LabattBlue Posted January 30, 2006 Posted January 30, 2006 I posted this over in the Sabres forum, but for those who don't venture over there, take a peek at this... http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3709358974845487567
Pete Posted January 30, 2006 Posted January 30, 2006 WOW! Thanks for posting that- that kid is amazing! If anyone here thinks they dont like hockey check out that link
slothrop Posted January 30, 2006 Posted January 30, 2006 holy crap! I have seen him play a few times but that was great!
Spun Posted January 30, 2006 Posted January 30, 2006 There once was a time when we would not have been able to see someone like Ovechkin outside of the Olympics. Thankfully, the 1972 Summit Series and the Canada Cup helped significantly change international hockey. With the Gretzky and Lemieux era officially over, we are once again very fortunate to now witness the beginning of the Ovechkin and Crosby era. And who knows what Evgeni Malkin (drafted by the Penguins) and Phil Kessel (University of Minnesota freshman) will add to the mix. As for the highlights, I had trouble downloading the clips but the web site worked out for me: http://www.ovechkinfans.com/. The one timer against the Flyers was sweet (goal # 25). The thing about Ovechkin is like Lemieux, he also plays a physical style.
slothrop Posted January 30, 2006 Posted January 30, 2006 There once was a time when we would not have been able to see someone like Ovechkin outside of the Olympics. Thankfully, the 1972 Summit Series and the Canada Cup helped significantly change international hockey. With the Gretzky and Lemieux era officially over, we are once again very fortunate to now witness the beginning of the Ovechkin and Crosby era. And who knows what Evgeni Malkin (drafted by the Penguins) and Phil Kessel (University of Minnesota freshman) will add to the mix. As for the highlights, I had trouble downloading the clips but the web site worked out for me: http://www.ovechkinfans.com/. The one timer against the Flyers was sweet (goal # 25). The thing about Ovechkin is like Lemieux, he also plays a physical style. 587774[/snapback] Call me a homer, but if Vanek is ever placed on the right line I think he could be a super star as well (maybe not quite Ovechkin or Crosby level, but just under that).
Crap Throwing Monkey Posted January 30, 2006 Posted January 30, 2006 There once was a time when we would not have been able to see someone like Ovechkin outside of the Olympics. Thankfully, the 1972 Summit Series and the Canada Cup helped significantly change international hockey. With the Gretzky and Lemieux era officially over, we are once again very fortunate to now witness the beginning of the Ovechkin and Crosby era. And who knows what Evgeni Malkin (drafted by the Penguins) and Phil Kessel (University of Minnesota freshman) will add to the mix. As for the highlights, I had trouble downloading the clips but the web site worked out for me: http://www.ovechkinfans.com/. The one timer against the Flyers was sweet (goal # 25). The thing about Ovechkin is like Lemieux, he also plays a physical style. 587774[/snapback] I think I've seen better shooters than Ovechkin (not many...Gretzky and Jagr are the only ones that immediately come to mind), but his puck handling skills are other-worldly.
smokinandjokin Posted January 30, 2006 Posted January 30, 2006 I knew he was rediculously talented, and he was expected to score a boatload of goals, which he is. But I had no idea he threw his weight around like that. I also think Vanek will be a goal-scoring force eventually, similar to Mogilny but with less speed and more trickery. But the little bit that I have seen from Crosby and Ovechkin, Vanek is not at their level this year. Vanek's highlight video would pale in comparison to what I just watched Ovechkin do.
Pete Posted January 31, 2006 Posted January 31, 2006 Damn! That video is gone. Does anyone have it saved? If so could you email it to me please? Thanks!
Talonz Posted January 31, 2006 Posted January 31, 2006 Damn! That video is gone. Does anyone have it saved? If so could you email it to me please? Thanks! 589132[/snapback] Here is a high quality version :: Goal video HQ
Alaska Darin Posted January 31, 2006 Posted January 31, 2006 Call me a homer, but if Vanek is ever placed on the right line I think he could be a super star as well (maybe not quite Ovechkin or Crosby level, but just under that). 587880[/snapback] The biggest difference between Vanek and the other two is Vanek takes shifts off. He's ridiculously talented but the game has seemingly always come easily to him. Because of this, when things aren't going his way he tends to float. He could be a very special player if guys like Drury can convince him to go hard every shift.
Alaska Darin Posted January 31, 2006 Posted January 31, 2006 I think I've seen better shooters than Ovechkin (not many...Gretzky and Jagr are the only ones that immediately come to mind), but his puck handling skills are other-worldly. 587918[/snapback] Shoot, the Sabres have a better shooter than Ovechkin in Ales Kotalik but there aren't five guys on the planet who can make the moves AO makes at the speed he makes them at.
smokinandjokin Posted January 31, 2006 Posted January 31, 2006 The biggest difference between Vanek and the other two is Vanek takes shifts off. He's ridiculously talented but the game has seemingly always come easily to him. Because of this, when things aren't going his way he tends to float. He could be a very special player if guys like Drury can convince him to go hard every shift. 589257[/snapback] I saw exactly the same thing Darin. When Vanek didn't score for the first 15-odd games of the season, he seemed to have a little pout going. It was like everything that had always worked in the past, like little dekes and 360s and fancy stuff, suddenly wasn't working, and he was not going hard because of it. I said it would be nice to see him poke in a rebound while taking some lumber across the back, instead of trying for the highlight reel goals. He has started to do that, and many of his recent goals have been a result of camping out in front on the PP. I'm sure guys like Drury made an impression on him, but I would assume someone like Gaustad had a bigger effect. Vanek knew he was supposed to be our next gun, and when he sees a fellow rookie having success, especially one who was a low-round pick and not even expected to make the team, it had to wake him up and realize he is going to have to work for everything he gets. Also, back to AO: Ovechkin had about 10 goals on that highlight clip that were better than anything I've seen this year. I had seen highlights here and there and I knew the guy was lighting it up, but what I liked about the link posted above was the body checks. The dude is going to be a force for a long time.
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