There will be a 1 million signing bonus by K.H.L.

...but only for 5-6 players high in the draft.

Larry Brooks (Aug. 15, 2008):

The Post has learned that Medvedev also informed Bettman that the KHL would hold a universal draft for the 2009-10 season that will include players currently under contract in the NHL. Medvedev told Bettman KHL clubs will offer signing bonuses of $1M to players who are playing in the NHL this season.

So who was right, Larry Brooks or John Glennon?
Andrei Kuznetsov from Sport-Express (Aug. 29, 2008) finally replies to Larry Brooks:

Some Russian Internet publications printed a statement by Medvedev, where he allegedly frightened his vis-à-vis Gary Bettman. The President of KHL, according to information from these sources, promised to lure the players from the overseas league [NHL], and guaranteed a signing bonus of 1 million dollars. It turned out Medvedev was quoted incorrectly, he was taking about the signing bonus for the players with high draft numbers [not for all players drafted - tj]. As it is known, the bigger NHL contracts are guaranteed to the first five or six young talents. Our league, who started the draft procedure, is entitled to do the same.

Ok, first of all, the 'Russian Internet publications' quoted Larry Brooks. Turned out Larry was right, there will be a signing bonus of 1 million, but only to the first 5-6 players.

And finally KHL.RU, Aug. 30, 2008, published their official statement today:

The Kontinental Hockey League strictly adhered to the unilaterally declared moratorium on signing of the hockey players with existing N.H.L. contracts. The N.H.L. violated earlier agreement reached in Zurich on August 28 and formally announced the signing of Andrei Loktionov and Vyacheslav Voynov by the Los Angeles Kings. These players have existing contracts with K.H.L. teams of Lokomotiv (Yaroslavl) and Tractor (Chelyabinsk) respectively.

In connection with this K.H.L. considers itself free from any obligations to comply with the previously announced moratorium on singing the players. On September 6 there will be a meeting [with N.H.L.] at the headquarters of the International Hockey Federation in Zurich after which the Kontinental Hockey League will determine its further actions regarding the National Hockey League.

Update:
Kovalchuk was interviewed by Championat.ru during the exhibition game between Moscow Dynamo and CSKA. Here's what he said:

Hopefully KHL will be a good competitor for the NHL, a good alternative for our kids. To come to play here? If KHL proves that it is comparable to NHL, the players will return. And for our national team it will be very good. The level of young players will grow. After all, they will watch Yagr, Morozov, Radulov. The forthcoming season should get very interesting. I still have two years of my contract with Atlanta. And after that? We'll see...

And as I said before, looking back, what a brilliant brilliant move by Ted Leonsis to sign Ovechkin for 13 years.

Now we just need to hook him up with Miss America... :-)

Ovechkin, soccer, and trip to Mars

Sport-Express, Aug. 29, 2008, reports that Alex and his Dad were at the soccer game between Moscow's Spartacus and Dynamo. Ovechkin's Dad played soccer for Dynamo, and obviously Alex is Dynamo's alumni, not to mention Tatiana Ovechkin who was the Head Coach and the President of Moscow Dynamo's women's basketball team:

After Spartacus made the score even the forward of Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin and his father, who both rooted for Dynamo, left the VIP podium of Megasport.

Ovechkin lives near "Vodnyi Stadion" subway station, which is in the North West side of Moscow. I am pretty sure he was at that meeting since he was just recently elected there. Don't be surprised to see the mysterious pens with MARS 500 logo in his hand signing the autographs for you. :-)

Mospravda.ru, Aug. 29, 2008:

Moscow's Public Council of Northern District is an advisory body composed of the most honoured and respected residents of the north of the capital. The Council was established in the fall of 2007 to assist the residents of the district in solving social problems, forcing authorities to heed their views and requests. Currently, the Public Council SAO comprises 36 people. Recently the council got several new members, particularly a hockey player Alexander Ovechkin and a writer Fazil Iskander. The other day the Council held a meeting at which the members have reported some results of its activities.

The meeting took place inside the closed institution, the Institute of Biomedical Problems (IMBP) of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Before the event the journalists were wondering, in distributed brochures about the Institute to the participants of the meeting they found pens and stickers with mysterious logos "MARS 500" in big red letters. The explanation didn't make them wait long, it turned out that simultaneously with the discussion of pressing social problems the participants of the meeting were provided an opportunity to thoroughly learn about one of the major space research institutions in the country located on the North side of the capital.

The cosmonauts plan to fly to Mars in 2030-s, said Acting Director of IMBP Viktor Baranov. According to him the institute is engaged in research of biomedical side of the space flight and to ensure a proactive preparatory studies to fly to Mars, one of the major projects currently under way. It is anticipated that the total duration of the flight, taking into account of flying there, going back and staying a month on the Red planet, will be about 500 days. Here's the clue to mysterious red logo "MARS 500".

"Viktor Mikhailovich made a discovery for us," commented prefect SAO scientist Yuri Hardikov. "We're running a program of preparation for the flight to Mars, it is in the North of the capital, we have acting cosmonauts here. That is why we all gathered here, we must gradually open ourselves to all the wonderful that is happening on our territory".

Here's how Ovechkin met Victoria

Alex met Victoria back in July at the soccer game...


From sports.ru, July 14, 2008:

The best hockey player in the world Alexander Ovechkin, who watched the Prime League's soccer game between two Moscow teams, Spartacus - CSKA (1:5), shared his impressions of the game.

"I didn't simply stood there next to the field, I actually worked. The "NTV" TV channel invited me to the game to work as a commentator. Something like "the soccer game in the eyes of a hockey player", it was for the show "The Soccer Night". Throughout the whole game I talked with the host of the show Victoria Lopyreva and shared with her my comments of the game."


The new sport's talk show "The Soccer Night"

According to Spletnik.ru (July 29, 2008) Victoria had her birthday party and Ovechkin was there with... Alyonka Larionov.

AskMen.com top 49 and Ovechkin

I should check my email more often. I noticed there are two more hockey players there besides Ovechkin, Sindey Crosby and Sean Avery (WTF?)

Hi, Please excuse the unsolicited e-mail, but I wanted to let you know that Alexander Ovechkin has been officially nominated for AskMen.com’s Top 49 Most Influential Men of 2008 reader’s poll. I was hoping you could share the good news with your readers – I’m sure they’ll be delighted to hear about the nomination. Thanks in large part to the amazing support from sites like AlexOvetjkin.blogspot.com, the Top 49 Most Influential Men has become a popular annual mainstay on AskMen.com – in fact, the 2008 edition of the list will mark our 3RD anniversary. The purpose of the Top 49 is to determine which guys have had the biggest impact on the way other men dress, talk, buy, and think over the past 12 months. We at AskMen.com have a good enough idea to have assembled the shortlist of candidates, and now we need your help in determining the final 49. Please feel free to vote as often as you like; your picks will be combined with those of other AskMen.com readers and our staff to produce the final list: the Top 49 Most Influential Men of 2008. The final results are scheduled to be revealed on Tuesday October 21st. Vote Now! Last year, more than 1 million votes were cast worldwide and soccer phenom David Beckham ultimately emerged as the winner. Check it out here: Top 49 in 2007 Please don’t hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or comments. Thanks, Johnny Testa AskMen.com

Unfortunately for the LPGA, Not Every Athlete Goes the Way of Alexander Ovechkin

By Eric McErlain, The Sporting news, Aug. 28, 20008

Having covered the NHL for several years, I've gotten to see the acculturation process up close with Washington Capitals winger, Alex Ovechkin. Safe to say, it wasn't always easy for the reigning NHL MVP. Before the start of his rookie season, I was asked to serve as a panelist on AOL Sports Bloggers Live and put some questions to the young Russian. It didn't take long to figure out that he was struggling mightily to understand us.

But I'm guessing that if you asked Ovechkin, he wouldn't have had it any other way. To say the kid embraced life in the NHL would be an understatement. As I recall, he asked the team to give him an English-speaking roommate on the road, and with a very few exceptions, always stuck it out after the game at home and on the road to talk to the press in what at times was very broken English.

