Alexander Ovechkin’s roadway to being composed by the NHL’s Washington Capitals began in a parking lot past a rink in Slovakia.
Ross Mahoney, a Regina merchandise that was the Capitals’ supervisor of newbie trying on the time, remembers satisfying a 16-year-old Ovechkin for the very first time in between video video games on the 2002 Hlinka Gretzky Cup world under-18 hockey occasion.
“I remember being outside in between games, and there was this kid walking around with his Russian track suit on, and I just pointed at my program to who he is. And he pointed to his name, and I just introduced myself and shook his hand,” remembered Mahoney.
As element of his trying duties, Mahoney– that was Washington’s supervisor of newbie trying from 2000-14 previous to being marketed to assistant fundamental supervisor in 2014– remained in Slovakia to see a number of of the main leads prematurely of the 2002 NHL Draft.
While he nonetheless had his eyes on a number of of the players the Capitals may select that 12 months, he couldn’t help nevertheless observe Ovechkin, that had not been certified to be composed up till 2004.
“Just there to watch the draft eligible kids and then this guy was jumping out,” claimedMahoney “I used to be like, ‘Oh boy. He’s going to be particular.’
“I simply noticed him outdoors the rink, and I didn’t realize it was him. I simply thought it was any individual that I used to be watching that was draft eligible.
“But I simply pointed to his identify simply to see who he was. I believed possibly he’d be one of many youngsters who was eligible, however I bear in mind him pointing to his identify and shook his hand.
“And I remember his hands being huge. It didn’t surprise me he could shoot the puck; he was so strong. And also seemed like a really nice kid; a nice young man.”
Little did Mahoney acknowledge as he will surely be calling Ovechkin’s identify 2 years in a while with the very first complete selection within the 2004 NHL Draft.
That 12 months, the Capitals, that had been coming off their worst interval in 26 years, gained the draft lotto no matter having the third ultimate chances to land the main selection behind the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks.
“What a year to win the lottery,” claimedMahoney “And I didn’t believe it at first when they phoned me from the office because it wasn’t the lottery the way it is today with all the coverage.”
Right from the minute he found out the Capitals had theNo 1 selection, Mahoney had little uncertainty in his thoughts that Washington will surely select, though there was another fascinating Russian risk in Evgeni Malkin, that wound up mosting more likely to the Penguins atNo 2.
“We thought that Malkin was a very good player. We thought he’d be a good pick also. But Alex was our guy,” claimedMahoney “His capacity to attain objectives, which in actuality I’d have by no means thought he would have gotten as many as he did, however we thought for certain he was going to be legit aim scorer.
“And also, his physical play. I had never seen anybody score goals like him that also had that physicality.”
It actually didn’t take Mahoney rather a lot to influence Capitals fundamental supervisor on the time, George McPhee, that Ovechkin was their man both.
“Not really,” claimedMahoney “When we had gained the lottery, he requested me who we’re taking, and I mentioned, ‘We’re taking Alex Ovechkin.’
“And I feel he requested me day by day for a couple of week who we’re taking, and I mentioned, ‘Alex Ovechkin.’ I’d get a cellphone name, ‘Who are we taking?’, ‘Alex Ovechkin.’ And he’d dangle up. It didn’t take a number of convincing.
“George came over and watched him play with me. We watched him play in the men’s world championships. George was in agreement obviously and the rest is history.”
Nearly twenty years and 1,478 occupation regular interval video video games in a while, Ovechkin is presently on the point of making background.
Entering Thursday night’s online game in between the Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers, the 39-year-old Ovechkin has 887 goals and is solely 7 goals removed from linking and eight goals from going past Wayne Gretzky’s 894 goals for a lot of all-time– a doc that some thought may by no means ever be broken.
“It’s just something you don’t think is going to happen and he’s on the verge of doing it,” claimedMahoney “It’s just been so much fun to watch him.”
While Ovechkin is surrounding the all-time goal doc, the Russian tremendous star has really presently established numerous paperwork consisting of occupation powerplay goals (321 ), extra time goals (27 ), vacant net goals (65) and plenty of intervals with 30-plus goals (19 ). He has really moreover racked up on 182 goalkeepers in his occupation, which is moreover an NHL doc.
Along with being among the many online game’s main markers, the 6-foot-2, 238-pound Ovechkin– that locations third all-time in hits with 3,726 and is solely 303 hits removed from Cal Clutterbuck’s doc of 4,029– brings a level of physicality that was moreover apparent when Mahoney initially regarded him.
“I hadn’t seen a guy shoot a puck like that for a long time or a player that physical,” claimed Mahoney, that commemorated a Stanley Cup champion with Ovechkin in 2018. “You knew he was going to be one thing particular.
“I’ve seen guys would score goals, and I’ve seen guys could play physical, but I hadn’t seen anybody that could play physical and score that much as much as he did.”
While Mahoney notes Ovechkin, that actually didn’t play within the NHL up till he was 20, may has exceeded Gretzky presently had it not been for a lockout, a pandemic-shortened interval and a few accidents, consisting of a busted leg that compelled him to overlook out on 16 video video games this 12 months, there’s nonetheless a risk he can harm Gretzky’s doc previous to this era mores than.
With 34 goals in 52 video video games this era, Ovechkin requires to proceed his racking up fee within the final 14 prepared the Capitals, that being in prime place within the Eastern Conference with a 45-15-8 doc, to encompass the doc.
“To see Alex now chasing something that a lot of people thought was never going to be achievable, it’s been a lot of fun to watch, and it’s been a lot of fun to watch his teammates, too,” claimedMahoney “And he nonetheless enjoys simply as a lot you scoring a aim as him scoring a aim. He comes flying in there, normally knocks over the pile. He’s so blissful for whoever scored.
“I’m just really happy for him and really happy that we had the opportunity to draft him that year.”
tshire@postmedia.com
