Lucas Neilson: Maple Leafs outlook and Ovechkin’s two cents Halloween

- AdamFrench

Mats get drugged?

Awwwwwww, it'll be okay.

Mats get drugged?
- Lucas.Neilson

Picture of Big_D thinking about Ovechkin

But overall he’s still a selfish player who has no problems sitting on the ice for 2 minutes of the power play, sits and waits half the game in one spot hoping for a one timer feed from Backstrom or Carlson. He’s certainly one of the greatest goal scorers of all time but he’s full of crap saying that he changed his game so that his team could win the Stanley Cup. More like his team played incredible as a whole and he was there to cash in the prize with his banana curved stick and dollar store teeth.

I don't know Lucas, I feel you might be a little hard on Ovechkin.

He did change his game after Trotz came along and the results speak for themselves. Sure the Caps all came together at some point but he was an integral part of that change.

Pretty sure his team wants him to be there for 2 minutes on the powerplay.... that's not being selfish..... it's being smart.

Picture of Big_D thinking about Ovechkin
- AdamFrench

But overall he’s still a selfish player who has no problems sitting on the ice for 2 minutes of the power play, sits and waits half the game in one spot hoping for a one timer feed from Backstrom or Carlson. He’s certainly one of the greatest goal scorers of all time but he’s full of crap saying that he changed his game so that his team could win the Stanley Cup. More like his team played incredible as a whole and he was there to cash in the prize with his banana curved stick and dollar store teeth.

I don't know Lucas, I feel you might be a little hard on Ovechkin.

He did change his game after Trotz came along and the results speak for themselves. Sure the Caps all came together at some point but he was an integral part of that change.

Pretty sure his team wants him to be there for 2 minutes on the powerplay.... that's not being selfish..... it's being smart.
- Scabeh

no player is their best after being on the ice 2 mins - fact!

Picture of Big_D thinking about Ovechkin
- AdamFrench

I'm taking nothing away from ovi and his goals but he didn't change a damned thing about his game, what a load of crap!

no player is their best after being on the ice 2 mins - fact!
- Lucas.Neilson

Sure.

But what if the guy keeps scoring despite not being at his best?

Eveyone, including Hunter and Trotz: Ovi changed his game.

Luke from hockeybuzz.com: bullpoop.

I think Ovi banged his sister, or something. This feels personal.
- Blackstrom2

not at all, I just think he's a douche for calling out a bunch of 22 year olds while it took him 13 years to win the cup.

how many times have you seen ovi cry on the ice after a game 7 meltdown or losing in olympics? many times.

just sayin'

not at all, I just think he's a douche for calling out a bunch of 22 year olds while it took him 13 years to win the cup.

how many times have you seen ovi cry on the ice after a game 7 meltdown or losing in olympics? many times.

just sayin'
- Lucas.Neilson

Don't shoot the messenger. I'm pretty sure Ovi is giving them honest advice. Listen or dont listen to what he's saying, but he's right

Don't shoot the messenger. I'm pretty sure Ovi is giving them honest advice. Listen or dont listen to what he's saying, but he's right
- jcragcrumple

Looks that way, I agree.

not at all, I just think he's a douche for calling out a bunch of 22 year olds while it took him 13 years to win the cup.

how many times have you seen ovi cry on the ice after a game 7 meltdown or losing in olympics? many times.

just sayin'
- Lucas.Neilson

I think that is what he's saying though.

Telling them not to waste loads of years and learn something a lot quicker than how long it took him/Washington to learn.

What he said was 100% accurate. Every man and his dog (sans Dubas fans) know the Leafs don't play the right way.

Don't shoot the messenger. I'm pretty sure Ovi is giving them honest advice. Listen or dont listen to what he's saying, but he's right
- jcragcrumple

I agreed with that

I didn't agree he changes his game, at all.

I think that is what he's saying though.

Telling them not to waste loads of years and learn something a lot quicker than how long it took him/Washington to learn.

What he said was 100% accurate. Every man and his dog (sans Dubas fans) know the Leafs don't play the right way.
- walshyleafsfan

for sure they need to play more team oriented. both ends of the ice.

again, what I'm getting at is ovechkin didn't change anything.

I actually do agree with you. I think Hunter made it known to him that backchecking was a necessity and not just something to do sometimes though, for sure. But all his comments were just BS hockey fodder. Also, I think part of it is in his career earlier, there were guys who called out him/the Caps all the time for playing the wrong way (hi, RJ Umberger), so it's a bit of a cathartic release.
Matthews is a better 5v5 scorer right now.

not at all, I just think he's a douche for calling out a bunch of 22 year olds while it took him 13 years to win the cup.

how many times have you seen ovi cry on the ice after a game 7 meltdown or losing in olympics? many times.

just sayin'
- Lucas.Neilson

Did he really 'call them out'? I took his comments as being pretty honest and supportive. I don't think he was being a douche at all.

Everybody knows they're capable of playing better hockey. We saw some good defensive play/structure in the Boston series last year when it mattered most. Tavares, Hyman and Marner controlled Bergeron's line at 5v5 about as well as anybody can.

Everybody's just waiting for them to commit to play like that every night.

for sure they need to play more team oriented. both ends of the ice.

again, what I'm getting at is ovechkin didn't change anything.
- Lucas.Neilson

Agreed. I think some of that is lost in translation somewhat.

I believe he was talking about the Capitals as opposed to him personally. That's what i took from it?

I agreed with that

I didn't agree he changes his game, at all.
- Lucas.Neilson

I disagree. Adam Oates tried to get him to buy in - this was the "controller disconnected" meme time period. It didn't happen

Trotz did get him to buy in. Is he ever going to win a Selke? No. But he improved on that portion of his game. It took him 13 years like you said, but that team probably wasn't the most talented group Ovechkin ever played with. The structure put them over the top. It reads like you're just bashing Ovi to distract from the message

Did he really 'call them out'? I took his comments as being pretty honest and supportive. I don't think he was being a douche at all.

Everybody knows they're capable of playing better hockey. We saw some good defensive play/structure in the Boston series last year when it mattered most. Tavares, Hyman and Marner controlled Bergeron's line at 5v5 about as well as anybody can.

Everybody's just waiting for them to commit to play like that every night.
- The Law

For 2 games, then the Perfection Line poop all over them...

I think that is what he's saying though.

Telling them not to waste loads of years and learn something a lot quicker than how long it took him/Washington to learn.

What he said was 100% accurate. Every man and his dog (sans Dubas fans) know the Leafs don't play the right way.
- walshyleafsfan

I like what OV said. I think the Leafs need to take his advice and change their style of play.
It's not a talent issue with this team, it's about them buying into a system. If we change the style of play, we are not that far off from winning the Cup.

For 2 games, then the Perfection Line poop all over them...
- AdamFrench

That didn't happen at even strength.

I agreed with that

I didn't agree he changes his game, at all.
- Lucas.Neilson

If the message did anything, it inspired the Leafs to play a more spirited game. It was a tossup that could have gone either way. Again it was little chintzy penaties that cost the Leafs the win in OT, the suspendable axe murders by Wilson were forgiven.