Ovechkin Hockey's Mike Tyson

This Penguins versus Capitals series has been the first chance i have had to watch a significant amount of Ovechkin play the game, as i have been watching i was trying to determine which past player Ovechkin reminds me of. At first i was thinking Pavel Bure, because Bure is Russian had incredible speed, scoring ability, and never came back behind center ice to play defense. Then i decided this wasn't a great comparison because Bure wasn't as physical and didn't take as many cheap shots. After that i really couldn't think of another player that compared to his style of play.

Then a commercial came on it was a preview for a movie that had Mike Tyson in it
(I think it is called bachelor party). This got me thinking about some of the Tyson fights i had seen in the past and then it hit me, Ovechkin is the Mike Tyson of hockey. Lets compare the similarities.

1. They are both very entertaining to watch because they are not like anything we have ever seen before in there respective sports.

2. You have to respect there ability to change there fight or game in a second. Let your guard down for just a second and Tyson will knock you out just as Ovechkin can put the puck in the net that quickly.

3. Both of them are very one dimensional. All Tyson had was a ferocious upper cut that could be thrown faster and with more force than ever seen before in boxing. Unfortunately for him that is all he could do, he had no endurance, and wasn't very technically sound. In the same way Ovechkin has an ability shoot the puck and score from long distance like we have never seen in hockey. His shot is unbelievable, every time he takes a wrist shot i am amazed by how quick he gets it off and how much power is behind the shot. fortunately for Penguins and there fans that is all he can do, he can't pass, play defense, or go back behind the center ice.

4. When things aren't going there way they take cheap shots. If a fighter was winning or controlling a fight Tyson would bite his ear off. Ovechkin slew foots other super stars that are to strong for him to hit legally, leads with his knees and elbows when he gets a chance and charges other players from there blind side. It amazes me that he gets away with charging constantly, if he sees someone with there head down or he can take a blind side shot at he will come the entire way across the rink to get them.

I hope Ovechkin keeps this up until someone like an Orpik or Sean Avery finally takes a shot at him that you wouldn't normally take at a super star player and ends his career just like kasperitis and Scott Stevens did to Eric Lindros. There is no room in this league for a scummy player like him, if it wasn't for his marketability and scoring he would be suspended constantly. Since the league is not going to take action against one of its super stars it will be left up to the players to police this situation, and i promise you one of these times he is going to get caught with his head down and pay the fidler.