Alexander Ovechkin
Russian professional ice hockey left winger for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League.
My goal is the same, work like last year, play hard all the time. Try and score goals.
He's getting wrapped up before the game and iced down after it. And you see that and you might have an injury, but you are like, 'Well, if Ovie can go out there and skate as hard as he does, I can go out there.' That rubs off on guys a lot, too.
Sometimes I want to joke but my English isn't perfect. Sometimes people are wondering what I'm talking about.
He's one of the worst practice players I've played with. He rests and when the game comes, he flips the switch on. He plays a dominant physical style, so I think he just relaxes in practice and as a veteran player, I admire that.
He's obviously a dynamic player that you have to pay attention to when he's out there.
We're young and we just have fun and right now we're here in the all-star game and it's unbelievable.
I don't think about (being) the face of the NHL - I just enjoy my time right now. Playing in the NHL was my dream come true and I'm playing with great players. I feel trust and I'm happy because I'm having the time of my life.
I don't want to play for a no-good team. I want to win. I want to be on a good team like we see right now. We have great young guys. We have great experienced guys. Everything goes up.
He's a fantastic player. I don't know what else you guys can write about him, but he's the best I've ever played with.
We never give up, we believe in each other, we believe in the coach, we believe in everybody. Only when you believe do you win the Stanley Cup.
You can't just stand and say to yourself, 'OK, right now I'm the best. That's it. No more working.' If you're a good player you have to be working harder and harder. This is not just my goal, it's my team goal. We can improve more and we can probably be even better than last year. My dream is to be the best.
He's got Mike Bossy's hands, Jari Kurri's on-ice awareness, and Mark Messier's physicality.
You can have the best skill in the world, but he has lots of will and that’s why he’s great. You look at the great young players around the league, including our players that we have here, and it’s their will. That’s what separates great players from medium players.
I always look forward to playing in Toronto because it's such a historic city when it comes to hockey.
Alex, you just enjoy watching because he's like a bull in a china shop. And he does everything. He's got all the great skills, and he can run over you as well.
I have a lot of respect for Ovechkin as a player. I like his enthusiasm. I know the kid has a zest for life and a joy for the game.
It was a good year. When I win the Stanley Cup, I'll say it's my best year.
He's a great player. Everybody knows that. He's a very dangerous player, but if you limit his speed and time to make plays it's tough for anybody. It wasn't just me, it was the whole team playing well defensively against that line.
I'm ready. They hit me hard. I hit them hard. Doesn't matter who hits. What matters is results.
My dream has come true. I play with the great players and on a great team. I'm smiling and happy and enjoying the time of my life.