ARLINGTON, Va.
Authentic Derrick Favors Jazz Jersey . -- As if he knew the question was coming, Alex Ovechkin smiled when asked what his new
coach wants him to work on. "On back-check?" Ovechkin said. Another season,
another chance to find out whether one of the leagues most talented goal-scorers
can seriously help out some more on defence. The Washington Capitals opened
training camp Friday with new coach Barry Trotz, who says hell work -- as other
coaches have before him -- to make the three-time league MVP into a more
complete player. If Day 1 is any indication, Ovechkin sounds ready to be a
co-operative student. "If you want to be good," he said, "you have to work on
everything." Step No. 1, as Trotz had indicated previously, is moving Ovechkin
back to left wing, reversing a seismic shift under previous coach Adam Oates.
Ovechkin led the NHL with 51 goals last season playing mostly on the right, but
his plus-minus was minus-35, and the Capitals missed the playoffs for the first
time since 2007. "Hes better on the right side a little bit defensively, but his
talent is on the left side," Trotz said. "And so if Im going to maximize his
talent, I need to get him on the left side. Now if he doesnt want to adjust
defensively playing the left side, then well talk about maybe moving him back to
the right. "The stuff that he does on the left side, theres no coach on the
planet who can teach (it). If hes willing to learn, I can teach him the other
stuff." Trotz has more cachet than his predecessors for making such a move. He
is Washingtons fifth coach since Ovechkin entered the league in 2005, but hes
the first to have head coaching experience in the NHL. Those 15 seasons with the
Nashville Predators give him that extra bit of authority. "Its pretty evident he
has a lot of experience," goaltender Braden Holtby said. "You can just tell the
communication is very clear with what they expect out of us." Trotz made a
statement right away, putting the players through a demanding series of
conditioning drills that had everyone gassed. "That was one of the harder, if
not the hardest, Day 1 Ive had," said 12-year veteran defenceman Brooks Orpik.
Trotz said the line pairings for the first three preseason games might appear
somewhat random because he wants to establish a "Capitals culture" that has
everyone on the same page. Hes also created a leadership group of a half-dozen
or so players to keep a close pulse on the locker room. He has said he felt,
watching from afar with the Nashville Predators, that Washington was a place
where "the inmates were running the asylum," and hes seeking to change that.
Forward Troy Brouwer said he understands what Trotz meant. "We have to do what
were told to do," Brouwer said. "And whether thats changing a role on the ice,
whether thats changing a role off the ice, thats part of what we do. And maybe
there hasnt been as much accountability as far as players to go to try and
change." Added goaltender Braden Holtby: "Most successful teams follow their
coach. Thats why a head coaching job is such a tough job because you need to get
everyone to follow you. ... Our team needs to buy in. I think last year was a
big eye-opener that we need to get closer as a group, and I think its already
started." Last seasons disappointment cost Oates and general manager George
McPhee their jobs. Ovechkin realizes that the onus is now on the players. "Its
good we didnt get traded," he said with a chuckle. "Right now were on (a)
target, and everybody understands that."
Cheap Adrian Dantley Jersey . As deep as their roster is, they need their superstar. Rose scored 23 points in his return
from a five-game absence due to back pain, and Chicago hung on to beat the
struggling Atlanta Hawks 90-79 on Monday.
Cheap Rodney Hood Jersey . PAUL, Minn.Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable
NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at
[email protected]. Hi Kerry,Love
the column and of course the hair! We here in Orange County obviously have a
great admiration for Teemu Selanne and have been fortunate to see him play for
the last many years and win a championship. With his impending retirement, do
you have any good or funny stories you can share with the fans? We know the kind
of player he is and what a nice guy he is off the ice, but few of us know what
kind of person he is on the ice. Thanks for doing this column, always a great
read. Chris from Laguna Niguel Chris:I can tell you first hand that
Teemu Selanne is as nice a guy on the ice as he is off of it. While we didnt
always agree (as you might expect) I never heard a curse word or disrespectful
comment come out of the mouth of the "Finnish Flash"; either directed at me or
anyone else. From the very first game that I saw Teemu as a rookie with the
Winnipeg Jets, I knew this guy was a very special talent. The rest of the hockey
world would quickly recognize just how skilled Teemu was while on his way to
scoring 76 goals and winning the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in the
1992-93 season. (Teemus record remains intact for most goals for a rookie in the
NHL.) Teemu always seemed to exude a "boyish" smile when he was on the ice; a
signal to me as how much he loved to play the game. I also witnessed acts of
kindness that he demonstrated off the ice to arena and parking attendants in the
Honda Centre and other NHL cities. An off-ice official of the Calgary Flames
once shared with me that Selanne was such a friendly and classy superstar that
he could make people around him feel better about themselves; even in their
relative insignificance! As nice a guy as Teemu is, I also saw a fierce
competitiveness and desire to win. Like all champions he hated losing; but
unlike some, Teemu did so with class and grace. The worst I ever got from him at
the end of a close loss (when he thought I was less than perfect in my
performance) was a saddened look of disappointment and perhaps a slight shake of
his head as he exited the ice. If the game was on the line Selanne wanted the
puck on his stick. He had pull-away speed and a rifle of a shot that made him a
game changer. Teemu always made playyers around him better because he could
finish the play.
Cheap Authentic Jazz Jerseys. We recently witnessed Selannes deep national pride as captain of the Finnish Olympic team in
Sochi. The 43-year-old played with speed, youthful energy and determination in
leading his team to a bronze medal for his home country. I first encountered
that Finnish pride in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, an NHL-sponsored event as a
prelude to the 98 Olympics in Nagano, Japan. I worked a game in Helsinki (Sweden
vs. Finland) where the fan atmosphere was more like a U.S. college football game
than a hockey game and was like nothing I had ever experienced before. An hour
prior to game time fans jammed into the arena end zone, many with their shirt
off and face and body painted in Finnish blue. They chanted and sang
unceasingly. It also appeared that they consumed a considerable amount of
alcohol. Drums were beaten and horns blew. The crowd never sat down in the end
zone seats. Instead they stood throughout the whole game shoulder to shoulder
and cheered for Teemu Selanne and their other heroes. They were a happy crowd;
very loud but not boisterous or unruly. They were having fun watching the game
they loved and went wild when Finland won the game. Back in the Officials
dressing room I had showered and dressed as the party continued inside the
arena. The dressing room door opened and a guy I thought to be Teemu Selanne
said, "Hey Kerry do you have any beer in your room?" I thought it to be very
unusual but invited Teemu in and told him to help himself. He sat down and we
were having a great visit over a few beers when finally Teemu admitted that he
really wasnt Teemu Selanne at all but his twin brother Paavo! Paavo Selanne was
a real character and said that his brother Teemu told him there is always beer
in the refs room. The next time I saw Teemu and told him of the case of mistaken
identity his smile changed to a belly laugh over the joke his brother played on
us. They are a fun-loving family. Congratulations to Teemu and his family on a
tremendous NHL and international career. There is no doubt he will eventually
enter the Hockey Hall of Fame. It couldnt happen to a more deserving candidate
and nicer guy. When that day happens maybe I will be lucky enough to sit down
and enjoy a beer with Teemu and his twin brother Paavo in celebration of this
great players career.
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