Gonchar's agent blasts NHL after no Ovechkin suspension

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As Sean Leahy wrote this morning, whether Alexander Ovechkin's (notes) knee-on-knee hit on Pittsburgh defenseman Sergei Gonchar (notes) in Game 4 deserved a suspension was a point of debate; what wasn't in question was that the Penguins' best defenseman was going to miss some time.

Make that a long, long time according to Darren Dreger of TSN, who reported this afternoon that the knee injury will cause Gonchar to "miss the next several weeks."

Dreger also published an on-the-record comment from Gonchar's agent J.P. Barry about Ovechkin that was absolutely devastating in its candor:

''We now have Exhibit A of the extreme double standard that exists in the NHL's approach to discipline. Alex clearly cuts back with his knee after missing his check with devastating results. But of course, because it's Alex, its all Sergei's fault,'' Barry told TSN.
''It was a extremely negligent hit and if anyone else in this league does the same we all know they will face serious discipline,'' Barry continued. ''Part of being 'great' means playing with respect.''

Wow. Not only does Barry label Ovechkin as a disrespectful player, but he calls out the NHL for blatant protectionism. Sure, he's caught up in the emotions of the moment; but damn if that isn't one of the most scathing indictments of a star player we've read in quite some time.

Ovechkin didn't deserve a suspension, mind you, for the hit on Gonchar. The more you view the clip, the more accidental it seems. It's a reckless play that deserved more than a minor penalty, but it wasn't an intentional attempt to cripple Gonchar.

That said, Barry's completely correct when he says there's a double-standard for Ovechkin's hits at times. Especially the ones on which he leaves his skates.

So it's Alex Goligoski time for the Penguins, who face the Washington Capitals in a critical Game 5 tonight in D.C. I'll be following the game on Twitter and here on Puck Daddy. Let's see if Simeon Varlamov (notes) shakes off Game 4.

