Alexander Ovechkin: Hockey Player and Head Case

As you can imagine, there are some NHL players I just naturally despise, and Alex Ovechkin is one of them. Not saying that he isn’t talented or that he doesn’t have the ability of a hockey legend, but from the shoulders up, I’m wondering if he isn’t a head case.

May 13, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals left wing

(8) and Capitals center

(9) sit on the bench during a stoppage in play against the New York Rangers in the second period in game seven of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

I have to chuckle when you go to his personal website, www.ovie8.com, that the comment reads “Off-season work in progress.” I hope so — for the Capital’s sake.

Ovie certainly has all of the physical tools – 6’3″ and 230 pounds, and the scoring touch – 112 points in the 2007-2008 season, and plenty of hockey hardware including the Calder Memorial Trophy, the Rocket Richard Trophy, the Lester B. Pearson Award, and the Hart Memorial Trophy.

But with all of his accomplishments, and even holding a key to the city of Washington, D.C, he has never held or raised Lord Stanley’s Cup. And don’t think that it doesn’t eat away at his phenomenally large ego.

Here’s where the head case part surfaces. First there was the feud with Evgeni Malkin and the report of Ovechkin punching Malkin’s agent in a nightclub. Then came the excessive goal celebrations controversy that caused Don Cherry on Hockey Night in Canada to encourage Canadian children to avoid Ovechkin’s example.

Of course, we had our own Ovechkin acting out party right here in Tampa during the 2009 season. After scoring his 50th goal of the campaign, Ovechkin put his stick on the ice, pretending to warm his hands over it because it was “hot”. That stupidly arrogant act garnered an immediate response from then coach Rick Tocchet who said the incident lowered his estimation of Ovechkin as a professional.

Heck, it didn’t bother Alex, though. He was unapologetic for his behavior and even referenced Don Cherry again saying,

"He’s going to be pissed off for sure…I love it."

The 2014 Olympics will be one of the biggest stages for Ovechkin to date. Stay tuned for more drama from one of hockey’s talented head cases.

The only time Ovechkin visits the Lightning this season is on Thursday, January 9th, a month before the players break for the Olympics. The average ticket price is $88 with a get-in price of only $25. You can grab NHL tickets from Razorgator for any Tampa Bay home game this year.