuk and Brett Hull? They both played for 20+ plus years as pure goal scorers. Plus let’s not forget that Mario was slowed by cancer. I also see Ovie as one of the more athletic players the league has to offer so I believe he will play longer than you might think.
by bigmac1124 on Jun 11, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
. . . for him to earn a 10 rating next year?
Cup Parade here in DC, plan and simple. He has met and exceeded all my expectations so far, individually. Why, then, ask him to load the whole rest of the freaking franchise on his shoulders and take it across the Finish Line? Peerless, you’re right: it AIN’T fair, but there it is. He can do this. Time, JP? Sure. But not much.
Game in and game out? We all ought to be falling on our knees nightly thanking the Draft Lottery Gods (and Uncle Ted) that we have the opportunity to watch this man, that we are allowed to be in the same building with him. Godallmighty he’s good.
Ovie, I know you read Jappers. So thank you for this. (High point of the year, perhaps? Exquisite fallout, for sure.) It was as immortal and as lunatic and as endearing as you are: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa9vIQzzg38
by Uncle C on Jun 11, 2009 8:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s like he went from being a scorer last year to a more all-around player this year. Fewer PIMs and/or a Conn Smythe for a 10.
by Bald Pollack on Jun 11, 2009 7:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
For me, he gets extra admiration for the obvious joy he displays when he plays. I will never forget his tackle on Feds after the Game 7 winner vs. the Rangers. His enthusiasm is powerful.
Rockin' the Red in Section 412
by boutros23 on Jun 11, 2009 7:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
So it’s all on him? This is a team sport and Ovechkin played out of his mind while hurt. He gets a 10.
by :hsughrofl: on Jun 11, 2009 8:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you want me to expand more, let’s go with what boutros said above + better shoot-out and breakaway success. For all of his skill, all the amazing things he did this season, the one thing I will remember most about 08-09 is his missed break-away in game 7 vs. Pens. I still believe if not for that, we’d be playing right now, not PIT. He wants the weight on his shoulders. He’s taken the weight on his shoulders. More than anyone else on the team, our hopes and dreams are tied to Ovie’s ass for the next 10 years. If we are lucky enough to play for the cup it will be because of him. If we are lucky enough to win it, it will be because of him, so yes… it is all on him.
by FFSEnough on Jun 11, 2009 8:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If we are lucky enough to play for the cup it will be because of him. If we are lucky enough to win it, it will be because of him, so yes… it is all on him.
Your logic is faulty to me. While I agree that the first two premises are highly likely, here’s where it falls apart – if we aren’t lucky enough to play for/win the Cup, will it be because of him? Maybe. Maybe not.
Put another way, what more could he have done this past spring than what he did? Could he have made Varly’s glove better? Or caused pucks to go wide rather than off defensemen’s legs and in in overtimes? I just don’t see how you can say that it’s all on him.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jun 11, 2009 8:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmm, then why an 8 and not a 10, my esteemed colleague? :)
by Stephen Pepper on Jun 11, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The regular season PIMs and stretches of uninspired five-on-five play in mid-winter, as well as a bit of predictibility in his game at times. He gets a solid 10 for his playoff performance from me, though.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jun 11, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the one thing I will remember most about 08-09 is his missed break-away in game 7 vs. Pens
I’m sorry, but really? Not the sliding on his stomach poking the puck into the net against Buffalo? Not the Montreal goal? Not the insane number of hat tricks he spoiled us with this season? (never mind all the things the other players did. Fed’s $4 million goal? Green’s machine like ability to score? The New York comeback?) Heck, not even the “Hot Stick”? What you’re taking away from the whole season is a missed breakaway? Yeah, that sucked, but…..wow. I’m bitter about the Pens, too (Go Wings!) but when you ask me “what do you remember most about the season?” that missed shot never comes up.
by RedBirdie on Jun 11, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Only 3 tricks, right? Last year he was 11-4-15 in his 3 tricky games, this year 9-1-10 or something.
