ESPN discovered this weekend that Alex Oveckin is the NHL’s true rock star. Here in D.C. we discovered this too — about three years ago during his rookie season. Next week ESPN will tell us that Gilbert Arenas can be quirky when he is healthy.
Ovi had another big All-Star weekend, winning the breakaway competition.
Yes, that was Evegini Malkin of the flightless birds. Apparently the two are BFFs again, so that soap opera is over with for those who care *cough* Pengyunz fans.
So, now that Ovechkin has one the breakaway competition, won the All-Star game in the shootout (try it for the Caps sometime Ovi) on top of another goal and two assists will the NHL try including him in their marketing? For the last 3+ years the NHL has forced upon its fans and the sports world at large one player in particular. While I am not denying that Sidney Crosby is talented, perhaps focusing on just him has backfired a little, no? It was suggested to me that this was done because Crosby speaks English and this was thus marketing 101. Now, I’ve had several marketing classes over the years and limiting your marketing to one person or thing just might not be the best strategy. Then again, NHL and marketing seem like an oxymoron like government intelligence and jumbo shrimp. By the way, Ovi’s English is fine and when it is borken English, he’s quite funny about it.
Now, greater exposure for Ovechkin and all and the fact that the next successful argument suggesting he is not the best player in the sport right now will be the first is nice, ultimately that is not what is important. What is important is winning hockey games. The Caps have been doing that pretty well this season and sit at #2 in the conference. That is a pretty good place to be if they can keep it. What is impressive about it is that they got there with a lot of injuries. The deep system that Capitals have developed is paying dividends. The youngsters have gained valuable experience and are learning how to win at two levels. Hopefully, a healthy team can continue the good fortune through the second half. A #1 seed for the playoffs would be nice, but #2 would be fine. Barring a reversal of fortune between them and second place Carolina, the Caps are in the drivers seat for no worse than the #3 seed. It is a long half though and many things can happen. It should be fun.
