If Alex Ovechkin is cognizant that the rehabilitation of an entire franchise rests squarely on his broad shoulders, he's doing a good job of masking it.
The 20-year-old Moscow native - the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NHL entry draft by the Washington Capitals prior to the league's year-long shutdown - contends that he's content to skate his wing and simply be a team guy.
"One player cannot win games," the rookie left wing said. "You win games with all players, [the] whole team."
But so far, the 6-foot-2, 216-pound Ovechkin has been the whole team. With 15 goals and 10 assists in his first 24 games, he's not only the leading scorer for the 8-14-2 Capitals but is also among the top 10 goal-scorers in the league.
He has been in a neck-and-neck race with the other NHL wunderkind, Pittsburgh Penguins rookie Sidney Crosby, who has 12 goals and 16 assists in 25 games for the 7-12-6 Penguins. Crosby was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft.
Ovechkin and Crosby represent a substantial portion of the new foundation on which the battered league hopes to rebuild its credibility. And in Washington, where attendance has been chronically low, some sort of jump-start is critical.
"There are always two things at play on a superstar," said Capitals center Jeff Halpern, who grew up in the Washington area. "One is trying to prove himself, prove his worth not only to his team but around the league.
"But also when you are in Alex's position, it's important to remember that the team you're involved with, those are the guys that you become their identity. So everything he does is a reflection on this team. That's a lot of pressure to put on a young kid."
So far, Ovechkin has been universally praised for how he has handled his introduction to North American hockey.
He turned down what would have been more guaranteed money to continue playing in Russia in order to pursue his childhood ambition of playing in the NHL. Ovechkin would have received about $1.9 million, after taxes, to play in his homeland. Instead, he opted for $984,000 in guaranteed money to play for Washington, but can earn an additional $2.8 million in incentives.
"He has size, strength, vision and speed - and he shoots the puck dead-on," Flyers general manager Bob Clarke said. "He's only 20 years old and he's a major force. When he matures, he'll be dominating."
When Ovechkin first arrived in the United States before the season, his single-mindedness was evident.
