Comments on The Hockey Instigator: Capital Gains!

I would like to take a look at this, now that the ...

2007-12-07T15:29:00.000-05:00

I would like to take a look at this, now that the Capitals have played 27 games.

At this point, even with games in hand, they are the worst team in the league.

Ovechkin is the only player on the team with more than a point a game and more than 10 goals. He is also +3 making him one of a few players on the team with a plus rating.

Ovechkin is either leading the team or near the top of all the important statistical categories for the team.

As to the question about whether OV using his linemates enough... As a long time hockey fan living in Washington DC and season ticket holder, I would have to say he doesn't.

Ovechkin can shoot, skate, hit, stick handle and pass great. Yes, I did say pass great. But having the talent to pass, doesn't mean you have the vision and confidence in your team mates to make that pass at the right time. I have watched over and over again, OV trying to beat one more guy or taking a shot from a bad angle rather than pass to open team mates. Sometimes, he will hesitate and by the time he makes the pass, the lane is no longer open.

In 27 games, Ovechkin has 161 shots. If you take the combined total of shots for the next three on the team list, you only get 189 shots. The whole team has taken 790 shots at this point, giving OV more that 20% of the teams shots. That being said, he does account for nearly 30% of the Capitals goals.

If OV was willing to make more passes and didn't hold the puck so long, other skilled players would have more chances to shoot and score. This in the long run would open the ice more for Ovechkin and the team as a whole improve greatly.

The only way that the off season moves will turn into gains, is if the leader of the team includes the new pieces in his game. As long as OV is playing like he has to do it all, the results will be the same as in the past, when he did have to do it all.

agree with the previous anonymous poster about ove...

2007-09-17T17:34:00.000-04:00

agree with the previous anonymous poster about ovechkin, but ovechkin will have a hard time winning the heart trophy.

Hanlon is going to use kozlov as his center, and clark as the right wing, and put semin and backstrom on the wings of Nylander.(this is based on the scrimages and games so far for the caps).

This means, that hanlon is hoping that semin and nylander will light it up playing against 2nd line players.

So I find it hard to believe that kozlov and clark are what ovechkin needs to get into a race with crosby for the heart trophy.

It technically isn't his sophomore year, however, ...

2007-09-17T17:24:00.000-04:00

It technically isn't his sophomore year, however, the lockout and the year plus away from the team, makes it his first two consecutive full years with the team.

As for Ovechkin, he may have lead the team in assists, he still didn't use his teammates enough and if you read most honest reviews on his play, they will say the same.

Ovechkin also plays for the Capitals not the Panthers and the likelihood of them repeating what the Pens did last year is highly unlikely, as they don't have the caliber of talent as the Pens had and the Conference and Division is going to be a lot tougher this year.

Not very accurate posting.1) Semin can't have a so...

2007-09-17T16:44:00.000-04:00

Not very accurate posting.
1) Semin can't have a sophmore jinx, because he is in his 3rd season.

2) How can you say ovechkin doesn't use his linemates, when he leads the team in assists and goals back to back years? Not to mention he also leads his team the past 2 seasons in hits. An article was posted last year, showing his assists are not secondary assists, and not rebound assists as a lot of people try to claim.

Panthers have a great chance of finishing first in their division, especially with Ovechkin coming back to his old form, in his first year. He will likely win the heart this season, as his team ends up doing what pittsburg did last season.

the capitals chances are slim to make the playoffs...

2007-09-16T20:38:00.000-04:00

the capitals chances are slim to make the playoffs for a number of reasons.
olaf kolzig is not 25 anymore and while he has been a work horse for the caps he has to be nearing the end of that road for them at age 37.
the additons of poti and nylander will help but the caps defense is rather porous to be kind and alzner may not be ready this season. even if alzner does make the team he is a rookie and very few rookies have an impact like a dion phaneuf did or a scott stevens did.
one of the biggest things that will affect the caps is not on the ice. the fan support in the capital is not that great. fan support was poor even after the trade to get jagr so its no surprise that fan support is still lacking even with ovechkin. owner ted leonsis broke the bank to get and sign jagr once and it will not be an approach i see him taking again with this team unless they are winning and drawing fans.