by red army line on Jun 11, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
As a practical matter, it is. It isn’t fair, since it is dependent on things not nearly under his control, most important the team that is built around him. I’m all for a plan that focuses on growing and keeping their own, but the Caps are in need of some veteran (preferably with Cup experience) help sprinkled into their lineup. Gifted students don’t teach themselves; very talented hockey players aren’t going to learn all they need to know on their own. Even the Penguins have five players on their roster with rings. If that team isn’t going to be built effectively around him (and the other youngsters), then Ovechkin will have to endure a lot of nonsense — made worse by what seems a built in antagonism toward him by some elements of the Canadian media — that “Ovechkin failed” to win a Stanley Cup, not that the Caps failed.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Jun 11, 2009 8:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
To expand that… Had we found a way to make Guerin work at the deadline, I’m 100% certain we’d be playing right now. It takes balls to stand pat at the trade deadline, and you can bet your ass GMGM won’t lock us up as close to the cap this year like he did last year.
by FFSEnough on Jun 11, 2009 8:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe not, but if we had him, the Penguins wouldn’t. Good enough for me.
by gfcaps fan on Jun 11, 2009 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly. The Penguins and the Caps are becoming hockey’s equivalent of the Red Sox and Yankees. Underlying Boston and NY’s approach to trades and FA signings is if we get that player the other team won’t.
by b.orr4 on Jun 11, 2009 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also, I’m convinced the only reason we didn’t get Guerin is the 50 contract limit, not the cap room. I’m being lazy in not looking up his salary, but I’d bet it could have fit. But we had to be able to give up a player, not a pick, which is what Pittsburgh gave up. If the Isles didn’t want a player, or wanted one we didn’t want to give up, we were hosed.
And keeping with the comparison, the Yanks may not have won the Series lately, but the Sox have. I’d rather be the Sox in that analogy.
by gfcaps fan on Jun 11, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Think again. The Caps hadn’t accumulated ANY cap space over the course of the year due to LTIR exemptions. Without clearing out equal salary to Guerin’s they absolutely could not afford him, not with the belief that Pothier was returning (as they would have known at the time).
That means Nylander, or perhaps Kozlov + Mo.
by brs03 on Jun 11, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ok, you made me look it up. I didn’t know he was getting that much. I stand corrected, although keep in mind that Clark was on LTIR until the end of the regular season, so the amount of salary that had to go out wasn’t Nylander. But that would have been nice.
by gfcaps fan on Jun 11, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, it was. Clark on LTIR just made it possible for us to take Pothier off LTIR.
by brs03 on Jun 11, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeesh, you’re right on that too. Damn, I thought I had it all remembered. That’s why I love you guys.
by gfcaps fan on Jun 11, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think part of that was the ridiculous rash of injuries we had in November and December, and Pothier coming back unexpectedly. With Kozlov probably gone and maybe Fedorov as well, that shouldn’t be as big of a deal (Pothier’s cap hit essentially replaces Kozlov’s).
Given the cap headroom that GMGM is going to want to leave himself for a trade-deadline move and all the talent we’ve got in Hershey, I’m not expecting a huge splash at free agency. I think the move for veteran players that a lot of people are looking for is going to be made at the trade deadline, not in the off-season.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Jun 11, 2009 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed, playoff experience is relatively expensive in July, and (can be) relatively cheap in March.
by Sct112 on Jun 11, 2009 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can’t put a finger on the who, but my gut tells me there could be a trade sending out an unlikely suspect, if only because just about every player on the team has fans, be it on the boards or the coaching staff. That’s about the only way an impact player comes in during the off-season, because of the lack of cap space otherwise.
by gfcaps fan on Jun 11, 2009 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Some of the media craziness was a little embarrassing – hot stick anybody? But then, that’s Ovi for you.
I guess Ovi frustrated me a little bit at times – sometimes it seemed to me like he tried to hard for the perfect one-man-show play, and turned over the puck in the process. I’d like to see him keep the puck in at the point more consistently and commit fewer giveaways. And oh yes, the penalties.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Jun 11, 2009 8:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Agreed on the “one-man-show” routine. At times, he was a bit predictable offensively and could stand to use his teammates more. That said, he did have a big spike in helpers.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jun 11, 2009 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sadly, for anyone but Ovechkin and two or three other hockey players, this is a season to kill for.
But for Ovechkin, if I look back on his career in 10 years time, will this one be a standout?
