411mania’s NHL Conference Call Coverage: Alexander Ovechkin
Posted by Neil Borenstein on 09.25.2007
The Russian winger discusses changes to the Capitals, starting a Russian blog and much more!
The National Hockey League managed to nail down one of the best left wings in the league for a media conference call on Monday. Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin took some time to talk with the press.
Ovechkin has made quite a name for himself in the NHL since playing his first year in 2005-2006. A man who should have been in the shadows of Sidney Crosby, Ovechkin managed to win the Calder Memorial Trophy for Rookie of the Year in 2006 over the Penguins' phenom. Ovechkin has also developed a flair for the dramatic en route to becoming one of the best goal scorers in the NHL, tallying 52 scores in his rookie year and 46 last season. Ovechkin is also a fan of the limelight, never shying away from the camera.
Here are some highlights from the conference call:
Alexander Ovechkin
Photo courtesy of the NHL
On The Capitals
Wanting to make the playoffs:
"My goal is to make the playoffs and I have to score goals and everybody has to score goals. So my goal is to score goals and try to win games."
Chemistry with Viktor Kozlov:
"Well, I feel comfortable with everybody, but with Kozlov, it's like Zubi (Dainius Zubrus) in my first year. He was my center and a big difference when you can run defense in Russian language."
The Capitals being better this season:
"Well, I think the good reason is we signed a lot of experienced guys, Kozlov, Nylander, Poti. The young guys, we have more experience; two years we've been playing in the NHL and we have great experience."
Expectations to be a playoff team:
"Why not? You never know. We have to win all the games and we have to win and try in every game. And if you win the games, you make the playoffs. If you have a great team and you lose, you don't go to the playoffs."
Thoughts on Olaf Kolzig:
"Well, he's our leader on the ice, off the ice, and you know, we listen to him because he's good.
Right now he's one of the best players in the league, one of best goalies, and in the locker room he's our leader, too. He tells us what we have to do in practice and what we have to do, and then we go to him. So it's great to have that guy in our locker room."
The addition of Tom Poti on defense:
"He's a great D and he can control the puck well. We got him in our first line D in power play, so he's pretty good. He can pass and it's very important to us to move forward if you have a guy that can pass. I think the Capitals are in good position after signing this guy."
What was learned from falling off in the second half last season:
"Well, the reason that we don't make the playoffs at all last year was we had lots of injuries; Clark was injured, Kolzig was injured; our leaders were injured. And sometimes we don't have the guys to play in the games. So made some calls to bring some guys from Hershey, and it was very hard for us to win games because most of the year we weren't in good shape, we were injured."
The Southeast Division:
"Well, it's a hard division and every team wants to go to the playoffs. The first year had a chance to go to playoffs and we didn't unfortunately and did not make the playoffs and the next year we did not make the playoffs. I felt like we have a good team and great players, and it's all about us. It doesn't matter what team you play. You just have to go to the ice and play hard and try and win the game."
On Schedules
Traveling:
"Well, I like travel. I like going to go to different cities. I like to see different people, different teams, and I like it. It's experience and it's great to see different teams. We played last year in Ottawa and in Minnesota and I love it."
On His Career
Better than when he entered the league:
"You know, I have to concentrate about my shots. I have lots of shots in the game but sometimes my shots, I have great moments to shoot but my shots aren't perfect. I just have to practice more my shots and my make my shots well, the puck goes to the net. So I think I have to make more shots."
Russian blog:
"Well, I make decision to make my blog because the Russian fans want to know something about me and it gives some questions. The Russian media call me and this is an answer for these questions.
I think it's nice when you are on the ice and you do some talking with the fans, because, you know, I love my fans and I love Russian fans. They are asking lots of things and I just try and answer."
Be sure to check back in the 411mania Sports Zone for more hockey coverage as the NHL season approaches!