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1. Posted by FavreRules Sat May 09, 2009 4:36 pm EDT
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THANK U PUCK DADDY! It was NOT intentional! I have watched the clip over and over, and them ore i watch it the more you can see he was going for a SCOTT STEVENS type hit, Gonchar moved, but he only moved his upper body. Ovechkin was coming in, so he tried to lift his leg to miss him, and wham-o! If he hadn't, than Oveckin would have been the one hurt, and pitts fans would be rejoicing. It was a dangerous play, but not dirty!
2. Posted by FavreRules Sat May 09, 2009 4:36 pm EDT
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i mean not intentional...sorry
3. Posted by FavreRules Sat May 09, 2009 4:37 pm EDT
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oh and first, second and third!
4. Posted by Pittsburgh SportsWorld Sat May 09, 2009 4:49 pm EDT
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What goes around come around. Every dog has his day baby.
5. Posted by Pittsburgh SportsWorld Sat May 09, 2009 4:50 pm EDT
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Oh, and i suppose Ovechkin wasnt trying to shoot the puck at Scuderi's head with 8 seconds left in the game either, eh?
6. Posted by blah Sat May 09, 2009 4:50 pm EDT
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he took a run at a player with his head down.
ovie is a coward. he made the same attempt on orpik in game 3. he sees a dman corral a puck and even though the puck will clearly be gone before he gets there, he takes 5-6 strides and doesn't even put a stick out to deflect the pass.
And don't give me ... he is a tough player playing the body ... he is wreckless player who launches himself off the ice to try and hurt players ...
he is always charging the back of a player on the boards.
he is a coward ...
Karma is coming for you Ogre-chkin
he is dirty.
7. Posted by AdamH Sat May 09, 2009 4:51 pm EDT
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Just stand your ground, take the hit, and move on. Of course, Gonch would then be viewed 6 million times for "The greatest hit in playoff history" on YouTube and every other video site out there. Next time, move your body AND your leg, just like American Express, "Don't leave home without it!". That last line goes for Semin too, QUIT LEAVING THE DAMN PUCK BEHIND YOU WHEN YOU TRY TO CURL AND DRAG AROUND A DEFENDER!
8. Posted by KC Sat May 09, 2009 4:52 pm EDT
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Anybody remember Brooks Orpik's hit on Eric Cole? He almost killed Eric, two vertebrae bones in the neck were broken. And now this pig is preaching for a fare play? So pathetic! As of Barry the agent? Economy is bad, unemployment is growing, he risks to lose his job if he won't post his pathetic statements. The whole hockey world watched it, not just the NHL, and the verdict is, unless you are a Pens fan, it was not dirty, it was not intentional.
Go, Chiefs!
9. Posted by JD Sat May 09, 2009 4:55 pm EDT
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It was a dirty hit. I can't believe people are defending Ovechkin here.
10. Posted by KC Sat May 09, 2009 4:56 pm EDT
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@PensPigsSmell he took a run at a player with his head down.
bwahaha, If Gonch had his head down, how he almost avoided the hit? You need to go back in times when there's no YouTube. Maybe there they will believe you.
11. Posted by TheSchwab Sat May 09, 2009 4:58 pm EDT
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It doesn't matter if the hit was intentional or not, its still BS because if any other player does this two things happen immdietly after:
1) Scrum as the team that got hit goes after the player who laid the knee to knee
2) A fine or suspension, most likely.
But Ovechkin gets to do whatever he wants because he's Ovechkin. Funny how he runs around and lays the big hits but wont drop the gloves when it comes down to it. At least Crosby drops 'em.
12. Posted by Tacks Sat May 09, 2009 5:00 pm EDT
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Simeon Varlamov played like Simeon Varlamov last night. I hope I pronounced his name properly. Hey Wysh saw your boy Shanny last night having a little dinner in the UWS
13. Posted by Amit Sat May 09, 2009 5:00 pm EDT
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It wasn't intentional?? well have you looked at this picture?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3615/3513514807_bd057d0ed6.jpg?v=0
Clearly his right knee is sticking out. As expected, the league does not have the stones to suspend him.
14. Posted by the King Sat May 09, 2009 5:00 pm EDT
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you have to have seen it in the course of the game and ovechkin was going to hit gonchar but gonchar moved out of the way which changed the hit. it was clearly an accident. had gonchar not moved, he may have been knocked down, but would not have been injured.
you cannot trust what the penguins players or coaches say, since they are trying to affect ovie and the caps. similarly you have to take what the caps say with a grain of salt, but if you looked at it full speed in the course of the game, it should not even have been a penalty.
if it was a penalty, then there are a lot of other penalties non-called, especially on the penguins.
15. Posted by btumpak Sat May 09, 2009 5:01 pm EDT
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AO still takes stupid runs at players. His day will come...
16. Posted by Kristan Sat May 09, 2009 5:02 pm EDT
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Barry is spot on, if its another player, they are fined at minimum. he gets off because of who he is. I don't think he should be suspended but it should have been a 5min major and fined.
CBC Greg Millen called it right too last night on HNIC, wondering how long Ovechkin career can last playing reckless, borderline hockey (his words).
17. Posted by David N Sat May 09, 2009 5:08 pm EDT
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seriously any one defending ov should just quit watching hockey I have a picture that clearly shows him leading with the knee
18. Posted by rob Sat May 09, 2009 5:09 pm EDT
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how is this hit any different from the one hartnell laid on letang in game 1 of the pit/phi series? it wasn't. the only difference was the injury. hartnell got no suspension and he has a rap sheet, so why on earth would ao be suspended.
19. Posted by The tackle Sat May 09, 2009 5:10 pm EDT
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i hate ovechkin. dirty. he will get his. it all comes around in this world.
20. Posted by BD Sat May 09, 2009 5:10 pm EDT
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So Penguin fans are griping about the hit. Need you be reminded about another player who got away with a cheap shot. Ulf Samelsson on Cam Neely. I don't remember you guys apologizing for that one. Get over it. It happened and it's done with.
21. Posted by Teddy KGB Sat May 09, 2009 5:17 pm EDT
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You lift your leg so the person with the planted leg takes the brunt of the impact. You use your skate as a weight and kick through their knee basically. Anyone who says that was accidential is a moron, plain and simple. Alex wasn't getting his way, and became the cry-baby like he always is when he's not getting his way.
Whenever he is contained he starts to take runs at players, take bad penalties, and on occasion shoot the puck at players heads(ask Rob Scuderi about last night). I've always respected him as a great hockey player, but being a great hockey player sometimes you have to show some sportsmanship...which he clearly does not have.
Personally if I were Dan Bylsma's tongiht Iwould put Eric Goddard in the lineup for one reason.....to take his stick and swing ti like a baseball bat at Ovechkin. Then pound him into the ice like Bertuzzi did to Steve Moore. Anything that comes out of it the rest of the team pitches in for fines etc etc against Goddard.
If the NHL isn't going to take action the you do what good ole Red does in Slapshot and you put a bounty on the mans' head.
22. Posted by crichard_1 Sat May 09, 2009 5:21 pm EDT
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I suppose here in comment-land anyone can comment. But is a player's agent a legitimate news source? He has a financial interest here. Wouldn't a real journalist weigh that?
23. Posted by AJ P Sat May 09, 2009 5:22 pm EDT
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Yep, just like Ulf.
So in the future, when remembering Ovechkin, and his name pops up in discussions of Ott, Brashear, Samuellson, and Graves, instead of discussions about Gretsky and Lemieux, you shouldn't be surprised.
Being audience of career will make their own decisions on the kind of player he is, which suits me just fine.
24. Posted by Ovechkin8 Sat May 09, 2009 5:29 pm EDT
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Would this be the same JP Barry that Ovechkin fired? No conflict there. Great reporting Whysh. As for Penwhine fans there are hilarious. Numerous cheap shots by Kunitz and Cooke, whining by Crysbaby and now because Gonchar is too slow to get out of the way big bad Ovechkin is a meanie! Go polish your I-Roc's losers.