I’m not so sure. I think he played great relative to the rest of the NHL, but for his own personal talent and ability? I still think he is going to be a significantly better player in a couple of years compared to where he is now (which is ridiculous to think about). Add into it the talent around him getting better (Give Backstrom a year or two in the gym alone) and I think this season is somewhere in the middle of his ability.
by Chimaera on Jun 11, 2009 8:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
His playoffs in ‘08-’09 will be the stand-out, and the 2nd Hart will also make it a stand-out. Yeah, this season, playoffs included, is at least equivalent to last season.
by DrinkingPartner on Jun 11, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A 9 and...
Just wondering, since he admitted reading blogs and message boards, what ranking he would give himself? I hope it’s way lower than the 9’s and 10’s we are giving him and driven by a complete obsession to win the Cup.
by Direction 87 on Jun 11, 2009 8:44 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I voted the 6
Look, I know I’m going to get killed for this, and if this was anyone else I’d have voted a 9 or 10, but look at the voting criteria: “[I]f he had the best year you could have imagined him having, give him a 10; if he more or less played as you expected he would, give him a 5 or a 6; if he had the worst year you could have imagined him having, give him a 1.”
I thought he would drop back a bit from last year in scoring, and he did. But not by much. He also seemed to improve on his defense a bit. So better than I expected. But overall, this — scarily — is about what I thought he’d do.
by Toddra on Jun 11, 2009 8:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Perfectly fair. As I noted in another thread, AO makes you question this scoring system (which, overall, I think works really well), so you can either stick to the letter of the law, as it were, or adjust on the fly. I’m fine with people doing either.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jun 11, 2009 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think the reason most of us voted 9s and 10s is just because, I think we all expect this season out of Ovie, but we’re also overjoyed and amazed when we actually see it happen. So it’s both meeting and breaking expectations at the same time. I joked about it, earlier, but I almost really did vote a 6.
by DrinkingPartner on Jun 11, 2009 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I gave him an 8. Just seemed right.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jun 11, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I gave him a 10 because indeed “he had the best year [I] could have imagined him having.” Maybe I ought to adjust my standards, but I thought he was as dominant and clutch as he could possibly be in this team game, chock full of chaos.
by Stephen Pepper on Jun 11, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Toddra, I think you are spot on. My bar for Ovie is set so high that him having 100+ points is what I expect (a 5 right?). It may be unfair but success garners expectations.
I think I see a theme developing: a 10 next year will be based mostly on clutch playoff performance(s). I’ll jump on that bandwagon. For Ovie to get a 10, he’ll have to carry the team deep, into June deep. He’ll need a couple of games (like his hat-trick against the Pens) during the spring where his dominance is so complete that we all pick our jaws off the floor and try to catch our breath.
by Sct112 on Jun 11, 2009 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I voted a 7 – 6 for the regular season (the high end of my expectation) and a +1 for being so good in the playoffs.
by David M. Getz on Jun 11, 2009 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This ratings system… I actually expected a decline from last year’s outstanding performance. For me, voted trophies and awards don’t matter as much as the numbers. Goals were down slightly but assists were up. Call it a wash (actually a plus since I expected an overall decline). Hits were up but so were penalties. Slight negative there. Great job in the playoffs. As JP noted, teams seemed to key in on his somewhat predictable play, limiting his effectiveness, so he could use his teammates on the ice better to change that somewhat (I know, I know—please don’t bring up the unexpected pass to Feds in last year’s playoffs).
Overall, better than I expected. Not the best season possible, but by no means sub-par (and by Ovie’s standards, better than most, if not all, in the league). Going with a 7. I thought the drop off from last year would be greater. I was very pleasantly surprised.
by kcfatts on Jun 11, 2009 8:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The numbers all go to eleven. Look, right across the board, eleven, eleven, eleven and...
Why don’t you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder?
[pause] These go to eleven.
I use that little illustration to demonstrate that it is a little unreasonable to use the same scoring system for Ovie since he is not mortal.
by S h a g g y on Jun 11, 2009 8:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The scoring system is based on performance relative to expectations, not relative to other players in the league.
by David M. Getz on Jun 11, 2009 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I realize that, but even JP said "AO makes you question this scoring system ".
by S h a g g y on Jun 11, 2009 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
9
it is a little unreasonable to use the same scoring system for Ovie since he is not mortal
Pretty much sums it up. I’m kind of going with the reasoning of a few people already stated that the little things keep him from getting a ten — the increase in penalties, the tendency to turn it into a one-man show if he thinks the team isn’t getting it done. And it’s not fair, but I think you have to ding him for October, even though we know he had a life and death matter on his mind. Also not fair is to expect him to have a season as good as last year, but it was damn close.
