Igor Arkhipov, an Atlanta-based correspondent for SovetskySport, met up with Alexander Ovechkin after last night’s game. He asked about the left winger’s future. This exchange will run in the Russian newspaper tomorrow:
Do you plan on changing teams at the end of the season? Washington’s game looks hopeless.
“I don’t know yet where I will be next season. I am not negotiating my new contract. I want to stay in Washington. But who knows what is going to happen?”
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I think anyone speaking out of the emotion that all of these guys must be feeling, would speak like that. Ovy wants change, like we all do.
Thanks. I wasn’t feeling crappy enough already.
With his family now handling his business affairs, I’d bet that his parents won’t let him stay with a losing franchise…..
Last Friday night, I was seated at the game within a few seats of Ovechkin’s mom. I’ve sat near her once before, and she typically sits stoically, dressed as if she’s at the opera, in proper Russian style for a hockey game.
That night, however, she was demonstrative in her disapproval of what transpired during the final two periods of the game, shaking her head and such.
I know that it was one game, but I feared then that she indeed would be thinking very carefully about where her son can best succeed in the future, and perhaps making things very difficult for him to re-sign here should things not get turned around quickly and in dramatic fashion.
Its really puzzling to me why he’s not been re-signed, especially now that Semin is inked. Even more frustrating because that Crosby guy was signed promptly, eliminating all doubt as to Crosby’s desire to play in Pittsburgh and the Penguins’ intentions. Makes you really wonder who is stalling here. Perhaps both parties, and for different reasons each of them.
For my part, and I think I speak for many Caps fans, though I’ve been a fan for a long time and endured a lot, celebrated some, and invested significant time, emotion, and of course money over the years in supporting the team, if Ovechkin is not a Capital next season, I think that those investments would largely be withdrawn indefinitely. And the franchise would likely soon follow.
Let’s be honest here: If Ovechkin leaves, that’s it for the franchise. It’s over.
i would never watch a capitals game again in my life.
Doom & gloom. I have never seen so many people depressed by a few sentences spoken by a person who speaks English brokenly. Get real, it is not life or death.
I know where Ovechkin will be playing next season, beyond a shadow of a doubt. Five years from now, who knows? But for next year, there is no doubt at all. None.
George McPhee is 100% to blame.
OV will make it clear that he is not interested in staying with this loser team, It’s not fair to waste his time & talent while Ted & George “learn” on the job, that should have happened with JJ.
OV & Mom should respectfully ask for the trade NOW, so not to waste a world talent with an organization that can’t get out of their own way.
I don’t think McPhee is 100% responsible, but he needs to make a decision about the direction this team is headed. I believe whatever system Hanlon is playing is not working. I disagree with Vogs that we should not be in panic mode. For me it is not the fact we are 5-9, but the staggering lopsidedness of wins v losses and the fact that 60% of out wins came in out first 3 games.
i’m with norske here. how exactly will ovechkin be playing elsewhere next year? does anyone think we wouldn’t match even a max offer? the only choice is if ovechkin pulls a yashin. can anyone actually see ovechkin doing that?
much ado about nothing.
Here’s a dark cloud.. Caps website, according to the possible line combos and defensive pairings, says that Jurcina is still benched. Sucks!
If Ovie leaves, I am the first to give up my season tickets. And mind you, I’ve only had these season tickets since I graduated college (ie. the fire sale and rebuild years). I can’t take it anymore. I need a bit of hope. He goes I go.
With all due respect, I think Uncle Ted knows this, he will not let Ovie leave without putting up a fight. I belive Uncle Ted will take care of this. I belive.
I’ve already kicked the damn panic button thruogh the wall. Vogs has to say that to stay in the teams good graces. I’m going outside now to jump on the panic button a few more times. LOL
If this team doesn’t improve soon I’m not renewing my season tickets for next year. Why waste my money? So I can continously get jeered at by fans of the other team. Did Ted not get the memo that you will never fill up the phone booth with a losing team?
It’s absolutely true that Ovechkin would prefer to play his hockey in D.C. — he said as much in Atlanta last night. But it’s also absolutely true that he has lucrative options to play outside of North America if he doesn’t like the Caps’ offer. Or have folks forgotten where Alexander Semin played his hockey in ‘05-’06 . . . while under contract to the Caps! Russians vastly inferior to AO are making a Brinks Truck hauling of tax-free loot in the RSL these days. Can you imagine what national hero AO would command with Dynamo? And if you think that an idle threat-option, research his views on Russian bachelorettes.
Denial.
Believing that OV wants to stay.
Sure, playing in an empty arena is what he dreams of. Playing in Canada and being treated like a god is not cool, hanging around Ted eating is much more fun. Sure that makes sense.
sure we might match a max offer, but then what. we are setting ourselves up for salary cap hell. it would completely ruin our teams future. its not an option. GET HIM SIGNED TO A REASONABLE DEAL, AND GET IT DONE NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!
Yeah. He’s gone. He’s already packed his bags and put his home on the market for sale….
We never said he was leaving.
if u would stop being a caps fan because we lost ovechkin then just get out right now cause ur not wanted
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