Whereas before when he was +45 the second best of the year that season it was a fairly accurate portrayal of his "dedication" to backchecking and overall 2-way play?

And that's the bottom line because Stone Cold said so
- AdamFrench

So you are arguing that Ovi is the same player now that he was then? That he had the same impact on games as he used to? Ovi has all the talent in the world and he USED to use it. I watched countless games that he literally would take a game over. Make a hit in the d-zone, rush the puck, scoring chance and/or goal was a fairly common occurrence. Today's Ovi is completely different. He's more of a cherry picker, loafing around the blue line waiting for his teammates to steal the puck and if/when they do he's set up for open ice into the offensive zone. The problem is while he's loafing the other team has the equivalent of a PP in the offensive zone b/c he's not defending or covering "his" man. I don't give a poop that he's Russian or anything else, but people blinded by his point and goal totals is truly dumbfounding to me. Watch this guy play hockey and tell me that he makes his team BETTER

So you are arguing that Ovi is the same player now that he was then? That he had the same impact on games as he used to? Ovi has all the talent in the world and he USED to use it. I watched countless games that he literally would take a game over. Make a hit in the d-zone, rush the puck, scoring chance and/or goal was a fairly common occurrence. Today's Ovi is completely different. He's more of a cherry picker, loafing around the blue line waiting for his teammates to steal the puck and if/when they do he's set up for open ice into the offensive zone. The problem is while he's loafing the other team has the equivalent of a PP in the offensive zone b/c he's not defending or covering "his" man. I don't give a poop that he's Russian or anything else, but people blinded by his point and goal totals is truly dumbfounding to me. Watch this guy play hockey and tell me that he makes his team BETTER
- uf1910

And people ignoring his league leading goal total while criticizing his +/- is moronic to me.

And people ignoring his league leading goal total while criticizing his +/- is moronic to me.
- sbroads24

Having a hard time grasping the +/- are you.

OV is liability to his team currently.

When he is on the ice, the other team scores more than the Caps do. That's bad.

35 times more, that's very bad. Means he is a liability to his team.

Having a hard time grasping the +/- are you.

OV is liability to his team currently.

When he is on the ice, the other team scores more than the Caps do. That's bad.35 times more, that's very bad. Means he is a liability to his team.
- bixll

How many players on the Caps are + players? I'll wait

And people ignoring his league leading goal total while criticizing his +/- is moronic to me.
- sbroads24

There's a reason y Washington and Russia haven't won anything with him. Ovechkin use to dominate, earn his ice time and take over games in all 3 zones. He was in conversation with being the best player in the world. Now he's a liability 5 on 5 and demands major ice time when he doesn't deserve it. Had his coach fired because he is a spoiled brat. I would trade him while I still can.

How many players on the Caps are + players? I'll wait
- sbroads24

Yeah but outside of that top line everyone has a respectable +/-. Also take into consideration that OV demands all the favorable ice time.

There's a reason y Washington and Russia haven't won anything with him. Ovechkin use to dominate, earn his ice time and take over games in all 3 zones. He was in conversation with being the best player in the world. Now he's a liability 5 on 5 and demands major ice time when he doesn't deserve it. Had his coach fired because he is a spoiled brat. I would trade him while I still can.
- joshs

Is there a reason San Jose never won with Thornton? Rangers with Callahan? Nashville with Shea Weber? Sedins in Vancouver?


Why is it Ovechkin gets held solely responisble for not winning yet none of the above ever do?

How many players on the Caps are + players? I'll wait
- sbroads24

Ovechkin as a top line player is terrible. Ovechkin as a power play guy is amazing. Ovechkin as a teammate is atrocious and the reason why my team wins/loses.

Is there a reason San Jose never won with Thornton? Rangers with Callahan? Nashville with Shea Weber? Sedins in Vancouver?


Why is it Ovechkin gets held solely responisble for not winning yet none of the above ever do?
- sbroads24

None of those players consider themselves the best in the world.