Otherwise, yeah, an 11.
by gfcaps fan on Jun 11, 2009 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You absolutely cannot fault a guy for wanting to take care of family business first.
by Scott in Shaw on Jun 11, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ding him for missing two games in October to go see his dying grandfather? Tough room…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jun 11, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ding the performance, not the reason. Mind you, I said it wasn’t fair. But he didn’t really produce in October, did he? It wasn’t for missing the two games. And how did he do after he got back?
by gfcaps fan on Jun 11, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hopefully JP will have to break out a 1→11 scale for Ovi next year…
-d
by meep_42 on Jun 11, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
9.
Probably would have been more accurate to give a 10 and just know that we may have to crank this sucker up to 11 one day.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Jun 11, 2009 9:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I gave Ovie an 11 (which is 10 on JP’s dumb scale) ;)
by S h a g g y on Jun 11, 2009 9:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Not a real human being, actually
Wait. Look, put this dominating goal-scoring in a way the League has seldom, if ever, seen before together with this fifth in the League in adjusted hits.
What is that? That is frigging demonic.
by Uncle C on Jun 11, 2009 9:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Struggled Mightily, and Gave him a 7
I’m posting this before reading the rest of the comments, in the interests of avoiding groupthink, btw.
Anyway.
In many ways, he was even better than I expected, particularly the playoff performance and the assist totals in the regular season. The adjusted PPG speaks volumes. That would have gotten him to a 9, all things being equal.
But the penalties dropped him a point, and the boredom/preoccupation/shenanigans thing drops him another point. I easily could have given him an 8.
Note that I think his season was outstanding. He’s an otherworldly player.
How could he have a 10? Maintain the scoring production, drop the penalties, and lead the Caps to the ECF next year.
by fat_daddyo on Jun 11, 2009 9:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
my favorite take on the “should i give him a 9/10, or should i give him a 5/6 because this is basically what i expected” discussion: like fat_daddyo, and like JP at the end of each post…ask yourself how he can reach 10 again next season. as long as you can actually imagine a scenario where that player achieves his 10, then your score is fair.
the voting system is relative to our expectations, but it’s also relative to AO’s (admittedly awesome) potential. to me, ovechkin is completely maxing out his potential. and this season, rising to the occasion in the playoffs and continuing his evolution as a leader. expecting more borders on unfair. but it’s true…especially now that AO has established himself as a postseason star, it would be nice to save the 10 for everyone’s best-case scenario, the stanley cup.
by Natty Bumppo on Jun 11, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ovechkin earns a 10 if for no other reason that WITHOUT him, the Caps starting tee times at Congressional would never move out April.
He’s the baddest mutha ucka in the league. Seriously, how many nights did you say “Holy crap, how does he do it?” vs. "Say, that Ovechkin chap takes far too many restraining fouls, wot?
He’s a ten because when the other Caps hit a wall he breaks it down. He scores unmakeable shots. He hits, gets hit and doesn’t whine to the refs.
Ask Bruce Boudreau if Ovie is a 10. He’d say 11, just like Nigel Tufnel.
by S h a g g y on Jun 11, 2009 9:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ask Bruce Boudreau if Ovie is a 10. He’d say 11, just like Nigel Tufnel.
Nah, he’d give him a 9. Tomas Fleischmann is Bruce’s only 10.
by David M. Getz on Jun 11, 2009 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
UFA after 2020-21 season
Can I just add that this is best part of any discussion of Alexander Ovechkin?
by gfcaps fan on Jun 11, 2009 10:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It is because franchise players that don’t move for their entire—or at least most—of their careers are dying breeds in any sport today.
by bigmac1124 on Jun 11, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I absolutely loved typing that.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jun 11, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The only thing that has made me grin ear-to-ear all morning.