But as is often the case, all that pressure eventually yielded one heck of a diamond. While Ovechkin will still occasionally let loose with a malaprop that will make you chuckle, his English, thanks to his extraordinary diligence, is excellent. There should be little doubt that his language skills makes it easier for him to communicate with both coaches and teammates, while also helping Ovechkin pocket plenty of extra cash thanks to expanded marketing opportunities -- opportunities that many of his countrymen who are less comfortable with English do not enjoy.

Adam Proteau, The Hockey News, Aug. 27, 2008

Interesting news tidbit from the LPGA, which announced this week it will require its players to have at least a cursory grasp of the English language by 2009 if they wish to play for that organization.

I wouldn’t demand a similar regulation be imposed on NHLers that forces them to change. But it would behoove the league and NHLPA to stress to its European players the importance of getting a firm handle on the primary language in which the game’s business is conducted.

Indeed, if the likes of Ilya Kovalchuk, Alexander Semin and other rising European stars became more fluent in English, there’s little doubt their on-ice talents would garner more mainstream attention than they do at present.

Everyone in the NHL is well aware the league is above all else a business. And if a significant part of your business conductors are trapped inside a language foreign to most of your customers, well, there’s more than a little that is bound to get lost in translation.

Ovechkin dates Miss Russia

Aug. 28, 2008:

The wealthiest Russian hockey player Alexander Ovechkin showed up in public with a new girlfriend.

The superstar of the Washington Capitals and Team Russia Alexander Ovechkin fell for a dazzling beauty of one of the prettiest Moscow blonds Victoria Lopyreva.

It seems that the NHL star finally made his choice. At least those conclusions were made by his close friends, allegedly the 2008 world champion fell in love seriously.



The TV host of the sports talk show "The Soccer Night" and in the recent past Miss Russia 2004 did not hide her feelings for the famous hockey player. By the way Vickie always had the boyfriends from the brightest representatives of business elite and show business. But now the beautiful blond's heart beats in the rhythm with the heart of the richest Russian hockey player.

Yesterday the couple spent the evening together. Courteous Alexander tried not to deviate a step from the blond beauty and tried to please her in every way. Lopyreva and Ovechkin went to one of the best restaurants in Moscow. They enjoyed a romantic dinner and went to the movies after that.

"Do you have the seats for kissing?" joked Alexander while paying for the tickets.

Victoria noticeably blushed.

Victoria will have to come to terms with Alexander's insane popularity among the girls

Update (Japer's Rink found Victoria Lopyreva's web site):



Found a bunch of YouTube videos with her:



What this guy is doing in her company?

Karl Alzner: "he can teach me a few things"

By John Down, Calgary Herald, Aug. 27, 2008 "Alzner eager to tee-up Capitals career"

He does know, however, that he'll probably get a chance to play against mighty forward Alexander Ovechkin at some stage during main camp and sees that as a big asset.

"It's nice to know you're going against the best so there's no surprises when you get on the ice playing against a different team," said Alzner. "I hear he's awesome, a big guy, a lot of fun and obviously skilled so he can teach me a few things."

more...

Mike Green: "He is the best..."

By Rod Orachseski 411mania.com, Aug. 26, 2008 "Interview with Mike Green"

What goes into preparing for the added pressures of being the No. 1 guy on the blue line who logs a ton of minutes every game?
You just need to be ready to play. There aren't any nights off for the guy who everyone is expecting to do something on every night. You see a guy like Alex [Ovechkin] play the way he does, and you know what they expect of you.

A lot optimism in Washington revolves around last year's 65-goal scorer, Alexander Ovechkin. What is it like playing with him? Exactly how much does he impact the culture of the team both on and off the ice?
It's ... I mean you know, everyone knows. He's the best, or one of the best players in the league. Yeah, anything can happen when he's on the ice. He's one of those players that can win you games and it's just a good thing he's on our team.

more...

Slava Fetisov regrets leaving NHL for Russia

Ovechkin gets emotional after winning the World Hockey Championship 2008 in Quebec.


I have to admit, I am too lazy to translate the whole article and for the most part its not about the hockey. Basically Fetisov blasts the Russian bureaucrats and corruption in Russia, tells how much his Rossport had done fighting corruption and resistance and regrets that he gave up the offer for the head coaching position with the New Jersey Devils.

By Alexander Kruzhkov, Sport-Express.ru, Aug. 22, 2008 "If it will continue like that, we'll never be able catch up with China and US":

On Wednesday night the Chairman of Rossport Vyacheslav Fetisov visited our Olympic press center in Beijing and spent almost two hours answering our questions about the Russian Olympic team.

The conversation turned hard and we don't fully agree with Fetisov. But I think that the Russian sports fans should know the opinion of the man who once delivered a lot of remarkable victories for our country, and spent the last six years representing the national interests in the development of sports in Russia.

NHL Hall of Famer Vyacheslav Fetisov

Does this show a distrust to you personally? Or to your ideas?
My problem is that I've never learned to work with bureacrauts, lazy people and the babblers. I don't want to be a part of this buffoonery. I used to hard work, not that. But I am constantly running into an enormous resistance. The grapevine telegraph is, "Americans dropped him with the parachute here, he knows nothing, but still tries something, tries to command". They constantly try to discredit me, my name. Do you know what they once wrote? "Fetisov was recruited by all the world's intelligence services". Well, isn't it delirious?

Do you regret how you've spent the last six years of your life?
I regret about one thing, that I didn't become a coach. I liked this profession. I was offered the head coach position in the NHL. But at that very moment I was asked to lead the Russian sports committee. And I decided to go back to Russia.

If in 2002 you'd exactly know how it will end up in 2008, would you still go back to Russia to lead the Russian sports?
No. I'd go to coach in the NHL.

Fedorov and Fetisov, two of the legendary Russian 5

Is it October yet?

Ted's Take:

It still amazes me that after three seasons of play, Alex Ovechkin is 3rd all-time for the most goals scored after Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy in that time period. He is ahead of Mario Lemieux and every other great player that has ever played the game in NHL history.

As I said, Alex is a historic player.

If Alex Semin is healthy this season and develops to his capabilities, I believe it is possible that we could have two 50 goal scorers this season. Last season, to have the leading forward goal scorer in the league (Ovechkin) and the leading D man scorer in Mike Green was also a first in a long, long time.

The Washington Capitals’ 82-game regular-season schedule for 2008-09 begins on Friday, Oct. 10, at the Atlanta Thrashers, and features games against each of the 29 other NHL teams, including 22 weekend home games at Verizon Center. The team will raise the 2007-08 Southeast Division championship banner at the Oct. 11 home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Ovechkin is ahead of Crosby again (ESPN FHL)

ESPN FHL's 2009 Projections:

2. Alexander Ovechkin , Was LW	YEAR		G	A	+/-	PPG	PIM	SOG	ATOI
	2008 Statistics		65	47	28	22	40	446	23:07
	2009 Projections		61	47	14	24	50	391	23:31
2009 Outlook: As much as Sidney Crosby and Ovechkin appear ready to duke it out every season to decide who is the most valuable fantasy forward, you shouldn’t turn down a 60-goal scorer with the second pick. The team being built around No. 8 keeps getting better as well, so maybe he’ll even get some extra helpers this season. He virtually wins you the shots on goal category all by himself and he showed an impressive plus-28 last season. Ovechkin is a machine who, under no circumstances, should fall further than the third pick in any draft.

3. Sidney Crosby , Pit C	YEAR		G	A	+/-	PPG	PIM	SOG	ATOI
	2008 Statistics		24	48	18	6	39	173	21:51
	2009 Projections		42	83	22	15	68	318	22:46
2009 Outlook: The battle between Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin for who should be the first forward off the board is tight enough that we have to dock Crosby some marks for missing time last year. Uncertainty among the Penguins' top six is also working against Sid the Kid, but nonetheless, he is a no-brainer top-three pick. Ryan Malone is gone and either Miroslav Satan or Ruslan Fedotenko will try to replace him, but it doesn’t really matter who Crosby is stuck with; he’s that good. While Crosby holds the edge in assists, points and penalty minutes, Ovechkin trumps him in goals, plus/minus, shots and power-play tallies.

