I agree with milbury. This guy eats up 9 million of the caps salary cap. He has fallen so so far from what he used to be. This is your prototypical enigmatic type player.

Posted by topshelf14 from Hockeytown, USA on 02/27/13 at 11:40 PM ET

For sure his game has dropped. But the talent just doesn’t disappear. I’d like to see where he’s at in a year or year and a half, assuming Oates and his staff and system stay in place and they achieve some stability in their coaching. He’s too talented and still at a prime age not to give a little benefit of the doubt given the instability they’ve had with their coaching and system the last few years.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 02/28/13 at 09:58 AM ET

He had one of these atrocious, no effort performances in Dallas the season before last.  We heard, admittedly indirectly, from a Dallas player that Ovechkin reeked of alchohol during the game.  It’s clearly not the sort of thing that can be substantiated but it sure makes you wonder.  He’s not been himself for a number of years.  I think, perhaps, they need to bring in a veteran leader and yank the c.  A Pronger-in-Philly situation minus the Richards/carter trades.  Of course, Chris Prongers don’t grow in trees…  Or do they?  Have we ever considered they Pronger may have been an actual ape?  Hmm.

Posted by shanetx from Floydada, Texas on 02/28/13 at 10:18 AM ET

God help me, I’m in agreement with Mike Milbury!

Posted by dwgs on 02/28/13 at 10:23 AM ET

I look at all the teams he put on the ice as a GM and then laugh when he wants to rip someone about their talent, he has no clue what talent looks like.

Posted by AzWingsFan on 02/28/13 at 02:33 PM ET

his rant wasn’t about talent, it’s about effort. ovechkin doesn’t bring nearly enough. for a change, milbury was right.

Posted by Chet from twitter: thegansen on 02/28/13 at 02:41 PM ET