Rockin' the Red in Section 412
by boutros23 on Jun 11, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
a personal pastime is clicking on the unofficial salary cap info chart on the left sidebar and taking a second to digest that top line!
by Natty Bumppo on Jun 11, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The blast phone call from him, announcing that deal and asking me to buy season tickets, remains my most favorite unsolicited phone call ever.
by CapitalCentre on Jun 11, 2009 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How to go from the 8 that I gave him to the 10 that he should get? Like people have said, drop the PIM’s a little bit. You’re too good to be sitting in the box as much as you are, OV. Second, and most importantly for me, improve the defense. I know, you can site this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3KxqyNCyt4
or this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sajv3uR7vXs (starting at 1:20)
But those are adrenaline filled, instinct plays. He needs to be looking up to a guy like Datsyuk. Obviously that isnt realy fair, considering Pavel is a center and whatnot, but OV needs to just be playing better consistent defense. That is what is going to get him that 10 for me….
Oh yeah, one of those big silver cups would be nice
by amkcaps on Jun 11, 2009 10:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m not even going to look at these videos, but I am just going to play the guessing game because I think I already know which plays these are. Is one against the Flyers and one against the Rangers?
by bigmac1124 on Jun 11, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
1 for 2, sorry bud.
It was the rangers game and the lightning game where he dove against St. Louis and smothered the puck while up-ending little marty
by amkcaps on Jun 11, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He gets a 10 this year, but...
…the only way he can get a 10 next year is to get the Caps to the Finals. Can they win the Cup? The only way to do that is get to the Finals.
There are a couple of issues I have with his play that are the “bad”. He does take shifts that are too long, although in the 3rd period, when you think the effect would be noticible, is when he scores most of his goals. I think the silver lining of the longer shifts is that it keeps the oppositions top defenders out there longer, and they’re going to wear out before Ovie does.
He also sometimes is a “lazy” defender, in that he’ll hook or slash when pushing a little harder will get him a better result. He still hits hard, and opponents look to avoid skating his way.
He also needs to be a bit more careful with his hitting when he does make contact. If he keeps going the way he is, the league is going to have to suspend him eventually. He is aggressive and he does leave his feet occasionally. He can’t keep doing that.
Still, Ovie is the best player to come into the NHL since Mario Lemieux, and time will tell if he might even be better than Mario. Better than Wayne….well, he hasn’t shown that kind of skill yet… but he is coming into his prime…
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Caps on Jun 11, 2009 10:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
How can you give him a 10 and then list things he needs to improve? Couldn’t you have imagined him having the same year he had, just with those things actually improved?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jun 11, 2009 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i think that’s justifiable. AO’s potential this year isn’t the same as AO’s potential in 5 or 6 years. “still just 23 years old,” right? someone can blow away expectations and still improve facets of his game.
by Natty Bumppo on Jun 11, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fair.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jun 11, 2009 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i guess i’m thinking varlamov as a primary example. there’s no doubt AO still has room to grow, which is scary as hell. we can only hope savvy, veteran ovechkin has something similar to the hop in the step we saw from rookie phenomenon ovechkin.
by Natty Bumppo on Jun 11, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He can always get better… as can the team. He had the highest PPG total in the league last season, but not the hightest PPG total in any season (Wayne has a few seasons where he averaged over 2 PPG!)
I’m sure Alex will say he can get better, and the team can as well. He’s not perfect, no one is…. but he is freaking amazing.
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Caps on Jun 11, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s Alex Ovechkin, he gets a 10 for that alone.
by Ovechwin on Jun 11, 2009 10:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ten is where the scale on Brooks Laich starts, not ends.
Sorry, I was channeling a Brooks Laich hero worship thread for a moment.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Jun 11, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Brooks Laich doesn’t sleep, he waits.
by Ovechwin on Jun 11, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought Ovechkin was Chuck Norris.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Jun 11, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The problem with this whole thread is that Chuck Norris doesn’t actually exist — we can SEE Alex Ovechkin and believe.
by DrinkingPartner on Jun 11, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know from reading the above posts, I’m gonna get slammed for this, but I have Ovie a 4.
If I was comparing him against the other players in the NHL, he would be a solid 10, but against my expectations, he was just a hair on the lowside of what I expected.
