The only way to stop Ovechkin is to suspend him
By: Turner Sports Desk
Jim Turner
Turnersportsdesk.com
March 16, 2010
What if Alexander Ovechkin played the game of hockey like
everyone else? What if he played without the burning desire to be the best at
what he does? Who would be better off if that happened? The NHL would be a
lesser league if they placed the clamps on Ovechkin and his game. For the first
time in a long time you have a forward that is super talented, super gritty and
most importantly plays the game with the joy of a child. In a Sports world of
guaranteed contracts, overpaid, underperforming athletes Ovechkin is a breath
of fresh air. He is a guy people want to come and see even if he’s not on their
team.
Former NHL Coach and ESPN Analyst, Barry Melrose said instead
of suspending Ovechkin for playing hard and with passion, the rest of the
league needs to turn it up a notch. Remember when everyone was upset about
Ovechkin’s goal celebration? I believe it was Melrose that said there is one
sure fire way to stop the celebrations and that is by stopping Ovechkin. Like the formula for cold fusion, stopping
Ovechkin apparently remains a mystery. I guess the one way the NHL can attempt
to do it is by trying to take away what separates the great eight from his
peers.
I find this assertion of Ovechkin as a dirty player very
interesting especially when he plays the game with a combination of both
schools of hockey. The European game of hockey relies more on skill and puck
possession while the North American game is much more physical. Ovechkin can
make defenders look silly with his puck/stick skills, at 6’2, 235 he will run you
over and he’s shown he plays the North American physical style as well if not
better than North Americans. So I find it very ironic that North Americans are the
ones complaining most about the physical play of a European. Really?
So if the NHL wants to kill the best thing they have going
all they have to do is legislate Ovechkin and his passion out of the game. Apparently that is the only way to stop him.
Ovechkin is a once in a generation player and by punishing Ovechkin the NHL is setting
the league back. Sometimes unique players come along that raise the game to another
level. Instead of trying to kill who Ovechkin is perhaps they need to follow
his lead. The real winners would be the fans that finally can pay for a guy
worth watching.