Number 1 is Martin Brodeur and number 7(?!) is Jose Theodore. What J.P said:
"Sigh. They call it "fantasy" for a reason, don't they?"

Ovechkin The Turf Router

From a Maryland Jockey Club Press Release, August 21, 2008

Capuano, the younger brother of perennial contender Dale Capuano, saddled five winners from eight starters to take the training crown, including a victory by turf router Ovechkin, a 4-year-old gelding named in honor of Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin.

For that 'Mad Mike' Milbury responded: "If it looks like a horse, neighs like a horse, it is a horse."

Ovechkin tops TSN list

By Scott Cullen, TSN.ca, Aug. 21, 2008 "NHL Trade value: Top 25"

#1
Player: Alexander Ovechkin
Position: LW
Team: Washington Capitals
Age: 23
Contract Expires: 2021
Salary Cap Hit: $9.538M
Comment: 163 goals and 310 points in three seasons, combined with a contract that will keep him in D.C. through 2021, makes Ovechkin the premier asset in the game today.

#2
Player: Sidney Crosby
Position: C
Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Age: 21
Contract Expires: 2013
Salary Cap Hit: $8.7M
Comment: This is no attempt to impugn the abilities of a guy who has 294 points in 213 games but, coming off an injury-marred season and with a shorter contract, Sid's left to a heartbreaking No. 2 on the inaugural value list.

#3
Player: Evgeni Malkin
Position: C
Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Age: 21
Contract Expires: 2014
Salary Cap Hit: $8.7M (when extension starts; 2009-2010)
Comment: When Sidney Crosby was injured, Malkin proved that he's every bit the kind of franchise player that every NHL team covets.

#4
Player: Ryan Getzlaf
Position: C
Team: Anaheim Ducks
Age: 23
Contract Expires: 2013
Salary Cap Hit: $5.325M
Comment: Immensely gifted young pivot who has a contract that should prove to be a bargain if he even comes close to reaching his potential.

#5
Player: Pavel Datsyuk
Position: C
Team: Detroit Red Wings
Age: 30
Contract Expires: 2014
Salary Cap Hit: $6.7M
Comment: More than just a magician with the puck, Datsyuk has proven he can get the job done in the playoffs and he's improved dramatically as an all-around player.

...

#17
Player: Mike Green
Position: D
Team: Washington Capitals
Age: 22
Contract Expires: 2012 (RFA)
Salary Cap Hit: $5.25M
Comment: Turned in a spectacular 2007-2008 season, emerging as possibly the most electrifying young offensive defenceman in the game.

...

#19
Player: Nicklas Backstrom
Position: C
Team: Washington Capitals
Age: 20
Contract Expires: 2010 (RFA)
Salary Cap Hit: $2.4M
Comment: After a 69-point rookie season, the skilled Swedish playmaker sure looks like he could have 100-point potential in the not-too-distant future.

Three Washington Capitals players are in the top 25 list, it's gonna be some season.

Kevin Allen, USA Today, Aug. 20

But the team that intrigues me the most as we head toward training camp is the Washington Capitals:

1. Alex Ovechkin has been spectacular early in his career and his best days are in front of him. His passion seems infectious.

2. Other youngsters, such as Mike Green, Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom, are going to be significantly improved.

3. Washington had a remarkable 2007-08 without injured captain Chris Clark, who will be back this season.

4. Young rookie defenseman Karl Alzner is said to be mature beyond his years and could help this season.

5. Eighteen of the 21 Washington players who suited up last spring are back this season.

...The Capitals certainly are not without some concerns going in this season, with goalkeeping chief among them. Do you believe in Jose Theodore?

Jose Theodore is definitely a big question mark for the Washington Capitals.

Alex Semin, in my opinion, will not just going to be significantly better, he is going to have a breakthrough season. He was very good for the national team, his English has improved a lot.

Bäckis and Semin, I want to see these two together, they were a joy to watch in the playoff series against Flyers.

Larry Brooks or John Glennon?

By Greg Wyshynski, Yahoo! Sports, Aug. 20, 2008, "KHL denies plans to draft NHL players before 2009-10 season"

John Glennon of The Tennesean cleans up Brooks's mess:

On another topic related to Russian hockey, Continental Hockey League president Alexander Medvedev said Monday he wanted to correct a report that had opened some eyes in North American hockey circles. An article in the New York Post late last week said the KHL was planning a universal draft prior to the 2009-10 season, one that would include all players in the NHL. The article also said the KHL was planning to offer $1 million bonuses to players playing in the NHL this season.

But Medvedev said Monday that the 2009-10 draft would be limited to young European players and that no bonuses would be involved.

I've checked all Russian hockey sites to find Medvedev's Monday quote and there was nothing. Where John Glennon found it is a mystery. He gave us no links. Apparently Medvedev personally called him on Monday.

Who would you believe more, Larry Brooks or relatively unknown John Glennon? Tough call, but I want to remind that it was Larry Brooks who first reported that Nylander had a rotator cuff injury last season. Neither Tarik nor Corey, the Washington Capitals beat writers, knew about it or had any clue about it. When Corey Masisak from the Washington Times approached Nylander and asked him if Larry Brooks was right:

Dec. 13, 2007, by Corey Masisak: "I asked Nylander about Larry Brooks' assertion in today's New York Post that it is a rotator cuff injury, and he shook his head and said, "He thinks he knows everything, but sometimes he doesn't know anything."

Turned out Brooks was right, Nylander had a season-ending rotator cuff surgery.

Crawford and Bertuzzi got lucky

By Paul Hunter, The Star, Aug. 19, 2008 "Crawford says Bertuzzi disobeyed instructions":

"Just prior to the attack on Moore, Bertuzzi had been on a shift to kill a penalty, had missed the shift change and had remained on the ice for longer than the rest of his line," states Crawford's third-party defence.

"After being directed to get off the ice, Bertuzzi was on his way back to the bench when, suddenly and without warning, he turned around and skated back in the direction of Moore ... and attacked Moore. This was not done under any specific or general direction or encouragement from Crawford, was a direct disobedience of the instruction that Bertuzzi had been given from the bench to get off the ice, and was a violation of Bertuzzi's duties which Crawford could not be expected to have reasonably anticipated, let alone control."

Lucky enough for Moore, Bertuzzi, Crawford and the NHL there was a former Washington Capitals player who prevented the murder...

Alex in top ten list again

By Stephen Whyno, The Washington Times, Aug. 17, 2008:

In honor of U.S. gold-medal gymnast Nastia Liukin (who was born in Moscow), a list of the top Russian-born athletes:

5. Sergei Fedorov — Caps fans didn't see the center at his best last season, but Fedorov has 1,146 career points and is headed to the Hall of Fame.

6. Alex Ovechkin — Caps fans have seen the best of Ovechkin, and his prime is yet to come. Ovechkin won a slew of awards for his scoring dominance, and he may be atop this list in five years.

H/T to J.P. and a link to Nastia Liukin's video.

Who is hotter, Sharapova or Liukin? ...hmmm, tough choice... :-) Ovechkin said he wanted to meet Sharapova, maybe he needs to meet Nastia too, you know, she is Russian, was born in the same city and at the same time she is American, a perfect combination for Ovechkin... Alyonka is not bad either. Tough choices for a leading NHL scorer Alexander Ovechkin. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going, or something like that...

Nastia Liukin, My Space:
Movies:
The Holiday
Hairspray
P.S. I Love You
Step Up
She's The Man
Georgia Rule

What's that? No Slapshot movie?

Heroes:
My Parents!
Lance Armstrong

Dog gone it, Alex, get a bike! :-)


Road to Gold for Anastasia Liukina, Beijing Olympics 2008 VIDEO

KHL will draft all NHL players with $1M signing bonus

I am glad that Ted locked Ovechkin for 13 years, what a brilliant move!

