The NHL Redux: New World Ovi

Alex Ovechkin hasn't changed all that much.

He's still a biomechanical marvel wielding a deadly harpoon. He presents a mix of speed and strength capable of enough inertia to carry him through any opponent. He still has that larger-than-life, showman personality and a nose that's been dirtied a time or two.

He's still scoring in bunches, and after whizzing No. 39 through Marc-Andre Fleury on Wednesday, he's on the cusp of 40 goals for the seventh time in his nine full seasons.

But what has changed is his efficiency from year-to-year; his career arc falls well short of a flowing masterpiece.

It's no secret: Ovechkin's effectiveness is tied to the accord shared with who's running the Washington Capitals' bench. It's a position of rehashed success, soured relationships and perpetual transition.

The original coach-killer, Ovechkin had the finger pointed toward him long before it was directed elsewhere. But this isn't a story of malevolence - there are born hazards associated when aligning with a superstar.

Like strapping yourself to a torpedo.

Ovechkin was polished when he broke into the league under Glen Hanlon and topped Sidney Crosby in Calder Trophy voting with 52 goals and 106 points. The team's record didn't matter then, and shouldn't have the year after, but sophomore regression saw Hanlon become first to take aim at Ovechkin.

Bruce Boudreau unseated Hanlon into his fourth season and came from the AHL demanding accountability.

Together, they sizzled. Ovechkin scored 331 points in three seasons, led the league in goals at even strength and went on to three Southeast Division titles. But in staying true to his word, Boudreau disciplined his star for failing to fulfill 200-foot obligations. Shortly thereafter, seven explicit letters were muttered, and the coach was pink-slipped with a 201-88-40 overall record.

"Bruce came in here and emptied the tank," then GM George McPhee said after Boudreau was fired. "He gave it everything he could and did a really good job, but the tank was empty. When that happens, you get a new coach, where the tank is full and see if it makes a difference."

In came legendary Capitals enforcer and checking guru Dale Hunter, who undercut the star's offensive talent in an effort to win at all costs. Trapped, as Ovechkin described, he finished with a career-low 65 points playing third-line minutes on a team muted of its creativity. 

Ovechkin finally had reason to gripe, but he was done muttering obscenities. 

"He never said anything back to me. He never back-talked," Hunter said in retrospect. "He listened to the video. He never said nothing. So definitely he was coachable that way where he tried to do what I told him. He could have given me attitude - he had none. He listened."

Ovechkin was reintroduced to the world under Adam Oates, who moved him back to right wing. There, he scored enough goals to lead the league (and make both year-end All-Star teams), but lost his way defensively, finishing the season with a 35.5 Goals For percentage in Oates' final season.

And with that came a summer at a crossroads for the Caps, who absolutely could not afford a mistake with Ovechkin a season away from having his salary jump to eight figures through 2021.

Enter Barry Trotz.

"I made it pretty simple," Trotz said this week. "I asked him, 'when you have the puck, I want you to do what you do, and when you don't have the puck I want you to do what I want you to do.'"

Simple advice, profound results.

Ovechkin is a Hart Trophy candidate yet again. He's the NHL's top goal-scorer, as lethal as ever with the man advantage, and leads Washington's regulars in possession - his benefit no far outweighing defensive liabilities at even strength.

This isn't just as simple as Trotz's presence, a flip back to left wing or a plan without the puck - this has been years in the making for Ovechkin. He, like anyone else, has grown from different voices pushing and pulling him in opposite directions and has absorbed advice from the men who perished for the cause.

His start with Hanlon, bloom under Boudreau, a heaping slab of humble pie from Hunter, recovery under Oates and finally, a perfect fit with Trotz.

So don't blame Ovechkin - it's just the nature of the gig. Some superstars leave casualties behind, but are much better because of them.

The Next 48

New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET

When a team can make significant strides in burying a division rival, and it's just a subplot - you know it's a good one.

Kimmo Timonen is expected to return to the Flyers lineup Saturday against the team he last suited up against 10 months ago in a must-win versus the Rangers. His return figures to be the emotional shot in the arm the Flyers require to continue pushing toward the final postseason position.

While it's impossible to track down New York, or any other Metropolitan team for the matter, the Flyers simply cannot afford a third straight loss in pursuit of the Bruins. 

Meanwhile, the Rangers have risen to top spot in the division in the absence of all-world netminder Henrik Lundqvist, collecting points 18 points in their last 10 games. 

Los Angeles Kings at Winnipeg Jets: Sunday, 4 p.m. ET

The Kings will look to improve on their undefeated in regulation 7-0-3 overall record versus the Jets/Thrashers franchise on Sunday. 

Oh, and keep pace in the Western Conference playoff chase. 

Despite their loss Thursday versus the Senators, the Kings are quite snug in their playoff seeding. With the Sharks and Flames having hit a speed bump, Los Angeles is seeded the Pacific Division's top three and own games in hand on anyone who can threaten their positioning.

The Jets, though, aren't experiencing such comfort. They do lead the wild card race by three points, but their 19 remaining games and total ROW is fewest among teams in contention for spring hockey.

The Pylon

When there's smoke, there's fire and when there's blood, well, you've gone too far, Cal Clutterbuck. 

The Islanders agitator is being accused of spitting at Daniel Sedin after having his mouth gashed open in Sunday's loss to the Canucks.

Unfortunately, there's no evidence to support Vancouver's claim, but it's hard to believe the Sedin brothers would manufacture such a lie.

Parting Shots

Ten major trades so far = ten takes.

1) Tyler Myers has been sensational since joining the Jets, collecting five points, 16 shots, has averaged more than 30 shifts per night since his debut. Oh, and this:

2) Jhonas Enroth has done nothing to convince the Stars he's the long-term solution down the road. Anders Lindback stopped pucks at a greater rate than Enroth has shown since coming over.

3) Cody Franson hasn't burst onto the scene with Nashville. He was reduced to just three shifts in the third period versus the Wild, and along with partner Ryan Ellis, didn't play a moment past the 11:06 mark of the period.

4) Sorry, still trying to wrap my head around the Jiri Sekac-Devante Smith-Pelly swap.

5) The Wild paid the same price for Sean Bergenheim as they did Devan Dubnyk. We promise he won't have the same impact.

6) Toronto maximizes the stockpiling of picks with a second and a fourth for Daniel Winnik, while the Penguins are now officially running the taps dry on draft selections.

7) The Jets pay a cheaper price to land Jiri Tlusty moments after Winnik exits the market. The former Hurricane is better served to help crutch the loss of 34 goals between Mathieu Perreault and Blake Wheeler. 

8) Dean Lombardi forfeits a first-round pick to solve a problem hanging over the Kings since the season's outset. Justin Faulk inherits Drew Doughty's extra ice.

9) Sorry, not interested in Jaromir Jagr playing on a line with two players who can't combine to amount to his age if it means no playoffs.

10) I'd give Dave Nonis credit, but any schlub in Toronto could have said "Yes." Columbus introduced the David Clarkson proposal to the Maple Leafs. Unbelievable.