| Neuvirth doesn't see the same Great 8 of old, either. (US Presswire) |
Like most players, Washington Capitals goaltender Michal Neuvirth is back at his home over the summer, relaxing in the offseason while the labor issues go on. But in talking to a Czech Republic outlet he said some things -- a lot of things -- that are making waves back in Washington and the NHL.
Let's just get right into it (all translation via Russian Machine Never Breaks), shall we? In the last few seasons Neuvirth has battled Semyon Varlamov and Tomas Vokoun for the starting job and didn't win either time. He has no doubt the third time won't be the charm, after all, he's just competing against Braden Holtby this time around.
It’s true that until now, I have never been an official number one. But I have played just over a hundred games in NHL. That’s nothing. I’m starting the season sure that I want to play forty/fifty games and I am really sure that I have the weakest competition [Braden Holtby] I’ve ever had. I will try to be number one goalie this season. Finally!
OK, before I start to go a little crazy and wonder what he was thinking with that line, he did clarify himself to make it a little better.
He sure is a great goalie. But I can’t compare him to Voky or Varlamov, that’s what I meant. In comparison to those two, he played nothing in the NHL and that’s why I take him as the weakest of them three. I’m definitely not saying that he is bad, not at all. I actually like the way he plays. But he is the worst of them three, that’s all.
Well if experience is all that makes you good then Dwayne Roloson would have won the Vezina last season. Holtby doesn't have a long track record in the NHL, that's a fact so no disagreement there, his numbers in that time are incredibly solid. Are they likely to stay that way? No. I just hope Neuvirth doesn't think the .903 save percentage from last season is going to get it done.
Neuvirth might feel like he got Wally Pipped here, losing the spot in the playoffs due to injury and watching Holtby just run away with the job. That's understandable. But Pipp didn't regain the position from the unheralded Lou Gehrig after that. I'm not trying to say Holtby is Gehrig, just that an injury opened the door and apparently opened the eyes of management as to what Holtby can do. Neuvirth has stiff competition.
Just to avoid any awkward reunions or anything, Neuvirth did say he doesn't dislike Holtby, they're amicable. He and Holtby aren't exactly himself and Tomas Vokoun, the Caps' Czech duo of last season who became tight friends, but they're OK with each other. That might have changed a little bit with this.
Did the conversation stop there with Holtby? Of course not. Why would it when the one of the league's most talked-about and criticized players is on the same team as Neuvirth? That of course would be the one and only Alex Ovechkin.
He isn’t what he used to be, that’s for sure. And if a team like ours wants to have a chance in Stanley Cup, we need Ovi to be the best. We all expect that from him; he has to be the real leader. But it’s hard you know, he achieved everything as a player. He was on absolute top, and then one can only fall down. I just hope that Ovi will stop falling and instead stops and maybe tries to get back on top. As for his attitude in the locker, he is still the same guy. Even when it’s not working out for him, he is in a good mood, he celebrates with the others. He is the right team player. He will stay like that forever.
It was honest, I'll give him that, but probably nothing too earth-shattering there. Everybody who watches hockey -- or even just looks at the box scores -- could see that Ovechkin isn't the same that he was a few seasons ago.
I would argue that he didn't achieve everything as a player. Winning the Stanley Cup might be a team award, but no doubt it goes on personal resumes. Think about the Hall of Fame discussion every time it comes up and how often the Cup question is raised.
Anyway, back to the really salacious stuff. What would a summer be without another parting shot at Alexander Semin from an ex-teammate? Last summer it was Matt Bradley publicly criticizing Semin's much-maligned work ethic before apologizing. Now it's Neuvirth's turn (to make the criticism, not apologize for it).
I see the leaving of Semin as a huge minus for the team, but then again I think it may do some good. He didn’t have the best work ethic. Maybe now when Ovi will be without him, he will put more into hockey. Maybe that’s what the management was going for.
...
I think it’s nothing that isn’t well known. If Semin wanted to, he could have been the best player in the world, but he doesn’t want to every day. And that’s wrong.
We've heard that line a time or 10. It's a perception that Semin will never be able to shake, it has come from too many people within the dressing room. It's one thing when Pierre McGuire says such things about Semin on live TV, it's another when guys who played alongside him every day for years say it.
Neuvirth had a lot more to say, if you can believe it. Check out the two parts of the interview (Part I and Part II). There's talk about Vokoun going to Pittsburgh and the coaching change from Dale Hunter to Adam Oates (spoiler: Neuvirth likes it).
If nothing else, Neuvirth just put a ton of pressure on himself. After this wide-ranging conversation he would be best served to come to camp whenever that is and play his tail off. If you go spouting off like he has here -- which I personally don't mind -- then you better be able to perform.
All that's left for me to wonder after that interview is how Neuvirth feels about Slapshot.
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