Ovie led the league in goals, I expected him to be near the top, he didn’t have to have the most. He was 2nd in points, and I expected him to be near the top there as well. Those weren’t surprises, I expected him to dominate the league, and he did.
Where he fell short in my eyes was making his teammates better, and a consistant defensive effort. 90% of the time when #8 came flying down the ice this year, you knew exactly what was going to happen. He would go 1 v 1/2/3 however many people would be back on defense, use one of them as a screen, and shoot. He is totally awesome, and scored a ton, but he really didn’t do much for puck possession or to set up his line mates. He may be the greatest individual player in the league, but he could be so much more if he used his team more, getting more players involved as the opponent has to adjust to him being on the ice.
Ovie is also an incredible two way player when he wants to be. When he hustles to get back on D, he creates turnovers, he hits, and causes general confusion to the opposition. But he just doesn’t do it consistantly. As one of the greatest players in the league, he has the opportunity to be one of the best in all facets of the game if he commits to defense every time. You may say that the system doesn’t call for that from the wingers, but as the best player in the league he should transcend any system.
by HateOffSeason on Jun 11, 2009 10:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I gave Ovechkin a 10.
I thought he would have a big downswing in points\hits\goals this year and he didn’t
The amount of assists he got really made me smile since he has taken so much flack for never passing etc. So it really showed those people wrong.
I would have given him a 7\8 but he was just godly in the playoffs. It was just a joy to watch him do his thing and who could forget that goal against Lundy? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLXQn9obnZQ or his other handful of incredible highlight real goals this year.
by zephyr on Jun 11, 2009 11:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
9 for 8. Frickin’ awesome year, on top of a historically great year….it just doesn’t happen very often. I think even Don Cherry secretly approved.
Gee, for a 10 next year? 70/80/150/+30. How spoiled are we?
If I may be so bold, I see two correctable flaws in Ovechkin’s game:
1) His backhand is nearly non-existent, and poses no threat for goalies. MAF cheated on the early gm 7 save on our boy, and that was that. I think he should roll some tape of Pat Kane and his devastating backhand this summer, and work to get more comfortable using it as a weapon, if only to keep goalies honest going forward.
2) I’d like to see him rein in a periodic tendency to be all three forwards at one time when he’s getting stymied*, specifically in hi-stakes playoff games. I want to see him be more of a distributor and work harder to get his linemates invovled when he’s not getting the looks…there are top pairs out there who can do it to him for stretches in a game and it’s in those moments I’d love to see him be springing others.
That’s it. I hope he trots out a wheelbarrow in Vegas.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Jun 11, 2009 12:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Is it fair to say that
Ovie will be a 10 IF he becomes more like Pavel Datsyuk or more like Pavel Bure? I mean, more defensively minded or more goals?
by S h a g g y on Jun 11, 2009 12:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Neither, with this crowd.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Jun 11, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lake Datsyuk with the D and like Bure with the ladies…
by MetalCap on Jun 11, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
gotta agree. He’ll never be 13 in red/white, and he is already scorier than Bure.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Jun 11, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sad to say, but 8 — he’s set the bar so ridiculously high than an MVP season is merely above-average to me. To get another 10, I think he needs 60 again, maybe 120 points and to cut down on the penalties.
A 5 would be upper 40s goals and 95-100 points while not improving anything else or regressing to the mean a bit in some areas.
-d
by meep_42 on Jun 11, 2009 1:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The Bar is High
I gave him an 8, because he needs room to grow, and last year was a 9. There are some things I want to see more of and they require some more discipline. I want him to show up at practice more. He should be skating shorter shifts, so practice should be a must. I’ve seen the same dekes for a few years now, and so have all the defensemen and goalies. Its time to get more creative. Practice is the time to do that, not during the games. I liked that Crosby was out the next day taking backhanders at an empty net. Also, I’d like to see less jawing at the refs. There was too much talking at one point, and it didn’t turn the seasons officiating in the Caps favor at all. 100+ pts should result in a higher plus minus, too. Sorry to nit pick, but sentimentality aside, he can still improve. Just not by much and in a way that has been reserved for Thor, Odin, Zeus and the like.
by Hunky Dory on Jun 11, 2009 1:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
“If I can’t practice, I can’t practice. It is as simple as that. It ain’t about that at all. It’s easy to sum it up if you’re just talking about practice. We’re sitting here, and I’m supposed to be the franchise player, and we’re talking about practice. I mean listen, we’re sitting here talking about practice, not a game, not a game, not a game, but we’re talking about practice. Not the game that I go out there and die for and play every game last it’s my last but we’re talking about practice man. How silly is that?”
