Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
 
GOHABS.com -> GOHABS.com Message Board -> GOHABS.com Message Board -> Ovechkin says he's not ready for 'C'
Post Info TOPIC: Ovechkin says he's not ready for 'C'
MC Girl


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1977
Date:
Ovechkin says he's not ready for 'C'
Permalink Closed

Canadian Press


9/5/2006 5:58:18 PM


TORONTO (CP) - Alexander Ovechkin has told Washington he's not ready to captain the Capitals.


Both the Washington Post and Washington Times speculated in July that head coach Glen Hanlon was considering handing the captaincy to Ovechkin, chosen last season's top rookie in the NHL. Fellow phenom Sidney Crosby is reportedly a candidate for captain in Pittsburgh.


Ovechkin says it won't happen for him this season.


"This year I'm not ready because my English isn't good enough," the Russian superstar told The Canadian Press in an interview Tuesday.


He was quick to add that he's more than ready to be a leader, but feels a captain has to be able to communicate his feelings with teammates.


"If I need to say something to the team . . . it's hard," said Ovechkin. "The captain is very important, you must be a leader all the time."


Jeff Halpern was the Caps captain. He's now with Dallas.


Ovechkin, who turns 21 on Sept. 17, continues to improve his English at a remarkable rate since arriving in North America for his rookie NHL season last year. But it's still not quite at a level where he feels fully comfortable.


His ever-present smile often makes up for his struggles with the language. He has a tremendous sense of humour but can't always deliver his punch lines.


"Sometimes I want to joke but my English isn't perfect. Sometimes people are wondering what I'm talking about," he said with a laugh.


He was cracking jokes again Tuesday while at the Hockey Hall of Fame for a news conference to announce that he, along with Alexander Steen of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Andrew Ference of the Calgary Flames, were joining Right To Play, an athlete-driven international humanitarian organization that reaches out to underprivileged children around the world.


Ovechkin, a hot commodity as one of the game's rising stars, could have had his pick of any charity but chose Right To Play. It's all part of the maturing process as the Moscow native realizes just much he'll be wanted as a pitch man in years to come.


"I you have a chance to help people, you have to help. Because I know I'm lucky," he said of his decision to pick Right To Play.


He cites some of the poor children in his own native country who need help.


"They need clothes, equipment, they need everything," he said. "I want to help children in Russia, first of all, because Russia is my country and my home. I know lots of small children who don't have anything in Russia and I help them, give them my old skates, my old clothes."


Ovechkin will also help in Washington this season, donating eight tickets per game for underprivileged children to attend all 41 home dates.


"I love children," said Ovechkin.


Once his charitable work was out of the way, the conversation with reporters quickly shifted to Evgeni Malkin, who officially signed with Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Malkin and Ovechkin aren't considered close friends although they obviously know each other from being teammates at the Turin Olympics and past world junior championships.


"He was my roommate at the Olympics, he's a good guy and a good teammate. But if I meet him in the corner ...," Ovechkin smiled, hinting that he won't think twice knocking the Penguins rookie on his back.


Malkin's arrival, barring any legal blocking from his Russian club, means the already fired-up rivalry with Pittsburgh will be further spiced up. Ovechkin realizes that but hopes people realize there are other players on the ice.


"Last year was very hard. The games against Pittsburgh were always about Ovechkin against Crosby and who would win (the rookie of the year). Last year is gone now," said Ovechkin. "I hope Malkin has a good season but when we play against Pittsburgh, it's not Ovechkin against Crosby and Malkin, it's Washington against Pittsburgh."


Ovechkin has been in Toronto since Aug. 9 to step up his workouts. He also had his wisdom teeth pulled out, which he didn't like much.


"But I liked it when they put me out, that felt good," he said with a laugh.


"I spent a great summer in Moscow and also went to France, Cyprus and Turkey," he added excitedly. "It was an unbelievable summer. But right now I must work hard because this year will be very hard. I want to make the playoffs."


 


 


 


I love this guy....  



-- Edited by MC Girl at 08:01, 2006-09-06

__________________
chelii chilli


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 40
Date:
Permalink Closed

In my opinion, that's something I would expect from a future Captain.  For him to recognize that he would not be suitable at this time to be captain is as mature a decision as he could have made.


Good for him.  This kid is the real deal on and off the ice IMO.



__________________
MC Girl


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1977
Date:
Permalink Closed

That... & he didn't let his "star status" get to his head. (not at all like another rookie we all know of )

__________________
superhab


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 528
Date:
Permalink Closed

Great read and he seems like a great kid. I liked the part about the wisdom teeth because thats pretty much what I'm doing today. One day Ovechkin will be captain of the Caps and he will make a great captian, the first great Russian captain.

__________________
MC Girl


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1977
Date:
Permalink Closed

superhab wrote:

Great read and he seems like a great kid. I liked the part about the wisdom teeth because thats pretty much what I'm doing today. :wink: One day Ovechkin will be captain of the Caps and he will make a great captian, the first great Russian captain.


Are you getting your wisdom's pulled too?


