Ovechkin has zero defensive zone faceoffs in 10 NHL games.
So, let's talk about Alex Ovechkin. The Great Eight, the guy whose office is usually stationed in that left-wing circle, waiting for a one-timer that’s as inevitable as death and taxes, is currently starring in one of the most fascinating coaching maneuvers of the young NHL season.Through the Washington Capitals' first ten games, the 40-year-old captain has been putting up a respectable 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists) with a plus-4 rating, but the real story isn't on the score sheet—it's in the dots. For the first time in what feels like forever, Ovechkin has taken precisely zero defensive zone faceoffs.Not one. Zip.Nada. Head coach Spencer Carbery has made a deliberate, and frankly brilliant, tactical shift to deploy Ovi exclusively for offensive and neutral zone draws.The numbers are stark: 30 starts in the neutral zone and a whopping 45 in the attacking zone. This isn't just a minor lineup tweak; it's a full-scale optimization of a legendary asset.Think of it like managing LeBron James in his later years—you don't waste his energy chasing point guards around screens on defense; you save his legs for the explosive drives to the basket that break the game open. Carbery is doing the hockey equivalent, sheltering Ovechkin from the grueling, thankless defensive-zone battles that drain stamina and increase injury risk, instead positioning him as a pure, unadulterated offensive weapon the moment the puck drops in favorable territory.This strategy speaks volumes about the evolution of Ovechkin's role and the modern NHL's hyper-specialization. He's no longer the 25-year-old wrecking ball who could log 22 minutes a night in all situations; he's a seasoned veteran whose singular, unparalleled talent is scoring goals.By eliminating his defensive-zone starts, Carbery is essentially giving Ovechkin a head start on his hunt for Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record, maximizing the chances that his shifts begin with the puck on his stick and the net in his sights. It’s a move that shows a deep understanding of analytics and player management, and it's clearly paying dividends for a Capitals team that has managed to snag 6 wins out of those 10 games, defying preseason expectations.This isn't about Ovechkin being a defensive liability; it's about recognizing that his value is so astronomically high in one specific area that it's a net loss for the team to have him anywhere else for a faceoff. It’s a masterclass in playing chess, not checkers, with your aging superstar, and for Caps fans, it’s a thrilling glimpse of a game plan designed to squeeze every last drop of greatness from their icon.
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