/Iverson’d
by Cluster on Jun 11, 2009 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I too gave him an 8. I honestly expected him to put up around 100 points and be near the league lead in goals. I somewhat expected a bit of a step back from his historic performance in the previous season. Granted I tend to not expect too much because I prefer to be pleasantly surprised rather than disappointed, but while Ovechkin exceeded my expectations, he did not have the best season I could possibly imagine.
A 10 next year would be 70 goals, 60 Assists, 130 points, +20 or higher, 45 PIM or less, and a Cup.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Jun 11, 2009 1:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I also agree with bigonetimer, Ovie needs a back hand, badly.
by Hunky Dory on Jun 11, 2009 1:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hard to backhand a puck when your blade is curved like a banana.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jun 11, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Russian machine never backhand?
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Jun 11, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Rec for the effort (which wasn’t bad, BTW).
by Bald Pollack on Jun 11, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Are you trying to invite a stick measurement next season?
Surely you can find a less curvy fruit to compare it to.
by gfcaps fan on Jun 11, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I always loved Leclair’s stick. That funky wave for forehand & backhand was awesome.
by Hunky Dory on Jun 11, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Still…1 non-eng backhand goal???
by red army line on Jun 11, 2009 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Without too much of an attempt to stir shit up, Ovechkin had the season I expected. By clearcut definition, I gave him a 5. Now, if you told me to rate his season 1-10, period, it’d have been a 10.
At this point, for me next year Ovechkin to get a 10, all he has to do is win the Conn Smythe. He’s the best player in the league. I’d love to see him earn it.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on Jun 11, 2009 1:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’d argue he did earn it. It’s a mind-blowing stat that 2 rounds later, he’s only fallen 4 places in the scoring standings.
by DrinkingPartner on Jun 11, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It is a mind-blowing stat, but it is also hard to see a Conn Smythe winner on a team that didn’t even make it past the second round.
by bigmac1124 on Jun 11, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
on a team that didn’t even…
Right, team. He did his part. And he did it better than anyone else in the playoffs, up to that point. He earned it, circumstances just won’t win it for him.
by DrinkingPartner on Jun 11, 2009 3:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Oops, that’s in response to bigmac24, there.
by DrinkingPartner on Jun 11, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
10
Don’t see how you can give below a 9, unless you confuse the real world w/ playstation or something. in ‘07-’08, we had a 22 yr old kid have an out of this world season and then follow it up in ‘08-’09 with another. That might feel like manifest destiny to you, but to me if feels like (1) a heck of a lot of effort by the guy plus (2) delivering great performances regularly. He had a phenomenal season — even relative to expectations for him.
Next year, to get the 10, he needs to backcheck hard more regularly. Repeat this year’s performance and he gets a 9 from me. My “expectations” are informed by all of the other young flameouts across sports who (variously): get injured, get distracted, get arrested, get lazy, and generally fail to meet the unrealistically high hopes of desperate fans.
by CarlosLA on Jun 11, 2009 3:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
6
Slightly below reg season expectations, above in the playoffs.
For a 10 next year:
60 goals, 120 points, +30
Caps—>SCF
by red army line on Jun 11, 2009 5:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
9
Excellent season by OV.
To garner a 10 I’d like to see the same or better offensive output, more attention to the defensive side of the game, and fewer penalties.
by lgc on Jun 11, 2009 8:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes, a great 8 season.
A 10 in my book for this season and next would include noticeably less of the random skating when the Caps don’t have possession of the puck in either zone.
by Icebat on Jun 12, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
59 | 41 | 12 | 6 | 88 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
57 | 25 | 21 | 11 | 61 |
|
Atlanta
|
57 | 25 | 24 | 8 | 58 |
|
Florida
|
58 | 24 | 25 | 9 | 57 |
|
Carolina
|
58 | 21 | 30 | 7 | 49 |
(updated 2.9.2010 at 4:15 AM EST)
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
