leafaholix*
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Didn't Marc-Andre Fleury say "... we're going to beat the Russians" ?
What's the difference?
It's called confidence.
What's the difference?
It's called confidence.
Daniel_Tkaczuk said:1) At the Fanfest target shooting pointing to Marc-Andre Fleury and saying "i do this to you tomorrow" and hitting 4/5
Daniel_Tkaczuk said:3) Quote on Team Canada through his interpreter: 'We'll be able to handle them, we are better."
Daniel_Tkaczuk said:4) During the gold medal game, and the whole playoff part of the tournament for that matter, stayed unable to back up his words. So let's do something really childlish like taking a blatant dive in front of the Canadian goalie to celebrate how really frustrated we are!
He thinks (or knows) he is head and shoulders above the rest talent-wise. Call me a hard sell on him, but I am looking forward to seeing him try to prove it. He has the talent but I expect a rough adjustment.
Hilarious. Ovechkin is as humble and mild-mannered as they come.Daniel_Tkaczuk said:He has the tools, but a massive ego.
You are correct - Ovechkin has a downside. But it ain't his character.Daniel_Tkaczuk said:I just don't think he's the savior everyone seems to think he is. He has to be fallible somewhere. Everyone has a downside. Even Gretzky did.
Sundried TOmato Hilarious. Ovechkin is as humble and mild-mannered as they come.[/QUOTE said:mild mannered as they come = put up and shut up
Sting004 said:Did Gretzky really have a downside though? He was far from cocky...he made everyone around him better, was a natural leader, and did everything on the ice better than anyone else. You can't say his downfall was physical play because he didn't need to when he was scoring 150+ points a season.
Daniel_Tkaczuk said:I've observed Ovechkin since he was 14. I have seen him play in the Russian league, from the stands. I have seen him with his teammates, coaches, media, and fans. Ovechkin is a Joe Sakic type. He is very quiet and unassuming. In fact, he may be too quiet. He lacks Kovalchuk's and Nash's fire. That's his greatest downside, IMO. I think Ovechkin may defer to older players out of respect, instead of taking a leadership position.Sundried TOmato Hilarious. Ovechkin is as humble and mild-mannered as they come.[/QUOTE said:mild mannered as they come = put up and shut up
I dunno. I liked Kovalchuk a lot better because of his exuberance. Ovechkin is very mature and not that excitable. It may or may not be a good thing once he enters the NHL. I think he is a better “missing piece†for a team like Columbus, than a “cornerstone†for a team like Pittsburgh.
Sundried TOmato said:I've observed Ovechkin since he was 14. I have seen him play in the Russian league, from the stands. I have seen him with his teammates, coaches, media, and fans. Ovechkin is a Joe Sakic type. He is very quiet and unassuming. In fact, he may be too quiet. He lacks Kovalchuk's and Nash's fire. That's his greatest downside, IMO. I think Ovechkin may defer to older players out of respect, instead of taking a leadership position.
I dunno. I liked Kovalchuk a lot better because of his exuberance. Ovechkin is very mature and not that excitable. It may or may not be a good thing once he enters the NHL. I think he is a better “missing piece” for a team like Columbus, than a “cornerstone” for a team like Pittsburgh.
Sting004 said:Did Gretzky really have a downside though? He was far from cocky...
Daniel_Tkaczuk said:1) At the Fanfest target shooting pointing to Marc-Andre Fleury and saying "i do this to you tomorrow" and hitting 4/5
George Harrison said:Makes him seem like Ivan Drago from Rocky IV. I like it.
Dr_Chimera said:And something else - Russians are different people. And trashtalking isn't uncommon between players - I would encourage trashtalking than just staying put, taking a number and shoving a stick up the guy's grill a period later.
Rabid Ranger said:Based on what I've seen and heard, he seems to be a great prospect with all the tools, but I'm not expert. I do have a strong feeling he's not going to reinvent the sport as many around here would like to believe.
Vlad The Impaler said:Personally, I think it has also much to do with player's agents. Russian agents seem to suck an unbelievable amount of ass.
Most of the North American agents coach carefully their youngsters to say the right things so that fanboys will listen carefully to the painful cliches, nod dumbly and say "that kid looks like he has a nice attitude, wow!"
PR seems to be a thing that is poorly handled in certain part of Europe, particularly Eastern. I was working in A&R and my boss had these piles of entertainment zines (most having to do with music) and he was a fanatic about keeping up with pop music acts from around the world. I noticed some drastic differences. Also, many managers there had more proeminent roles with the press it seems. And from the interview, you could see PR was at a PREHISTORICAL level over there.
It's not that we're nicer over here. We just know what to say and when to say it to feed the masses their daily dose of cliches and keep their mouth shut.
Hockey players are not crazy. You've got a couple of exceptions, guys like Roenick and Hull. But the others, they look at the abuse these guys are taking and they just don't feel like going there. Think there aren't some players who probably have MUCH more on their mind than Roenick ever did? Yeah, right.
The players agent role is tremendously important in this age of information. They are even there to make sure the player will feed the proper amount of bull**** to teams interviewing them prior to the draft. It's part of the game and I think this is severely lacking in Europe. The players are just not as PR-conscious and don't surround themselves with people who will make them avoid unpleasant situations.
I don't think anyone's expecting him to reinvent the game.Rabid Ranger said:I would like to hear some feedback from people associated with the industry as it concerns Ovechkin's potential. Based on what I've seen and heard, he seems to be a great prospect with all the tools, but I'm not expert. I do have a strong feeling he's not going to reinvent the sport as many around here would like to believe.
West said:He always made me think of how people talked about Mat Sundin coming into the league. They won't play exactly the same but in terms of size, skating, skill and overall impact I've always thought Mat Sundin. I think it fits as well now as it did last year.
The Big P said:So Vlad, I see you've also read his autobiography.
Vlad The Impaler said:He was an early bloomer. For reasons I cannot completely understand, a lot of observers seem to always be convinced that progression of performance is going up year after year instead of looking at the player for what he is, the environment he is in and what he will likely become.
That's how some people ended up calling Ovechkin the next Gretzky last year.
Ovechkin is going through the exact same things all hyped prospects are going through. After a "honeymoon" with observers, it is now the time to pick on him, overcriticize his game up until the draft. Then, next year, it will be Crosby's time while another young 16 years old who can't shave will be hyped.
The cycle never ends :p
Crosbyfan said:Except sometimes the guy who looks like the next Orr or Gretzky BECOMES Orr or Gretzky. Sid is the real deal.