It’s not just the talent, though that’s a good place to start. And that much was obvious from the beginning. After the Capitals’ first practice this season, veteran goalie Olie Kolzig delivered a bold statement to owner Ted Leonsis and general manager George McPhee about rookie Alex Ovechkin.
“That young man,” Kolzig told them, “has the most talent of any player I’ve ever played against.”
Leonsis and McPhee laughed.
“Are you trying to help us sell tickets?” Leonsis asked Kolzig.
One season, 52 goals, including ‘The Goal’ against Phoenix, and 106 points later, Leonsis said, “Olie is a good judge of talent.”
No kidding.
“Alex has that rare ability, simply through his performance, to draw your eyes to him,” Outdoor Life Network hockey analyst Bill Clement said. “Wayne [Gretzky] used to disappear on the ice. Mario Lemieux, you always knew where he was. Eric Lindros, when he was at his best, you sensed his presence. Alex is like that. He truly is electrifying.”
But that’s not what left jaws dropping.
“A couple of times [after his goals] guys were shaking their heads like, ‘How did that get in?’” Caps left winger Matt Pettinger said.
And it is not just Ovechkin’s scoring prowess that has impressed observers. It is his all-around game.
“His physical play surprised me,” ESPN hockey analyst Barry Melrose said. “He’s one of the top three or four rookie hitters in the NHL.”
Ovechkin’s attitude and approach married his talent. Shortly after ‘The Goal’ in January, Ovechkin did an autograph signing at the Washington Auto Show at the Convention Center. The line to get his signature was several blocks long. Nobody left without his autograph. He chatted with fans as he signed. Then Ovechkin and teammate Matt Bradley wandered around.
“People were still going over to him,” said Elizabeth Wodatch, the Capitals’ manager of community relations. “We said, ‘If you sign one, you have to sign 100.’ He didn’t listen.”
He’s at his best with kids, playing a pick-up game of hockey at the team’s Christmas party in December with employees’ children, one of many examples. At 20, Ovechkin just a big kid himself.
“I remember when I was a little kid and [stars] would come through and my eyes would get so big because I was so excited,” said Ovechkin, who roomed with Brian Willsie on the road, in part, to help him learn English. “I understand how they’re feeling.”
And it’s not just his self-effacing side that made him popular. Later at the Auto Show Bradley, who likes to golf, took a whack at a golf simulator and, according to the simulator, hit a good shot. Ovechkin, who doesn’t golf, took a turn. And whiffed. And whiffed again as Bradley mocked him in the background.
Naturally, this was filmed and later played on the videoscreen at a Caps game. Ovechkin laughed, just as he does when teammates rib him about his clothes. But he also thanks them after games for their help.
“He’s a great teammate,” Willsie said. “He loves the game and the older guys fed off that passion. It was refreshing.”
Add it up and it’s no wonder Ovechkin is so popular.
“Every day we saw something,” Caps coach Glen Hanlon said. “It wasn’t just at one point we said, ‘He’s a good hockey player.’ We soon found out he’s wonderful in the community. We soon found out he loves life. We soon found out he’s a little different and a breath of fresh air. He always has a smile on his face. That’s fairly contagious.”
Said Leonsis: “He has charisma coming out of every pore. If you typed in all the things you wanted to build your program around, the computer would spit out Alex.”
Figure 8
» Count Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas among those who want Ovechkin’s jersey. Arenas famously swaps jerseys and has about 150. But, Arenas said, “Alex’s will be the only non-basketball jersey I’ll have.”
» The NHL’s Rookie of the Year will be announced on June 22. Ovechkin is considered the likely choice over Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby.
» When the company that sold Ovechkin’s jerseys ran out, they found Caps jerseys with nothing on the back. So they bought equipment to put on their own letters and numbers. Then they ran out of letters.
