Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin under fire from coach, ex-players over losing form – NFL News
Washington Capitals’ left wing, Alex Ovechkin, has come under fire from former players and his associate goaltending coach, Olaf Kolzig, who said that the player is carried away by his so called super star status, advising him to focus down on his job.
In one of his rare remarks, the coach said that the left wing is apparently wrapped up in his "rock star status."
"He just has to get back to being the way he was in his younger days and maybe not get wrapped up too much in the rock star status that comes with being Alex Ovechkin," Kolzig said.
The player has so far managed 44 points this season. This includes 23 goals, which are far less from his last seasons’ tally of 32 goals.
He had managed to score as many as 171 in the combined seasons from 2007 to 2010, and his late lapses have frustrated the player himself and has brought more agony for his team.
The coach along with former Capitals players have criticised him and blamed his star status affecting the level of his form and skills.
Kolzig said:
"I think a lot is frustration. Obviously he's not scoring at the clip he's accustomed to. Part of that is not having Nicky Backstrom in the lineup. Alex -- and I think I'm seeing it a little more with Dale behind the bench - Alex was getting away from playing
the hard, no-nonsense, honest type of hockey, exuberant hockey that he displayed the first three years that he was in the league.”
The team management’s frustration over the deteriorating form of the captain reflects on his importance in the team and he, as proved by his game numbers, has counted in their wins most of the time.
It is rather difficult to predict if he is able to achieve the same level of form and performance again this season and if he does so, it will help his team chances of progress in the league.
In absence of no other apparent reason of his poor form, the coach believes that it might be the ousting of their centre, Nicklas Backstrom, which has affected his game. He is out of the side since January this year due to an elbow to head injury.
The coach has also hinted at the possibility of a sort of negativity on mind of the player, who could feel to be not loved as much as he used to be in the team.
No matter what could be a conclusive reason, the player’s poor form continues to be a worry for his team, who amid all their frustration hope he might turn around at some point in the season.
He asked him to focus down on his job.
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