By LARRY BROOKS, New York Post, Aug. 15, 2008: "NHL LOSING ON RADULOV":

A previously secret meeting in Italy on Wednesday between Gary Bettman and KHL president Alexander Medvedev not only failed to broker a resolution on Alexander Radulov's contractual situation, but rather ended with the parties an ocean apart on a working agreement, The Post has learned.

Radulov is the outstanding 22-year-old winger who has signed to play with Ufa of the KHL despite having one year remaining on his contract with Nashville. According to a source familiar with the meeting, when Bettman demanded that Radulov be returned to the Predators, Medvedev refused.

When Bettman threatened legal action, Medvedev essentially invited the commissioner to present his case in Russian court, reminding the commissioner that the NHL success rate in the Russian legal system is equal to the zero-percent success rate of Russian hockey interests in the US court system.

The Post has learned that Medvedev, citing common practice in international soccer, offered to pay a transfer fee to the Predators in order to resolve the dispute, but that Bettman refused to consider the proposal. The NHL has forbidden its teams to pay transfer fees to European clubs.

Radulov is one of five players under suspension by the IIHF, the international governing board of hockey that is currently investigating contractual disputes between the NHL and KHL. The IIHF findings are not binding on any league in any country, though the players could be suspended from international competitions such as the Olympics and World Championships.

The Post has learned that Medvedev also informed Bettman that the KHL would hold a universal draft for the 2009-10 season that will include players currently under contract in the NHL. Medvedev told Bettman KHL clubs will offer signing bonuses of $1M to players who are playing in the NHL this season.

Crosby - 8, Ovechkin - 7

predators.nhl.com, Aug. 14, 2008:

This will be the fourth-straight season the NHL and VERSUS will partner to broadcast games in the United States. Crosby will make eight appearances on the network while Alexander Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals superstar and reigning Hart Trophy winner, will make seven.

The 10 Most Dominant Athletes In Sports Today

Wow, Alex Ovechkin made a list of 10 most dominant athletes in a country where hockey is almost a niche sport. Congrats to him and congrats to Michael Phelps for edging Tiger Woods!

By Drew Silverman, The Bulletin Aug. 15, 2008 "The 10 Most Dominant Athletes In Sports Today":

In honor of Michael Phelps, who entered Thursday seeking his sixth gold medal of these Olympics and the record 12th of his marvelous career, we proudly present the 10 most dominant athletes in the world today.

The names on this list shouldn't be much of a surprise. The order, on the other hand, might be. If you don't know any of these people, it's probably time to pick up the remote and turn Lifetime to ESPN. Then, maybe one day, you'll be as dominant as these 10 athletes:

10. Candace Parker, WNBA

9. Alex Ovechkin, NHL - At only 23 years old, it's hard enough to be a productive member of society, let alone the best hockey player in the world. Ovechkin is an absolute terror for opponents with his blistering slap shot and creative play-making ability, to go along with a mean streak that makes him a nightmare for opposing defensemen. In 2007-08, Ovechkin led the NHL with 65 goals and 112 points. He led the Capitals, who were definitely not the most talented team, to a Southeast Division title and a No. 3 seed in the playoffs. It's a scary thought, but Ovechkin's best is still yet to come.

8. LeBron James, NBA

7. Rafael Nadal, tennis

6. Albert Pujols, MLB

5. Peyton Manning, NFL

4. Kobe Bryant, NBA

3. Tom Brady, NFL

2. Tiger Woods, golf

1. Michael Phelps, swimming

more...

Reggie Dunlop

Sad news for everyone, but especially for the hockey fans all over the world...

Reuters | Tuesday, 12 August 2008

WEEKS TO LIVE: Paul Newman - who is thought to be suffering from terminal lung cancer - has reportedly told friends and family he wants to die at home.


SLAPSHOT ORIGINAL MOVIE TRAILER

Joe McGrath: We're losin'! They're buryin' us alive! - Eddie Shore? - Oh, piss on Eddie Shore. - Old-time hockey? - Piss on old-time hockey! You're blowin' it! Boys. Every scout in the NHL is out there tonight with contracts in their pocket, and they're lookin' for talent, for winners! Oh! All my years of publicity! All the fashion shows, the radiothons, for nothing? They come here tonight... to scout the Chiefs! The toughest team in the Federal League!

Not this bunch of... pussies!

Reggie Dunlop: Scouts?

Announcer: This is more like it. It just makes me feel real glad to see the Chiefs back on the warpath again... to coin a phrase.

Undisputed

by audiko.net — ringtones.

by Alan Bass (Senior Writer), bleacher report, Aug. 13, 2008 "Alexander Ovechkin: Future Hall Of Famer, No. 1"

No NHL player has dominated a league quite like he has since Mario Lemieux in the early nineties. In his short NHL career of 245 games, Ovie has already racked up 163 goals and 310 points.

In his rookie season, he was originally overshadowed by Sidney Crosby, the "Next One." However, that stopped quickly once people realized just how talented this young Russian is.

People especially discovered this when he scored what is now simply known as “the goal” on January 16, 2006. Ovie was knocked down by Coyotes’ defenseman Paul Mara, and while on his back, Ovechkin was able to use his stick with one hand and hook the puck into the net. Bill Clement called it one of the greatest goals of all time.

Ovechkin was drafted first overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He was projected to go number-one for two years before the draft, and indeed he was.

There was controversy in the 2003 draft, though, as Florida Panthers’ GM Rick Dudley attempted to draft Ovie in the ninth round. Ovechkin missed the cutoff by two days, yet Dudley cited that since two leap years had passed since his birthday, he was technically the correct age to be in the draft. The NHL would have none of it, though, and they forced Ovechkin to wait until the next year.

Alexander Ovechkin won the NHL rookie of the month in December 2005 and January 2006. He was also named the offensive player of the month for the latter. He was on the All-Rookie team in 2006, and beat out Sidney Crosby for the Calder Trophy with 52 goals and 106 points in his rookie campaign.

Ovechkin has been on the first All-Star team every year since he made his NHL debut. He was the number-one star of the month for January and March 2008, and was named the NHL player of the year by The Sporting News for 2008.

His second NHL season was not as great as his first, as he failed to reach the 50-goal and 100-point plateau. But in his third season, he simply dominated the NHL, setting the single-season goal-scoring record for a left winger with 65.

That year, he won the Art Ross Trophy, Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, the Lester B. Pearson Award, and the Hart Memorial Trophy. He was also named the Best NHL Russian Player the last three years, and was awarded the Kharlamov Trophy for each of those seasons.

He has an impressive record in international play, as he has won three golds, two silvers, and three bronzes. He has played in the World U-18 Championships, the World Junior Championships, and the World Championships. He played in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, yet failed to win a medal with his Russian teammates.

He has many NHL Records, which are as follows:

· Most shots on goal by a rookie (425)

· Point streak in consecutive games to start an NHL career by a number-one overall pick (eight games)

· Most regular-season points by a Russian-born NHL rookie (106)

· Most points scored by an NHL left-wing rookie (106)

· Fastest overtime goal (six seconds)

· Most goals scored by an NHL left-winger in a single season (65)

· First player to win the Art Ross Trophy, Maurice Richard Trophy, Lester Pearson Award, and Hart Memorial Trophy in a single season (A player has technically done this before, but the Richard Trophy was created in 1999.)

Alexander Mikhaylovich Ovechkin, the name he was born with, signed a 13-year extension with the Washington Capitals worth $124 million, the most valuable contract in NHL history. He is arguably the best player in the world, and the player that in my opinion has the best chance of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s career goal scoring record.

Ovechkin will no doubt be a Hall of Famer when he retires in 15-20 years, and is my choice for most valuable future Hall of Famer.

Peter Bondra and Alex Ovechkin video

From capitals.nhl.com, Aug. 14, 2008:

Peter Bondra sits down with Alex Ovechkin for an exclusive interview during their Capital File photo shoot.

