Alex Ovechkin is having a sub-par season. This is not news.
Compared to the rest of the National Hockey League, though, the winger’s numbers aren’t bad (23 goals, 44 points in 53 games). Compared to the numbers he usually puts up they are.
Washington Capitals associate goalie coach Olaf Kolzig believes there are several reasons why the Russian superstar isn’t producing like he’s used to.
“I think a lot is frustration,” Kolzig told the Washington Post Wednesday. “Obviously he’s not scoring at the clip he’s accustomed to. Part of that is not having Nicky Backstrom in the lineup.”
Ovechkin has not only faced criticism for his below-standard numbers, but for the way he has played as well.
“Alex was getting away from playing the hard, no-nonsense, honest type of hockey, exuberant hockey that he displayed the first three years that he was in the league,” Kolzig said. “I think that’s what endeared him to everybody. Then all of a sudden … he was celebrating certain ways and what endeared him to everybody now made him look like a villain.”
The 26-year-old is one of the most popular players in the NHL, but received some fan backlash after choosing to skip the NHL All-Star Game while he was in the middle of serving a three-game suspension.
“I think part of it is he’s feeling a little not as loved as he used to be, he brings that on himself sometimes,” Kolzig said, “Teams have kind of got a handle on him, maybe how to close the gap on him and not allow him to score those fantastic one-on-one goals that he used to score.”
Ovechkin’s frustration boiled over at practice Thursday, as he and defenceman Dennis Wideman exchanged some slashes, shoved one another and stared each other down.
The Capitals have lost three in a row, are three points back of Toronto for 8th place in the Eastern Conference, and visit their division rivals the Florida Panthers on Friday.
“For Alex, it’s a work ethic,” Kolzig said. “He just has to get back to being the way he was in his younger days and maybe not get wrapped up too much in the rock star status that comes with being Alex Ovechkin.”
Kolzig played 719 games in the NHL (all but nine of which were spent with the Capitals). He finished his playing career in 2009 with a record of 303-297-63-24 and 35 shutouts.
Capital’s general manager George McPhee addressed Kolzig’s comments Thursday following the team’s practice.
