Ovechkin Sits In On Rangers' Practice; Gets Asked To Leave

[Magootz]

Desperate times desperate measures? I would love to know the "expletive" that Torts used.

There was someone doing some "scouting" at the New York Rangers' practice on Monday, but the team wasn't very keen on the idea. And who can blame them?

After all, it was Capitals' winger Alex Ovechkin who decided to observe his opposition from the visitor's bench at Madison Square Garden, just hours before tonight's Game 3 of the Caps/Rangers playoff series. Underdog New York leads the series 2-0.

One of the Rangers' trainers complained to the Capitals, who had a public relations staff member ask Ovechkin to exit the rink. According to the PR man, Ovechkin was just looking for a place to relax.

That wasn't the story from Ovechkin himself, though, who joked that he sat in on Rangers practice to "tick off" head coach John Tortorella.

According to espn.com, Tortorella said afterwards he didn't even know Ovechkin was at the practice, saying, "Ask me a question about the game, not that [expletive]."

Ovechkin was asked why the Rangers wanted his removal, joking, "Because they're afraid of me."

Caps' coach Bruce Boudreau playfully dismissed the idea that there was anything mischievous behind the sit-in.

"I don't think he had a pen and paper and was writing down line combinations," Boudreau kidded. "I can understand (the Rangers asking him to leave). I've gotten into the same arguments with people when I've wanted privacy in my practice, so I can understand what John was going through."

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=275778

 

[Metrags]

He wasnt caught taking notes or anything. What could have been a 'scandal' was seemingly harmless.

They are running this story on ESPN too right now (amazing what hockey news makes that channel).

Rags have every right to ask him to leave, ovy had every right to be there though.

 

[Bakeryracing]

Ovechkin was asked why the Rangers wanted his removal, joking, "Because they're afraid of me."

And he does stand up comedy as well. Is there anything this guy cant do???

Hes an attention whore. Period. I think Ovechkin is one of the best players in the NHL. But cmon. Everything he says or does gets noted, But put on the TV, and they have an interview about it. I think all of this media hype is getting to his head.

 

[jmatchett]

I thought this was pretty funny, but not quite as funny as a guy who likes a team with Sean Avery calling someone else "an attention whore."

 

[sholi2000]

Here are some of OV's replies to Why?

Message to OV. The Rags are up 2-0, they're not scared.

 

[Mike52Green]

Here are some of OV's replies to Why?

Message to OV. The Rags are up 2-0, they're not scared.

And Ovie's not scared either.. they got something up their sleeves. The Caps are gonna win in 7.

On a sidenote... you need a Pavelec BAP RC /99?

 

[sholi2000]

And Ovie's not scared either.. they got something up their sleeves. The Caps are gonna win in 7.

On a sidenote... you need a Pavelec BAP RC /99?

I sure do? When it comes to rookies of who I collect, then I take as many as I can.

 

[cathaytrader]

Ovechin was daydreaming about what it would be like to be a Ranger.......

 

[newfiecomicguy1]

Its the playoffs and everyone wants to win. Unless it was an open practice the Rangers were right to ask him to leave.

 

[SkyFire47]

Ovechin was daydreaming about what it would be like to be a Ranger.......

when he's aging and past his prime, he'll be here. they'll all be here.

 

[newfiecomicguy1]

My Leafs will probably trade for him in the last year of his contract:|

when he's aging and past his prime, he'll be here. they'll all be here.

 

[jasonspezza19]

I don't understand, why bother at all? Rags are 2-0. I'm stunned since I thought this would be a 4-0 caps, ask Ovie to leave is just rediculous at this point. They give a signal they're scared/find it uncomfortable to have him there, and for what? Like he'll make some notes about their tactics that'll turn this series over? lol

A practice is not some top secret military experiment or anything, if Caps wanted some scouting they could hire a dozen civils or if they wanted tick off Rags they could have brought in their whole supports club or something..

 

[paulxing]

Looks like he got what he wanted as he's set up Semin twice now!

 

[fly4apuckguy]

I don't understand, why bother at all? Rags are 2-0. I'm stunned since I thought this would be a 4-0 caps, ask Ovie to leave is just rediculous at this point. They give a signal they're scared/find it uncomfortable to have him there, and for what? Like he'll make some notes about their tactics that'll turn this series over? lol

A practice is not some top secret military experiment or anything, if Caps wanted some scouting they could hire a dozen civils or if they wanted tick off Rags they could have brought in their whole supports club or something..

With all due respect, this shows you have never been a coach of a competative team. This post is utter nonsense. The stuff you do in practice is vital to the game. Yes it is top secret, and yes he would learn strategy by watching it.

What a bunch of hypocrites some of you are, seriously. If you-know-who did this, he'd be called every name in the book by each and every one of you.

Ovechkin can do no wrong on this board.

If he robbed a bank, he'd be Robin Hood.

 

[jmatchett]

With all due respect, this shows you have never been a coach of a competative team. This post is utter nonsense. The stuff you do in practice is vital to the game. Yes it is top secret, and yes he would learn strategy by watching it.

There are a number of teams that have practices open to the public. Seems like a bad idea since they'd be giving away "top secret" plays.

 

[jasonspezza19]

With all due respect, this shows you have never been a coach of a competative team. This post is utter nonsense. The stuff you do in practice is vital to the game. Yes it is top secret, and yes he would learn strategy by watching it.

What a bunch of hypocrites some of you are, seriously. If you-know-who did this, he'd be called every name in the book by each and every one of you.

Ovechkin can do no wrong on this board.

If he robbed a bank, he'd be Robin Hood.

Snort, you have no freaking idea about me or the people in my immediate surroundings. Heavens, this huge stir about basically nothing is a bit nonsense too.

"The stuff you do in practice is vital to the game"
Oh really, thanks for pointing it out, I really thought they only did it to burn calories:|

"Yes it is top secret, and yes he would learn strategy by watching it." I'm pretty sure both teams coachingstaff doesn't need espionage to put up a gameplan of their own. Even if Ovie did notice something it's barely trifle. And if it's that top secret there shouldn't be anybody from the outside allowed to watch at all.

I'm no more of a hypocrite then anyone else, atleast I'm not playing stuck-up for no reason. Look, I'm sure you know a whole lot about the game, but let's keep to subject. Most posts are and should be readable cause people of different ages read it. People must be able to post without being a whole article of hockeyscience at universitylevel? Gosh, if you're such an oracle how about read through the lines and not assume some for being ehm.. less sly?

 

[chljoe]

If you-know-who did this, he'd be called every name in the book by each and every one of you.

Lord Voldemort?

 

[SuperLarrio]

i would have let him stay, maybe he'd pick up bad habits like not scoring on the powerplay, taking penalties while on the powerplay, and missing the net constantly...

 

[wiseguy917]

Lord Voldemort?

Nope....Krod Mandoon

 

[wildfan1833]

Man now thats just funny. This made my day