Ovechkin's impressions of the Olympics

By Alexander Kruzhkov, Sport-Express, Aug. 13, 2008:
The Washington Capitals and team Russia's forward returned to Moscow yesterday. He has spent five days in Beijing. But you couldn't see him at the Olympic events very often.

"It just happened that way", shrugged Ovechkin, with whom SE correspondent talked right before his return to Moscow. "I didn't come here as a sports fan. I am here on the invitation of the House of Friends of the Olympics. If there was some event, I had to be there. Another problem was that we stayed outside of the city limits. It was far away from our hotel to the Olympic sites. As a result I managed to see only boxing and women's basketball."

But you really wanted to see men's basketball and root for Kirilenko.
Yes, it's true. But I didn't have enough time. We had to compensate it with the women's basketball. I was at the game Russia vs. Korea.

What were your impressions?
Strangely enough it was a difficult game. Korea even lead with six points at some point. But our girls were good, they changed the momentum and won.

Is your interest in women's basketball because of your Mom?
Yes, I can say I grew up with the women's basketball! As a child I often went to see Moscow Dynamo, which was coached by my Mom. And even now, when I come back from US on vacation, I go to see the games at the arena on Lavochkin street at least once.

What do you think about boxing?
We were late to Gennady Kovalev's match. After that no other Russians were boxing. We sat in the stands for ten minutes and then left.

Which events did you want to visit initially?
Any events with our athletes. But especially I wanted to see soccer, basketball, tennis and wrestling. Out of all these sports at the Olympics only Russian soccer team is not present.

Did you visit the Olympic village?
Yes. I met with the boxers and the cyclists. Talked with Kirilenko, but very little, the players were rushing for training. We wanted to meet later, but it didn't happen. Well, I'll root for Andrew and our guys watching them on TV.

Did you become friends with Kirilenko in America?
No, we became friends in France at the shooting of the show "The Great Race".

Have you seen the opening ceremony where Kirilenko was carrying Russian national team's flag?
Of course. In my opinion Andrew was an ideal candidate for this role.

Would you want to carry the flag yourself, for example, in two years at the Olympics in Vancouver?
With a great joy. It's a a huge honor to carry the flag of your country at the Olympics. At the Games in Turin our hockey team arrived late on the opening day of the Olympics, and we couldn't make it to the ceremony.

In Turin you were competing, in Beijing you came as a spectator. What's more interesting?
It's much nicer to play at the Olympics than to sit in the stands and root for our guys.

Why?
It's less nerve breaking.

So far Russia has only the silver and the bronze medals at this Olympics. What your intuition tell you, where to expect the first gold medal?
It seems to me that one of the wrestlers will win. Frankly speaking I did not expect that in the first days of the Games we won't have any gold. It's time to begin winning.

What struck you the most in China?
Chinese.

How?
Tell the address to taxi driver in Moscow and he will get you anywhere. And here... The impression is that they themselves have arrived to Beijing yesterday. And nobody speaks English. The people in China are ordinary. No blings. No expensive cars or expensive clothing brands, nobody wears it.

How did you survive the heat?
It was ok. The heat is better than the cold. If Moscow had such a steam bath, I think everybody would be happy and flee to the beach. Because sometimes in Moscow you wear the jacket all summer long.

Did you try any exotic food in a restaurant?
I didn't risk it. I didn't want to add some stomach problems to top it.

Do you have any regrets that you came to Beijing?
Of course not! I only upset that I was here for so little and was unable to assess the Olympic Games to the full extent. But in any case it was a useful trip. Visited a new country, rooted for our guys, talked with interesting people like Kostya Tszyu, for example. We arrived together. Before that our relations were at the "hello" - "hello" level, and during this time we got closer. Unlike me Kostya will remain in Beijing until the end of the Olympics.

You vacation was very busy. Where to next?
From Moscow I will fly to the Emirates for 3-4 days. I'll rest a the sea resort a little and then to America. The Washington Capitals will begin the preseason training camp soon.

Hello, Sidney Crosby

By Shelly Anderson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Aug. 12, 2008

Finally, I noticed a "Russian Olympic Committee" logo on a car that was creeping by inches from me. I tapped on the window, annoying the Chinese driver. That's when the Russian woman stepped up, guessed my predicament and offered to show me where the party was.

Just ahead was an opening in the wall, which revealed a long promenade of restaurants and bars facing a lovely lake.

The party was in a nice indoor/outdoor place that was a long series of pavilions, small dining rooms and walkways set on the waterway with colored fountains and beds of blooming water lotus. I decided to drip-dry while exploring the place before settling in at the bar with some Canadians.

I passed several Russian athletes. It was impossible to tell if they were talking about sports, the food or the mounting trouble in Georgia.

Near the back, I came upon Alex Ovechkin sitting alone on a wall over a pond. The Russians brought the Washington Capitals winger and reigning NHL MVP here to help promote the Sochi Games.

"You all by yourself?" I asked.

"No, I'm with friends," he said, although they were nowhere in sight.

I told him I was from the Pittsburgh paper and had interviewed him several times.

"Pittsburgh?" Ovechkin said, lighting up a bit. "Tell [Sidney] Crosby hello."

"What about [Evgeni] Malkin?" I asked.

"Him, too."

He told me it was a seven-hour flight from home and he would be here two or three days.

"It's for Russia," he said.

Leonsis: Alex Ovechkin is a historic player

By Dan Rosen, NHL.com, Aug. 11, 2008 "Busy, productive summer for Capitals":

“We have had a very successful offseason,” Leonsis said. “Our business is booming. Customer satisfaction is very high. There is an innate expectation of we will do better than we did last year.”

Mainly because of No. 8.

Fans are scooping up season tickets because they want to see what Hart Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin will do for an encore.

Will he be the first NHL player to score 70 goals since Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny each pumped in 76 in 1992-93? Will he be the next young star of this generation to lead his team to the Stanley Cup Final?

Leonsis wants to know, too, but he won’t put a limit on what Ovechkin can do.

“Alex Ovechkin, I think, is a historic player and will go down as one of those great players and great personalities,” Leonsis said. “We’re fortunate in that he’s a remarkably gifted talent, but he has crossed over. Is he Russian or North American? The way he plays is North American. He speaks beautiful English. He’s funny. He has embraced the tradition of the game. He’s very kind to the fans. He’s telegenic. He’s embraced it all and he is one of the two faces of the new NHL with Sidney Crosby.”

That, according to Leonsis, is good for business in Washington. He believes Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins, the defending Eastern Conference champions, are the perfect rival for his Caps, and every team needs a rival to fuel even more interest.

“I think what leagues need to be successful usually is some alchemy in that having great teams in big markets becomes important, but having great stars on those great teams makes it doubly important,” Leonsis said. “My belief is that the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals will have great teams for a long period of time and we’ll play each other a lot. Hopefully we’ll meet each other in the playoffs because that’s the crucible and that’s when alchemy happens and where legends are made. Our guy understands that very much so.”

Especially after last season, when the Cinderella Caps were bested in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals in seven games by the Philadelphia Flyers.

“We made the playoffs and Alex became MVP and had all four trophies (Hart, Maurice Richard, Lester B. Pearson and Art Ross), becoming the first player to do that, but he said exactly the right thing,” the owner said. “He said that he would trade all four for one Stanley Cup. He knows to make that next jump from being a wondrous talent to going to that next plain you have to win in the playoffs.”

That’s what Leonsis now expects from his former fumbling club.

“There is a belief we’re going to be a good team for a long, long time,” Leonsis said. “That’s what I wanted.”

Alexander Ovechkin next to Alexander Pushkin's monument

By Marina Salnikova, HelloRussia.ru, Aug. 4 - 11, 2008:

A young and successful Alexander Ovechkin is one of the most enviable bachelors in Russia now. That's why any of his appearances in public with a girl raise a lot of conversations and assumptions.






"Please write it down, I am a bachelor and I am available", says Alexander. "I don't have a girlfriend now. I am attributed to so many relations as if I am the biggest womanizer in the world! But I am for a long and serious relationship, just like my parents, who are together for 37 years already! I was dating one girl for 2 years, but then we parted... But I believe that one day I will find my one and the only!"