Good luck with that... when I had mine out, everything that could have gone wrong DID!!! Hopefully your surgeon is much better than the one I had.



__________________
superhab


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 528
Date:
Permalink Closed

MC Girl wrote:




Are you getting your wisdom's pulled too?


Good luck with that... when I had mine out, everything that could have gone wrong DID!!! Hopefully your surgeon is much better than the one I had.



Ya, i heard about some bad surgeons so im drugging myself up and using plyers.

__________________
MC Girl


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1977
Date:
Permalink Closed

superhab wrote:

Ya, i heard about some bad surgeons so im drugging myself up and using plyers.

... I hope you're kiddin'

__________________
Nil d


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 3452
Date:
Permalink Closed

MC Girl wrote:

That... & he didn't let his "star status" get to his head. (not at all like another rookie we all know of )


I was wondering how long it would take for someone to come out with this one.  The obvious reference is to Sidney Crosby.


First of all, I don't think his ego is overly inflated - it's just healhty enough to maintain his edge.   Name me a captain who was not confident in his abillities?!


Secondly, I don't think you can compare the two guys.  Ovechkin could well be a great captain today - if he could speak proper English.  Crosby speaks perfect English - and passable French.  I think it would be perfectly acceptable for him to be named Captain of the Penguins.


So there.




__________________
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
MC Girl


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1977
Date:
Permalink Closed

Nil d wrote:


MC Girl wrote:

That... & he didn't let his "star status" get to his head. (not at all like another rookie we all know of )


I was wondering how long it would take for someone to come out with this one.  The obvious reference is to Sidney Crosby.


First of all, I don't think his ego is overly inflated - it's just healhty enough to maintain his edge.   Name me a captain who was not confident in his abillities?!


Secondly, I don't think you can compare the two guys.  Ovechkin could well be a great captain today - if he could speak proper English.  Crosby speaks perfect English - and passable French.  I think it would be perfectly acceptable for him to be named Captain of the Penguins.


So there.





I know you like the guy & I respect that ('cause he's a great hockey player).... but how can you say his ego is not overly inflated & still keep a straight face?


Being humble is a great quality in a Captain.... just like Koivu. (O.K. let's hear what you have to say to that Mr. And-o )



-- Edited by MC Girl at 11:57, 2006-09-06

__________________
Fatherhab


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 379
Date:
Permalink Closed

Geez Nilsey- Here's your chance. With the abundance of talent that the Penguins have,  would make anyone look like a great leader. Hell, You might even make it to the Hall of Fame!


 



__________________
habscsi


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 49
Date:
Permalink Closed

MC im with fellow blunoser nil on this one i think Crosby gets a bum rap on the ego deal for a few comments he made about some things he probably shouldnt have commented on even though they were true!!Both these young men show great amounts of poise under the amount of questions they face day to day.Crosby still burdened the load of the media just for the mere fact that Alex didnt speak english that well so most of the questions he faced were more cliche softball type questions.All this being said at least the guy played for pittsburg unlike some other guys chosen by other teams  1st overall. Remeber when Mario didnt put on the sweater on draft day? Or did I dream that?

__________________
MC Girl


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1977
Date:
Permalink Closed

habscsi wrote:

MC im with fellow blunoser nil on this one i think Crosby gets a bum rap on the ego deal for a few comments he made about some things he probably shouldnt have commented on even though they were true!!Both these young men show great amounts of poise under the amount of questions they face day to day.Crosby still burdened the load of the media just for the mere fact that Alex didnt speak english that well so most of the questions he faced were more cliche softball type questions.All this being said at least the guy played for pittsburg unlike some other guys chosen by other teams  1st overall. Remeber when Mario didnt put on the sweater on draft day? Or did I dream that?


... I'm not just talkin' about the comments made to the media on a few occasions.... I'm talkin' about the comments made & attitude shown on the bench every single time he was mic'd last season.


I heard a lot of egomaniacal remarks floodin' out of his yap last year & that's what soured me on the guy. When you are a rookie, learn the ropes before throwin' your weight or voice around... & don't whine Sir Sidney!!! He really shows his lack of maturity when he does that.


At least he's the captain now... his bossy/nasty comments won't be so out of place this season. However, Will his head swell so big that it won't fit on the ice???? Will he alienate his teammates???? Will he prove that it's "too soon" to make him a Captain??? Will he change his ways & become a phenom????? We'll see.



__________________
AB Habman


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 2344
Date:
Permalink Closed

 Ovechkin is a humble class act! The more I see or hear from him, the more I like him!


 Also, with Crosby at the helm, the Pens are in good shape. The guy leads by example...how can you not respect a young man like that?


 Too bad these guys get compared all the time! In my opinion, they're both great young men with talent to spare. In saying that though, I always thought Mario was better than Gretz. It's just too early in their career to be so critical!



-- Edited by AB Habman at 23:26, 2006-09-06

__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
GOHABS.com -> GOHABS.com Message Board -> GOHABS.com Message Board -> Ovechkin says he's not ready for 'C'
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard