Faceoff Factor

Ovechkin Is The Real Deal

Jonathan Farzalo | National Hockey League

Mar 15, 10:57 AM | Hype this story!

Try to deny it you might, but Alexander Ovechkin is looking more and more like a lock to win the Art Ross Trophy for the leagues leading scorer this year, and if he can help push his team to a playoff berth, he will most likely be a lock to win the Hart Trophy as well, proving to be the league MVP.

Everyone knows that Alex is an amazing talent; his goal scoring ability is something out of history. Very few players in today’s game hit the 50-goal mark, let alone the 60-goal mark. However, one thing people seem to overlook is his ability to pass the puck as well. Sure, he will never be confused with Sidney Crosby, Joe Thornton, or Marc Savard in that regard, but with 99 points this year, and 42 assists, he isn’t a slouch either.

I’m in the category that Sidney Crosby is the best in the game, all around, as I feel he simply makes his team and players around him better. Yet I have to acknowledge Ovechkin’s talent and ability to lead his team as well. He hasn’t had much help in Washington until this year, and with it they are on the cusp of turning that franchise around. I really don’t think there is a better pure goal scorer in the league, or one who thinks they can score on every shot, from anywhere on the ice. Which in my opinion, is what makes him so dangerous. He isn’t afraid to take the puck to the net, battle in corners, shoot from the crease, shoot from the faceoff circles, from the blue line, or even from behind the net or center ice. He just shoots. It’s no wonder he leads the league in goals, as he also leads the league in shots. It should also not be overlooked that to go along with his immense point racking ability his throws major hits, something that only a few of today’s goal scorers do, the only real threat in that regard in my opinion would be Jarome Iginla, who is 3rd in the league for points, yet trails Ovechkin by 23.

In his three years in the league Ovechkin has 155 goals and 142 assists, for 297 points, and will easily surpass the 300 mark this year. That would make him a 100-point per season player. This, in the NHL today is something to marvel, as it’s not the 80’s anymore where 200 point seasons were not too uncommon. That’s quite an accomplishment and you have to assume he will only become more dangerous as Washington supplies better players around him and solidifies their goaltending; this is a team that can and will be a force to be reckoned with. With almost as many assists as he has goals, he has proven people who think of him as simply a goal scorer wrong. Sure, ‘most” people have more assists than goals, as 2nd assists are awarded rather easily. However Ovechkin seems to pick his spots and take the shots when given to him, rather than try to make the pretty play…something some of today’s younger stars and players struggle with.

Alexander is an ambassador of the game, perhaps not in the same way Crosby is, as let’s face it, in America you have to have a look to go along with your skills and passion, and Ovechkin isn’t a poster boy. Don’t let that fool you, his skill is speaking for itself, and his sheer delight (while sometimes a bit over the top) when he or anyone on their team scores, is something to relish in the game. Some point to it and call it showboating, or say he has too big of an ego, perhaps even being a little conceited…but what pure goal scorer in the league really thought they weren’t good enough? What team leader doesn’t try to lead by example? What force in the league doesn’t push themselves to be better, score more? If they didn’t do those things they wouldn’t be playing long.

Even by some crazy stroke of brilliance, if Evgeni Malkin catches Ovechkin in the points race, he has sold more people on his ability this year and proved that he is no fluke. While Capitals fans know Alex is the team leader, it won’t be too long before the actual “C” is stitched onto his jersey to go along with it, as he is signed to play in the nations capital for quite a long time.