EHM The Blue Line

In the midst of Crosby-mania, it seems as though everyone has forgotten about 2004's number one draft pick: Alexander Ovechkin. Or at least according to Yahoo, everyone has forgotten about him. I must admit that I had. Also, I don't think Tasku has mentioned him this season, either.

Anyway, he's doing very well so far (he's got one more point than Crosby): 6GP 4G 3A

I must remember to keep an eye out for him from now on.

Also to keep an eye on "in the shadow of Crosby" would be Eric Staal from CAR. I watched him in a game this past week and he looked pretty awesome, scoring two goals.

Through four games this season, Staal has five goals, three assists and is a plus-2. The announcers were saying that he'd said that Crosby-mania was a lot of what was motivating him. He was the 2nd overall pick in the 2003 draft. He had 26g and 51a last year in the AHL; a league known for being a difficult league to put up points in.

His brother Mark, a defenseman, was taken as the 15th overall pick this year but a lot of people thought he'd go earlier maybe even to Carolina to possibly play with his bro.

I did notice Ovechkin's been pretty busy, and that's why I drafted him in Fantasy Hockey.

What makes his 4+3=7 even more incredible, is the fact that he's playing for Washington!

A definate future star. No doubt.

the best thing that can happen for the NHL and for everyone is the Capitals being moved. Ovechkin will be a huge star, but Crosby is still 18, Ovechkin is more top-flight seasoned ( Russia ), i expect Crosby to be definitely a 100pts guy as will Ovechkin

oh and Jagr is 6+4=10!

Ive watched Ovechkin a couple of game this year and he does look good. He will be a future star if not one now. I still think Crosby will be better considering he is only 18 but im also very biased i live in Pittsburgh. Staal is off to a great start but im more impressed with the play of C. Ward(drafted both Staal and Ward in fantasy hockey )

I think that Ovechkin will have a season similar to Rick Nash last (played) year; obviously an indicator of elite talent and yet heavily weighted in goals showing that he was on most nights 'doing it all himself'. I wonder if he will get a bit of a 'Pavel Bure' reputation though or even the kind of reputation Jagr/Mogliny have in that they are players people always attatch conditions to their accomplishments: "He's a great player but ___________ "

Crosby has a vastly superior group of players that can make something of his passes as well as exploit opposing team's over-focus upon him. That should lead to Crosby probably having less goals but substantially more assists and probably overall points.

As players, statistically, they will be close. However an unfortunate portion of the potential of them as "stars" is in that Crosby is a charismatic good lookin white kid in a league that is looking to market itself to the 'Average North American'. So, Ovechkin may become seen as the next Federov but Crosby is much more likely to be able to become the next Gretzky.