Ovechkin.....What happened?

[mister__big]

If I were Ted Leonsis, I'd have lunch with Ovechkin and have a talk about what's caused him to lose his fire. If there's something distracting him from his game, I'd rather give him a year off to deal with it and have him return rejuvenated and reignited. An unmotivated Ovechkin is a liability to his team.

[jhunt223]

He stopped juicing.

[dammage79]

I think its the same issue for Ovie as it is for Iginla. It's complacency. There's real repercussions for them if they play like crap. Creates disinterest plain and simple. Treat these guys like you would a rookie or any other hockey player and you might get some life out of them on a more consistent basis. Ovechkin is still young and can still be an impact player.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by keenan87

Ovechkin for Cammalleri+Giordano+John Gaudreau

I'd do it.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Those Russians, so risky. If they aren't going back their homeland on a whim they might just start randomly sucking.

Here's hoping we continue to avoid taking them high in the draft.

More Nystroms! No Semins!

[vilzeh]

I've said for few years now that Ovechkin is so predictable on the ice, and that's catching up on him, of course you get outplayed because everyone knows what you're doing next, he and Backstrom is the most predictable duo in the NHL.

[Psytic]

Originally Posted by jhunt223

He stopped juicing.

This here imo but I am a conspiracy theorist. I think hes off the PED's because they start spot testing athletes a year before the games start as far as I know. Most of Ovi's game is smashing through people and over powering them. He just looks weaker on the puck right now so I think he is laying off the drugs until after the Olympics.

[SeeBass]

Sometimes it is just a simple conditioning.

Sometimes when you are the biggest guy out there and your speed is equal or better than others you can dominate any game.

But eventually it happens to all larger men. You have to keep up your conditioning even harder as your speed drops even faster than smaller men as you get older.

pro sports has a very larg list of bigger men in their sport that slow down well before their 30s

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Cheese

Milbury is an ass. He should keep his yap shut as he single handedly destroyed the Islanders due to his inability to judge talent.

Haha ya, my old man's a diehard Isles fan (and a very emotional guy), "Mike Milbury" was pretty much a swear word in our house growing up. Hilarious to hear when my dad gets on one of his crazy Milbury rants, which is usually whenever he saw him on TV. To be fair, Milbury is an idiot.

Sad to see what's happened to Ovy, dude was my favourite player in the NHL a few short years ago. No question he'll be in Sochi though. Maybe that will reignite his fire.

[Poe969]

didn't he get engaged? Time to get him this shirt

[Huntingwhale]

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Wow. that's just turrible.

[saillias]

His team kept on getting bounced early in the playoffs when he was at his most dominant. What's the motivation to keep on playing like that? If the Caps saw more success in the post season I suspect he would have kept pace with Crosby and Malkin, who not by coincidence I think, have been on a consistently successful Pittsburgh team. If the Pens were getting swept in the 1st round when Crosby or Malkin were getting 110+ points I bet we might be having the same conversation about those guys.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by saillias

His team kept on getting bounced early in the playoffs when he was at his most dominant. What's the motivation to keep on playing like that? If the Caps saw more success in the post season I suspect he would have kept pace with Crosby and Malkin, who not by coincidence I think, have been on a consistently successful Pittsburgh team. If the Pens were getting swept in the 1st round when Crosby or Malkin were getting 110+ points I bet we might be having the same conversation about those guys.

[Bourque's Twin]

I think Ovechkin will be in the KHL in the next 5 years.

[Locke]

Its funny, I said this was going to happen when he signed that ludicrous deal. I was roundly criticized because I obviously didnt understand his will to compete and win.

Well, he got paid and now, regardless of what rumours you want to believe its pretty clear that he just doesnt care anymore.

He has become predictable, but that happens to everyone. You have to put in the effort to change your game to become unpredictable again. Hes not interested.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by mister__big

If I were Ted Leonsis, I'd have lunch with Ovechkin and have a talk about what's caused him to lose his fire. If there's something distracting him from his game, I'd rather give him a year off to deal with it and have him return rejuvenated and reignited. An unmotivated Ovechkin is a liability to his team.

That's an awful lot to pay, and there's no guarantee that getting the guy off of the ice for a year means that he's going to come back fired up.

I think he's bored with the NHL life, I have next to no doubt that he's going to leave the NHL as soon as he can after the Olympics and not come back and leave the Caps in the lurch.

I do think there's a basis in better living through chemistry with this guy, he's a lot weaker on the puck and on the boards then he used to be.

On top of that he's always been a pretty predictable player and I think NHL coaches and defensemen finally figured him out, and he's not willing to change his game.

[Walter Reed]

Originally Posted by TKB

Remember when people actually thought Ovi was a better player then Crosby? I think we can put that argument to rest now....

I'll admit, I was one ......
Something has happened to the guy, he's not the same person at all anymore. He used to be a happy-go-lucky guy who was happy to be playing now he seems so disgruntled with life .....

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

That's an awful lot to pay, and there's no guarantee that getting the guy off of the ice for a year means that he's going to come back fired up.

I think he's bored with the NHL life, I have next to no doubt that he's going to leave the NHL as soon as he can after the Olympics and not come back and leave the Caps in the lurch.

I do think there's a basis in better living through chemistry with this guy, he's a lot weaker on the puck and on the boards then he used to be.

On top of that he's always been a pretty predictable player and I think NHL coaches and defensemen finally figured him out, and he's not willing to change his game.

I think if he takes a year off or something, he wouldnt get paid.

[Jason14h]

He's 27 and played a very physical game, and is almost at 600 games played. While 27 isn't old, for most NHL players it is past their prime. (And he did still score 38 goals last year)

I think he has just lost a step, and his old moves don't generate the same space they use to. It's hard for a guy who has always dominated to learn a new style.

Anytime a player looses a step it is because he "doesn't care." What if it's just "He isn't 24 anymore!"

Although I don't think Crosby will slow down, let's see what he looks like at the start of the 2015 season before we compare intagibles like "heart" and "compete"