Ovechkin tops the list of most hated in Pittsburgh

Rob Rossi reports from Arlington, VA (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, March 28, 2010) "No Penguin opponent inspires as much hate as Ovechkin":

The bad guy

In Pittsburgh, Ovechkin is an opposing NHL player who inspires a level of hate previously reserved for Philadelphia's Bobby Clarke and Edmonton's Wayne Gretzky.

"There was a certain amount of jealousy with those guys, and with Ovechkin the fans here just don't like him," longtime Penguins broadcaster Paul Steigerwald said. "I'd say with all three guys, it's their greatness combined with a sort of perceived arrogance."

Five years into his career, Ovechkin is chasing a fourth 50-goal season, third consecutive MVP trophy and second scoring title in three years. Since winning top rookie honors, he has established himself as the most decorated individual athlete in the NHL, NFL, NBA or MLB.

Crosby's landlord is the player whose Ovechkin's career has most paralleled because the league-leading Capitals have built a burgeoning Stanley Cup contender around him, and Washington is abuzz with hockey hysteria.

"The similarity is that Alex has captured the interest of the casual fan, not just the sports fan or hockey fan," Capitals president Dick Patrick said Wednesday before his franchise's record 42nd consecutive regular-season home sellout.

"We've had some great players and great teams, Rod Langway's comes to mind; but we've never seen anything like Alex. He is building his own fan base, and my hope is that like the Penguins did we can solidify that base as Capitals fans to make Washington an established hockey city."



A near miss

Pittsburgh could have been Ovechkin's hockey home.

"Everybody knew going into that year that he was the best player available," former Penguins general manager Craig Patrick said of Ovechkin and the 2003-04 season, which the Penguins finished with the lowest point total.

The Penguins lost a draft lottery to Washington, falling into the second slot, where they drafted Malkin.

"Even though (Malkin's) stock had risen and some of our scouts thought he might end up being better — maybe we fooled ourselves into thinking that a little bit — Washington made it very clear after it won the (entry-draft) lottery that Ovechkin was going to be a Capital," Patrick said.

Added former head scout Greg Malone: "Ovechkin was a legitimate franchise player, the real deal for that job."

One year later, the Penguins won a lottery and the right to draft Crosby, and veteran Capitals winger Mike Knuble believes the hockey gods nailed the matching of the superstar players' personality with respective markets.

"Alex has a particular look, it's very unique, and his personality is that he's going to be himself no matter what people say," Knuble said. "It would be interesting how that might play in some places, but from what I can see in my first year in Washington, that package is what has drawn people in this market to Alex — and to hockey."



Like Mario

The formula for turning Washington into an established hockey town is not complicated, Ovechkin said.

"Hopefully we can with the Stanley Cup," he said. "When people see that, they will be with us forever."

Ovechkin will return to Pittsburgh for perhaps his final game at Mellon Arena on April 6. Crosby is his generational rival, but Ovechkin said he knows "Pittsburgh is Mario's town."

"But I don't feel pressure in Washington to make it like that for me," he said. "Why do you have to feel pressure? Some people feel it. Not me.

"I feel pretty good about everything that's happening in Washington. That's no secret."



MEET THE PREZ

Ovechkin was the lone D.C.-area professional athlete invited by President Barack Obama to Obama's first State Dinner in November 2009. He was also requested as a special guest by several media outlets for the White House Correspondent Association dinner in May 2009. NHL duties prevented him from attending both dinners.

Before the Olympics, "Meet the Press" host David Gregory asked Vice President Joe Biden who his children should root for in the men's hockey tournament at the Vancouver Olympics. Gregory's sons had planned to root for Team Russia because they are Ovechkin fans.

"He's the right guy for the market in so many ways," Capitals general manager George McPhee said.

"He's got such a charisma, and it carries over off the ice. We knew he was going to be an exceptional player, but we had no idea he'd have this kind of impact. Hockey players aren't asked to go to the (WHCA) dinner. They just have never been that visible in this town before Alex. I'm not sure that I ever expected it to be at this level."

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