Alex Ovechkin and Barry Trotz are getting along just fine
Washington's Barry Trotz couldn't coach offense. Barry Trotz had trouble coaching players from Russia or former Soviet countries.
The Caps' best player just happens to be an offensive superstar from Russia. Oh wow, what a nightmare in the making!
Well, after five games, the Caps haven't lost in regulation. Alex Ovechkin -- the aforementioned referenced Russian superstar -- has five goals in five games. The Caps are fourth in the league with 3.40 goals per-game.
And now this below report from Alex Prewitt of The Washington Post that sunshine and rainbows have dawned on the Caps locker room and the Trotz/Ovechkin relationship:
“We get along great,” Trotz told Prewitt. “He’s playing great, he’s been receptive. He’s an honest player. He tells you what he thinks and that’s all a player wants from a coach. He’s really been a pleasure to coach.”
And Ovechkin?
“The atmosphere in the locker room is unbelievable.”
Let's pour some cold water on the lovefest for a second. It's five games into the season. The Capitals haven't had a long road trip yet -- they're spending the next three games in Western Canada. Long road trips tend to create adverse situations, and test player/coach relationships.
But the early returns certainly indicate that everything is moving swimmingly with Trotz and Ovechkin.
Does their relationship merit watching throughout the season? Absolutely. It'll be an ongoing storyline. But for now, to paraprhase Disney's Robin Hood ... two weeks and all's well.