Lol. I think this video would be appropriate here... :-)

H/t to Japer's Rink


Photos of Alexander Ovechkin on Pushkin square by Lubov Shemetova.

Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837) was an African Russian and is considered the best Russian poet of all times. From Online Literature: Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin was born into a family of Russian nobility on 6 June 1799 in Moscow, Russia. His historical fiction “The Blackamoor of Peter the Great” is based on his African maternal great grandfather Abram Petrovitch Ganibal (1697-1781). Ganibal was the favored general of Peter the Great, highly proficient in mathematics, engineering, and cryptology and treated as a member of the royal family. Pushkin’s jaded yet proud defense of his ancestry in “My Genealogy” is in response to racial slurs aimed at him by his critics. Pushkin grew to be a handsome man with dark curly hair and swarthy complexion. Fiction o The Daughter of the Commandant Plays o Boris Godunov Poetry Books o Eugene Onegin Short Stories o The Queen of Spades o The Shot Poetry o The Fountain of Bakhchisarai

The fifth rule: "I automatically get to play on Alex Ovechkin's line"

By Greg Wyshynski, Yahoo Sports, Aug. 7, 2008

Matt Bradley: "5 ways I'd change the NHL"
...

5. I automatically get to play on Alex Ovechkin's line every game. I've talked to Coach Boudreau about this before, but it hasn't gotten anywhere. If I'm in charge, I'd make it a league rule and take the decision out of his hands. Let's add 10 years to my contract while we're at it so Ovie doesn't have to worry about changing linemates as he's hitting his prime.

lol. I love this guy. Here's the story behind YouTube's video from Greg's post.



By Tarik El-Bashir, The Washington Post, January 18, 2008 "Bradley, Capitals Score a 12th-Round Knockout"

Matt Bradley turned to Bruce Boudreau twice on the Washington Capitals' bench last night and implored the coach to put him on the ice for an attempt in the shootout. Two times Boudreau resisted, choosing more skilled players instead.

But in the 12th round, with his options dwindling, Boudreau finally relented. Bradley skated to center ice, then with the calm of a first-line forward scored the decisive goal, flipping a backhander past Edmonton Oilers goaltender Dwayne Roloson and lifting the Capitals to a wild 5-4 victory at Verizon Center.

"I told him, 'I'll score, I'll score' ", said Bradley, whose goal was the only tally in the shootout. "Finally he let me go and I got lucky and scored. I just blacked out for a second."

Bradley, a winger with two goals this season and the locker room jokester, told his teammates as they came off the ice that he plans to hold a shootout clinic today at practice.

"We're never going to hear the end of it," defenseman Mike Green said.

Boudreau: "I knew I had to give it to Ovechkin before anyone"

Imagine that, the "Slapshot" movie was not even mentioned! :-)

By BILL POTRECZ STANDARD STAFF, Aug. 8, 2008, "NHL coach right at home in St. Catharines":

During his professional hockey career, Bruce Boudreau played for 16 teams in three countries. He then s nomadic existence in his second career, coaching eight teams in 17 seasons.

But through all the moves, the 53-year-old Toronto native has always had a soft spot for St. Catharines.

"All my friends live here," the former St. Catharines Saints star said Tuesday while taking a break at the Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Complex, where he is overseeing his annual Golden Horseshoe Hockey School. "This is the home base that isn't home."

Boudreau, who was named the NHL coach of the year after guiding the Washington Capitals to a 37-17-7 record after being hired in November, is even contemplating moving to the area on a part-time basis.

"We sold our home here a couple of years ago, but depending on how the season goes, we're thinking of buying here again," he said. "This is where we spend most of our summer and where everyone I know is."

Boudreau said his love of the Garden City comes down to one thing: the people.

"I've met transient friends as you move from place to place, but my wife (Crystal) is from Fort Wayne (Indiana) and she knows more people here than in any other city we've been in," Boudreau said.

Apart from his two American Hockey League seasons with the Saints, from 1982 to 1984, Boudreau has strong ties to the city.

For the last 26 years, he's run his popular hockey school. This year's attendance topped out at nearly 300, an all-time high.

In addition, his children (sons Ben and Andy, and daughter Casey) have all lived here. In fact, Casey was married in St. Catharines last month.

Boudreau's hockey school affords him the opportunity to continue to remain close to the community.

"When I first started it, my whole goal was to beat Vic Teal," he said. "Every time I went into Garden City Arena I'd see the sign for his hockey school. It was 24 years or something, and we're in our 26th season and going strong."

In fact, Boudreau sees the school, which is for players five to 15 years old, continuing for years to come, or at least until his youngest son, Brady, a 10- year-old netminder, is too old to participate.

"We'll have to wait until he's 15 until the camp comes to an end," Boudreau said with a smile.

Boudreau, who spends a good deal of time on the ice and enjoys working with kids, wraps up the hockey school week with a huge banquet.

"It's my favourite day of the year," he said.

"We give stuff away better than any gold tournament. It's phenomenal, and my way of giving back.

"Unless I win a Stanley Cup, it will always be my favourite day."

Boudreau, who credits former Saints trainer and current Maple Leafs athletic therapist Brian Papineau, as well as local residents Joe Biamonte, and Barry and Steve Katzman with helping with the banquet, goes all out with the gifts.

This time around, he had 65 autographed jerseys, more than 100 sticks from NHL stars, such as Jaromir Jagr, Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, as well as the chance to be a stick boy for a day with the Toronto Maple Leafs and a chance to be a Washington Capital for a day when the Caps visit Buffalo this season.

"It's sort of grown out of control," Boudreau said of the gift-giving.

Boudreau's generosity shouldn't come as a surprise. Although he played in only 141 NHL games for the Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks, he was one of the most popular athletes in every city he played.

Boudreau tore up the American Hockey League -- he had 231 points in just two seasons as a Saint -- but many feel he never got a legitimate shot in the NHL. In his best season, he had 10 goals and 24 points in 39 games for the Leafs in 1980-81.

Boudreau admits he does think about that lack of opportunity from time to time.

"People laugh, but when I'm working out, that's what I think about," he said.

But don't think for a second he's bitter.

"I have no regrets," he said. "If I did that, would I be getting the opportunity to do what I'm doing now?"

What he's doing now is a dream.

After more than 1,000 games in the minors, where he established a reputation as a passionate player's coach, Boudreau finally got the call last season.

"I never knew if I was going to get the chance, but it was the only thing I ever wanted to do," he said. "If I had to ride the buses until I was 68 -- I don't know how old you're allowed to be and still coach -- then I would have done that."

Boudreau's coaching career in the minors was impressive. He won a pair of championships -- in 1998-99 with the Mississippi Sea Wolves of the ECHL and an AHL title in 2005-06 with the Hershey Bears, the Caps' top affiliate.

He had the Bears off to a strong 15-8- 6 start when he was summoned to Washington in late November to replace the fired Glen Hanlon.

"I always had that dream," he said. "When I got that call, I was pretty pumped up. I felt like a very young 52."

Boudreau had the respect of his players at the AHL level, but knew he needed to make a statement when he took over the Caps.

So in his first practice, he called out Ovechkin, Washington's franchise player and one of the most dynamic scorers in league history.

"I had to get their respect right off the bat, so I gave Alex crap, " Boudreau recalled. "It was on the first shift of the first practice and he missed a drill.

"I pulled him aside in front of the guys and told him he couldn't do that."

Boudreau, who said Ovechkin took the criticism well, knew he had won the team over with that one small incident.

"I knew I had to give it to him before anyone," he said.

"If all I did was give crap to the nine guys I coached in the minors before, then it would be I was just giving crap to the AHL boys."

The Caps responded to Boudreau and finished in the playoffs for the first time in five years, before being eliminated in seven games by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round.

"In the end, we believed we could win and we were pretty shocked when we lost," Boudreau said.

