CBC-Sports

Ovechkin must accept his medicine

December 4, 2009 01:44 PM | Posted by   Mike Milbury  

Yikes. The most exciting player in the game is now a wanted man. It's always news when one of the sport’s best players gets suspended, but this is getting a bit ridiculous.

Don Cherry was first on this bandwagon some time ago, not just with Ovechkin's celebratory post-goal dances, but also with his reckless play. Ovechkin's hit on Sergei Gonchar last year should have lead to a suspension and this second infraction on Tim Gleason made it a lay up for Colin Campbell.

Two games on the sidelines and coughing up a nice chunk of change should be enough to make him somewhat reflective. His coach has described the hit as reckless and his owner, Ted Leonsis, has advised him to stay the course, but be respectful.

And if this remedy doesn't cause some tweaking to his game, then he should be prepared to meet a couple of fourth-line enforcers down the road. Now that would be fun to see!

Ovechkin a microcosm of his team

One way or another, he is going to make an adjustment. All players do. And if it isn't a suspension, a heads up from the coach or a punch in the nose … it may take an injury, and we all hope it won't come to that. He's too much fun to watch!

What has to happen here is that Ovechkin has to accept the medicine and APPRECIATE IT. Love the swagger and the confidence of this kid, but he is a microcosm of his team right now: Skilled and wild without enough discipline and structure.

For as long as he stays healthy, Ovechkin will be brilliant, but he needs to learn the lesson that Steve Yzerman discovered what seems like forever ago. Stevie Y's numbers were great, but his team couldn't push through. It wasn't until he brought an understanding of team defence to his game did he experience the real taste of team success, a far sweeter accomplishment than individual goals.

So, this is a familiar story - the story of a talented young man who needs to take the experience and adjust. A story of a player who needs to make some sacrifices for his team, who doesn't have to be the bull in the china shop every night and who will need and hopefully get the kind of advice that strikes home.

He seems like nobody's fool. I think he'll get it. Then again, if doesn't change a thing, it will still be a blast watching him play.

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