AO is being credited with 200 hits this season as well for the people who claim all he does is stand around and cherry pick

None of those players consider themselves the best in the world.
- joshs

So what? You obviously can't win with any of them. Has nothing to do with the team around them, just them.

And people ignoring his league leading goal total while criticizing his +/- is moronic to me.
- sbroads24

Who is ignoring? I'm surely not. Scoring 50+ goals is an accomplishment that not many can much less actually do. But how any player goes about scoring 50+ is also just as important as scoring the goals

There's a reason y Washington and Russia haven't won anything with him. Ovechkin use to dominate, earn his ice time and take over games in all 3 zones. He was in conversation with being the best player in the world. Now he's a liability 5 on 5 and demands major ice time when he doesn't deserve it. Had his coach fired because he is a spoiled brat. I would trade him while I still can.
- joshs

Is there a reason San Jose never won with Thornton? Rangers with Callahan? Nashville with Shea Weber? Sedins in Vancouver?


Why is it Ovechkin gets held solely responisble for not winning yet none of the above ever do?
- sbroads24

Noone is holding him solely responsible, at least I sure am not. However, with a weaker team around him, Ovi's LIABILITIES are even more prevalent and exacerbated.

AO is being credited with 200 hits this season as well for the people who claim all he does is stand around and cherry pick
- sbroads24

So +/- is a worthless stat that means nothing to his quality as an overall hockey player but the fact he has 200 hits does?

So +/- is a worthless stat that means nothing to his quality as an overall hockey player but the fact he has 200 hits does?
- uf1910

No they both mean about the same. Very little. However I find it hard to believe that someone who is credited with 200 hits (almost 3 per game played) does nothing but cherry pick and score on the PP which is what he supposively only does.

How many players on the Caps are + players? I'll wait
- sbroads24

Under -10:

Beagle rw -11
Carrick d -12
Green d -16
Backstrom c -20
Johansson c -22
Ovechcin rw -35

FYI Backstrom has more points as of now, although he leads the league in PP points.

Kind of amazing from a guy getting $9.5 yearly and considers himself a top world talent.

What's with the man crush with him anyways?

I couldn't care less if he were available. No way would I want that selfish player wearing the Indian Head sweater.

It's unlikely he would be a Stanley Cup champion as long he is the 'marquee' player on the team.

See above comment. You said Bergeron would never be a minus player?
- sbroads24

yeah, that was the year Dave Lewis was coach...

Nuff said!

Using the boston fan logic....

Bergeron would have been able to get the Leafs into the playoffs if he were a Leaf.

So, if Bergeron is able to correct the defensive woes of an entire team, imagine what he would do to Ovis stats if he was a Cap!!

Last time I checked, the Caps have average tending, an average D corps, and suspect defensive forwards. To claim Ovi is worthless based on his plus minus on this team is like saying one garbage bag stinks the most in a dump.
- IRON.MAIDEN

Probably, but with the leaf's coaching and goaltending, that would be difficult even for him.

No they both mean about the same. Very little. However I find it hard to believe that someone who is credited with 200 hits (almost 3 per game played) does nothing but cherry pick and score on the PP which is what he supposively only does.
- sbroads24

Well I think we can agree he didn't rack up those 200 hits (or 50 goals for that matter) playing a defensively sound game. Beyond that all we will do is continue to go around and around. I wouldn't want Ovi on the Bolts NO MATTER the cost to acquire him. He is paid quite handsomely and I would guess the Caps didn't sign him to that deal to rack up a negative +/- near the bottom of the entire NHL.

Yeah, and I'm running for president next year! lmao, how is this even an article? Ovi will never get traded. He is that franchise!

Probably, but with the leaf's coaching and goaltending, that would be difficult even for him.
- 77emac77

All the truly successful teams play a solid Team Game. I love Bergeron, but he isn't enough to get the Leafs where they need to be.