Ovechkin smoked the competition with a season for the ages

By Alan Ryder, HockeyAnalytics, June 2008, 2008 NHL Review (.pdf):

Some excerpts:

This paper provides a commentary on the most outstanding individual performances in the NHL during the 2007-08 (“2008”) season. I will also be commenting on certain aspects of team performance since individual performances are difficult to asses without understanding the team context.

...

Alexander Ovechkin laid claim to an unprecedented and highly deserved Quad Crown – the Maurice Richard Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy, the Hart Trophy and the Pearson Award. He also gets my Wayne Gretzky Award for the top contribution by a forward to his team’s success.

Richard’s hardware is earned by the league’s top goal scorer. Ovechkin won this prize with 65 goals (his second 50 goal season in his three years of professional hockey). The Art Ross Trophy is won by the player with the most scoring points. As an average of about 1.7 assists is awarded for each goal scored, it is more common for this trophy to be claimed by a top playmaker. Only about 40% of Art Ross Trophies have been claimed by the league’s top goal scorer.

Howie Morenz, Jean Beliveau, Bobby Hull, Phil Esposito, Guy Lafleur and now Ovechkin are the only players to perform this magic. However, in 16 other seasons the Double Crown winner has been denied (in 7 seasons by another forward).

Here is why Ovechkin’s name belonged on the Hart and Pearson awards (given the voters’ current preference to largely ignore defensemen and goalies).
First of all, did not simply win the Richard Trophy. He smoked the competition with a season for the ages. Maurice Richard set the goal standard with 50 goals in 50 games in the 1944-45 season.



Mike Green came out of nowhere to become an elite defenseman in 2008 and win my Gordie Howe Award as the most improved player in the NHL. His playing time nearly doubled from 1084 minutes (895 even handed, 12 short handed, 177 power play) in 2007 to 1938 minutes (1525, 28, 385) in 2008 reflecting the significant uptick in his offensive performance (he was the NHL’s top offensive defenseman while even handed).

This and much more in 2008 NHL Review by Alan Ryder, HockeyAnalytics.com

One typo, Alan, it's Nabokov, not Nabakov...

Why would Ted Leonsis be a part of losing money franchise?

I was always wondering about that...

By Robert Seidman, TV By The Numbers, August 6th, 2008:

...There is more than one dimension. I would compare it to some sports leagues and franchises. For example, my pal Ted Leonsis owns the Washington Capitals NHL franchise (he also owns the Washington Mystics of the WNBA and has a minority interest in the Washington Wizards NBA franchise). I’m pretty sure if you looked at the annual income statement for the Washington Capitals for any given year while Ted has owned it, there have mostly been losses.

Why would Ted want any part of that? Well, it’s not just his naturally competitive spirit and desire to bring a Stanley Cup to my birthplace, Washington, D.C. If that was all there was to it, I don’t think Ted would take the hit. But there’s another dimension. It’s supply and demand. There aren’t that many franchises available for purchase. In fact, there seemingly are many more people around with money to spend on sports franchises than there are sports franchises available to purchase. That’s speculation on my part - but what isn’t speculation is this: if he were motivated, Ted could sell the franchise for much, much more than he paid for it 10 or so years ago and recover whatever he’s put into it and more for himself and his partners.

The counterintuitive part of this is that it’s hard to fathom something that regularly loses money on an annual basis increasing in value. But it certainly happens, and we’re not talking merely about adjusting for inflation when it comes to the amount of the increases.

Update: Ted's answer... Kind of...

Personally I, as Alex Ovechkin's fan, am very happy with Ted Leonsis. He very insightful and analytical, and learns quickly from his mistakes (68). He is probably the only owner of NHL team who lets you to get involved in the thinking process and the reasons behind his moves.

I can't sleep. I was up at 4:30 am this morning. I am in pain. I am angry. I want desperately for us to turn it around and win some games as does everyone in our organization. I am not oblivious to what is happening. I appreciate your emails and message http://ted.aol.com/index.php?ID=1444 Posted: November 20, 2007 12:31:00 PM

That was cool. Thank you, Ted...

Is this how Semin orders the food?

Mark Hartigan now plays for Riga Dynamo in KHL, is a member of KHLPA led by Boris Goodenov :-) and he will write his impressions about playing in KHL in his blog. Very interesting, reversed experience. Now you know how Semin orders the food at the restaurant. :-)

Mark Hartigan's blog at thehockeynews.com, Aug. 6, 2008:

We were met at the airport by the team GM and Dimitri, our European agent. Dimitri took us to the hotel, where we will be staying until August 20. It’s one of the nicest places I have ever stayed. The hotel has only been open for about a month, it’s very modern and all the staff speak English.

The next day Duvie and I explored the downtown (which is where our hotel is). We came to realize that Riga is a beautiful, clean, safe and active city. Riga is on the Baltic Sea, so they get weather very similar to Vancouver; lots of rain in the winter and very little snow, but I will confirm that in later blogs. Riga also has an English movie theater with all the latest films (this will come in handy).

Now about the food...half the time Duvie and I have no idea what we are ordering. We just point at the menu and say "this one please" and sure enough, it tastes excellent. We have not yet had a bad meal. The food is also quite expensive just like everything here.

On the ice, so far the practices have been the same as in North America except for the language barrier between the coach and myself. He is Slovakian and can speak Russian, Slovakian and very broken English. Duvie and I always try starting at the back of the line in practice to get a sense of what to do in the drill.

We have already had two games here in Riga. Our team has won both, so I hope this is a sign of good things to come during the regular season. The team has a total of 12 exhibition games in August and will be starting the regular season Sept. 2.

Click to enlarge

The first game is 5,000 miles away from Riga (against Amur Khabarovsk, 45 miles from the Chinese border) completely on the other side of Russia. We will be playing seven games in 10 days on that trip, I believe.

KHLPA, Barry Smith, Larionov and Ovechkin

Barry Smith's St. Petersburg SKA team won Puchkov's memorial tournament beating Moscow Dynamo 5:1 in the final game.

Levan Chaava, the mk-piter.ru correspondent talked to several players including Alexander Ovechkin (Aug. 6, 2008).

Q.: We witness a revolution in [Russian] hockey, [the hockey players] formed a union. What's your opinion about it?

Kasparaitis: This is a good thing. I was recently contacted and they said that they would take part of my salary (laughs). But it's very a small amount.

Who is really not afraid of either union or taxes? It is the highest paid hockey player in the world Alexander Ovechkin. The Washington Capitals star was watching all the games right behind the boards that were constantly hit by the players getting into the boards. Yes, Alexander is probably very eager to play right now.

Ovechkin: I came to St. Petersburg to train with my career's first coach. He now works for Dynamo, which is playing at this tournament.

Q.: What do you think about Puchkov's Cup?

Ovechkin: Nothing special, just a pre-season tournament.

Another SKA's acquisition is forward Sergei Krivokrasov.

Q.: Sergei, do you think that, unlike the NHL, Russian hockey season starts too early?

Krivokrasov: Maybe, but Barry, unlike Russian coaches, doesn't push us too hard with training, and workout regiments are quite tolerable. We are just entering the season.

Q.: Did Barry Smith surprise you since you are a newcomer to the team?

Krivokrasov: He's a very strong psychologist and finds a personal approach to each player.

Q.: What is Igor Larionov's (formerly the legendary Detroit Red Wings hockey player, now director of hockey operations) role in the team ?

Krivokrasov: He is Barry's assistant. He develops a different PP patterns, but generally he has too many duties, I don't know all of them.

Q.: Igor certainly trains with you on the ice, is he in shape?

Krivokrasov: Larionov led such a life that he is still capable as a player. You see his physical abilities considering his age and it only surprises you.

Alex Ovechkin test or why Microsoft wanted to buy Yahoo

I guess all of us, bloggers, went through Ted Leonsis' quest to find yourself faster online.

That's why today is a big day for me, maybe it happened a while ago, but last time I checked, my blog was on the 5th or maybe 3rd page of Google Search results. Guess what, I've typed "Alex Ovechkin" on Google today and, surprise!, my blog was on the first page!

I went to Yahoo, did the same, and my blog was on the first page of Yahoo search results as well.

