The Fall Of Alex The Great

The Fall Of Alex The Great

Alex Ovechkin is going through what is his worst season of his 7 year NHL career.  It seemed like not too long ago he was the most dominant player in the league. The question of his goal scoring wasn’t will he hit fifty, it was how many past fifty will he get?

But gradually the once “great 8” is becoming a shell of he once was. The highlight reel plays that became part of his persona are becoming few and far between. To make a long explanation short Alex has simply become way to predictable on the ice.

The days of him coming up the ice on the wing in a flash and ripping a bullet of a shot are gone. Great players in the NHL are always adapting and evolving, Ovechkin is doing neither.

His power is what makes him spectacular he has hands, but not on par with players like Datsyuk or Crosby. Ovechkin has always relied on bullying his way towards the net, and throwing in the occasional amazing deke. But now that is becoming to outdated more and more his shots aren’t getting through to the net. Defenseman now know to get up on him and he’ll just take a shot.

In his defense he hasn’t had Nick Backstrom to play with him this year, but last season he did and only mustered 32 goals. This year his goal production is up a little more but overall point production is dipping. And there isn’t much to show that this is going to change.

Besides his predictability the other factor contributing to his decline is that letter C stitched on his jersey. His decline started right around the time he was named the Capitals captain in January of 2010. Ovechkin while a great player is not a great leader.

Time and time again he has never been able to shine on a big stage. And has on several occasions been outshined by more complete players. We’ve seen it numerous times in the playoffs, and in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.  But the biggest example of him not shining when he should was the 2005 world junior championships.

He was named the best forward in the tournament and a tournament all-star but come the deciding game he was held pointless and to three shots. This is something that has become all too common of him when the game is on the line.

While he will always be threat with his shot, Ovechkin will have to evolve or the 100 points seasons he collected consistently will forever be a thing of the past. Other than evolution of his game the best bet for him to rejuvenate his game would be a departure from the capitals.

He needs a wake up call and a trade from the capitals would do just that. And for Washington with their struggles this season the return that Geroge McPhee could get for him would be staggering. Not only would it set up the capitals for the future, but it would get Ovie back on track.

Adding to Ovie’s demise may be the emergence of Steve Stamkos as the elite sniper in the NHL. Check back tomorrow for Conor Higgins take on Stamkos’ rise to superstardom.