Comments on: My Kingdom for a Knee Sprain

By: OrderedChaos (Mike Rucki)

OrderedChaos (Mike Rucki) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:29:27 +0000

@ DCPensFan, you’re exactly right: reckless, not dirty.

@ Jim, you too are exactly right: the headline clearly hopes that it’s “only” a knee sprain instead of something worse. Why would a Capitals-focused Web site wish injury upon the team’s star… the team’s *future*? A ludicrous thought.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:46:34 +0000

I agree, he should get a suspension. I love the guy to death but he needs to get a warning shot fired across the bow, to open his eyes, as well appease the masses. I don’t believe that he had any intent to injure Gleason for the long term, but Alex is a big, powerful young man. I believe that he wanted to leave a lasting impression on the Canes and maybe the rest of the league by throwing a thunderous bodycheck. His conscience will bother him for how close he came to seriously injuring Gleason. More importantly, I hope he realizes how close he came to putting an end to Gleason, AND his own career. Alex needs to focus on filling the nets not obliterating the opposition. I love a physical game, but not at the risk of a debilitating injury. I appreciate his strategy of hitting his checker to give himself some space, but these types of hits smell too much like TOOTOO’s unnecessarily malicious trainwrecks.

By: DCPensFan

DCPensFan — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:01:22 +0000

I think what’s tough in cases like this is it gets reduced to a still photograph. Take Puck Daddy’s post — that still is pretty damning and can be used as “exhibit A” (or B if you want to add in the Gonchar hit) in making the the Ovi is dirty case. It doesn’t look the same at full speed. Reckless doesn’t mean dirty. But he’s got to learn that if the hit isn’t there, you try again next time. So punish him for being reckless — but don’t label him as dirty … yet.

My guess — 2 games and fine.

By: j-man

j-man — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:20:28 +0000

Jim, I find it hard to infer that based on the fact that later in the post the author also expresses a desire to see the player in question suspended.

By: shutdownstud

shutdownstud — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:11:57 +0000

Thanks for so artfully reflecting my own thoughts on the matter only so much more… um… thoughtfully.

Just because the outcome of the check was unintentional doesn’t mean it was acceptable. I’m sure the word ‘reckless’ will come up when Alex has a sit-down with league management. He’s got to tone down his act if only for his own protection. Here’s hoping that any suspension discussion is not rendered moot by a trip to the injured reserve list.

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:09:20 +0000

As to the title of the post, it is backwards in terms of the Shakespearean context, but I think what he’s saying is he’ll give his kingdom for it to only be a knee sprain and not a tear or anything requiring surgery.

By: j-man

j-man — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:02:13 +0000

So is the title of this post saying that the author wishes injury upon Ovechkin? It’s a little misleading (and controversial for the sake of being controversial) when you put up that sort of headline and then don’t acknowledge it in any way in the content of the article.

By: joyfulleigh18

joyfulleigh18 — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:58:25 +0000

Excellent analysis, P&B. I totally agree.

By: maruk

maruk — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:54:25 +0000

Kudos to you, Jim. That is one the best and most accurate descriptions of Ovi I have read.

And nice article, P&B. As much as I hate to say it, I almost hope there is a three game suspension in the works. Perhaps that will help the Gr8 learn to effectively channel his reckless energy.

By: pucksandbooks

pucksandbooks — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:53:05 +0000

“Like watching shark week every night” — I love it! So, so true!