I then decided to check Microsoft Live search... I don't exist there. :-) I went over 5o pages of their search results and gave up.

Now you know why Microsoft wanted to buy Yahoo, Microsoft Live search engine sucks. And my blog is a good test for that. :-)


P.S. I was just about to publish my post, but decided to run another test. I went to AOL Search, typed "Alex Ovechkin", my blog was right there, on the first page.

The NHL fans are looking forward to see the Washington Capitals team with Ovechkin.

The appearance by Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals is among a number of highlights for any NHL team and their fans in the 2008-09 season.

Ovechkin to swim in 'C' of Red
Calgary Herald, Canada
The appearance of the Washington Capitals' gunner at the Pengrowth Saddledome is just one of the highlights from the Flames' 2008-09 regular-season schedule ...

Ovechkin coming to Anaheim
OCRegister, USA
Anyone who was at what was then called Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim on Jan. 13, 2006 will want to be at the newly named Honda Center on Nov. 19, when reigning Hart Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals come to town. Ovechkin, who also won last season's Maurice Richard and Art ...

MVP Ovechkin, Caps visit Sommet in '08-09
My Tennessean.com, USA
Washington's Alexander Ovechkin will make a trip to Nashville for the second consecutive season, as the Capitals will serve as one of the Predators' three ...

And here's the reaction from IwoCPO, "Abel To Yzerman" blog, Aug. 5, 2008 (the post in regards to possible Shanahan's signing with Pens):

Pittsburgh is beginning to inquire about the possibility. Over the past 72 hours the Penguins had discussions with Shanahan’s representatives.

Rumor. Innuendo. August. Chances of Shanny becoming a Baby Boy Groupie? No idea. But, it would be an interesting scene at the Joe if his first regular season appearance back in Detroit comes in a Pittsburgh sweater on 11 November.

Would you boo him then, or would you save that kind of class for Fedorov? Oh, sorry to disappoint. 91 won’t be visiting the Joe this year. Neither will Ovechkin for that matter.

Say it with me.

Thanks Gary. Ass.

lol.

Keeping up with Ovechkins

Chris Nickols writes how lonely Sidney Crosby is ("The Sidney Crosby Show" blog suggest hooking him up with Hannah Montana), calls Ovechkin a Demigod (I like it! This is the first time I hear this comparison) and ponders how to keep up with Ovechkins. In short Sidney needs a stud. A stud winger.

By Chris Nickols, sportsnet.ca, Aug. 4, 2008, "87 is the loneliest number":

Sidney Crosby heads into the ’08-9 campaign still looking for the yin to his yang.

KEEPING UP WITH THE OVECHKINS

This past season Washington demigod Alex Ovechkin smashed already-high expectations with a legendary 65-goal, 112-point Rocket Richard/ Art Ross/ Hart-winning performance that willed his team to a playoff spot.

Perhaps somewhat lost in the exhilaration was an equally important discovery – OV found his soulmate.

Well, the hockey equivalent of it anyway.

Swedish centre Nicklas Backstrom, the fourth overall pick in the 2006 draft, burst onto the NHL scene (once the Caps put in place a coach that would actually use him correctly) last season with a 69-point campaign. More importantly though, the gifted passer quickly developed incredible chemistry with the Russian sniper and what they showed together last season is a mere taste of what’s to come.

To date, Sidney Crosby is still lacking that explosive combination potential.

Sure, the Pens have themselves an absolute beast in Evgeni Malkin. Aside from when late-game heroics are needed with the team trailing and desperately needing a goal though, it seems that Malkin is best used at his natural centre position on a different line and not as Sid’s wingman.

While that gives Pittsburgh two dominant forces down the middle; it also still leaves Crosby short a stud winger.

Fedorov looks like one of the Hanson brothers.

Or should I say "like one of the Fedorov brothers?" :-)

No, I am not talking about Fedor Fedorov. I am talking about his brother. :-)



I've never seen this video before, never heard about it either. 1993-1994 playoffs, Fedorov crosschecks and punches Jayson More.

Another interesting story about Hanson, pardon, Fedorov brothers.

A few years ago there was an interview with Ilya Kovalchuk's father. It was about the junior's game in Russia when Ilya was punched in the face by... Fedor Fedorov. I guess Fedor was a lot bigger by then (Kovalchuk grew to his height in late teens, he was a lot smaller up to then) so there was a one way fight. Anyhow Ilya went to a locker room and cried. He cried, but then he went back and scored. And his Dad said "That day I realized that Ilya would be a hockey player."

Kapitonov: "Ovechkin is in much better shape now than he was last year"

By Regina Sevostianova, The Sport Daily, August 4, 2008:

The former marathoner Dmitri Kapitonov became a star from the first day of the official training of KHL teams. He became famous last year because of his work with a number of Russian NHL players (Ovechkin, Semin, Malkin, Radulov, Gonchar and others). That's why Dynamo is expecting a lot from him.

Ovechkin comes to Novogorsk almost every day to prepare for the season under the guidance of his friend. One can only guess how Kapitonov can withstand such a pressure. After all he is working out with Ovechkin and with the team. "One can tell that he is a pro runner", painfully smiled to my question Mattias Weinhandl, Dynamo's hockey player from Sweden. "He is simply flying in front of us when we run the cross country races..."

For the Russian hockey an invitation of a fitness specialist is a novelty. Kapitonov is sure that a good coach must know which particular muscles are needed for an athlete the most in different sports. And depending on that he will be able to prepare a boxer or a hockey player. According to him the foundation for the season is being built right now, during these few weeks remaining before the start of the regular season. After that the only time will be left is for rehabilitation procedures.

Q.: Now you're working with Dynamo and individually with Sasha Ovechkin...
A.: I also developing workout plans for other NHL players. Right now I am writing one for Sasha Semin. So I woke up at 8 o'clock. Immediately talked with the coaches, then I ran with everyone and trained them. After that I will write the workout plans for other guys.

Q.: Do you think Ovechkin would be able to produce again the same excellent season as his last one?
A.: I don't want to jinx, but right now he is in much better shape now than he was last year. You can't recognize him.

Right now Ovechkin is St. Petersburg with Dynamo at the Puchkov Memorial Tournament. But he is not playing there, he is a guest. One can bet he is working out with Dmitri Kapitonov there as well.

The end of the whole era in Detroit

By Ken Campbell, The Hockey News, July 31 "GM Holland sorry to see Bowman's days with Red Wings end":

“When he got to Detroit, we had a lot of talented players,” said Red Wings GM Ken Holland. “He took us from being a talented team to being a championship team. He got (Slava) Fetisov and (Igor) Larionov to come here and he put The Russian Five (Sergei Fedorov, Larionov, Slava Kozlov, Fetisov and Vladimir Konstantinov) together. He’s the one who transformed Steve Yzerman from a great offensive player to a great two-way player.”

Holland said while Bowman had reduced his role with the Red Wings after leaving as coach after the Stanley Cup win in 2002, his voice was still very prominent in personnel decisions, an area where the Red Wings have been at the top of the league in recent years. Bowman would often accompany the team on road trips, would watch training camp, be at the draft and all the scouting meetings and advise Holland on unrestricted free agents every July 1.

“Even when we made a good decision, one we felt really good about, it was nice to have that experienced voice say, ‘Yeah, I like that move,’ ” Holland said.

And who transformed Alex Ovechkin from a great offensive player to a great two-way player? Gotta say "it was Glen Hanlon". He was a Head Coach when it happened.

Whoa! The Ovechkin's official web site.

And I am the last to know? :-) It is alexovechkin8.com

Alexander Ovechkin wrote at 12:32pm on June 12th, 2008
WWW.ALEXOVECHKIN8.COM is now LIVE.

He was actually talking about his web site a while ago.

Alexa has no trace of his web site yet.

justdropped.com lists this web site as expired or deleted. Weird...

And don't hold your breath, there's just a lot of Flash and some old articles from this side of the pond.

If you want the latest about Alexander Ovechkin from Russia and North America, read it here. :-)