Alex Ovechkin. Mention it and it gives a shiver to the spines of hockey lovers—it is as good as saying greatness. And only a few hours ago, the legend scored the 891st goal of his career for the Washington Capitals in the match against Boston Bruins in the TD Garden. With a silky power-play finish, Ovi put his squad up 2-0, thanks to a crisp setup from John Carlson and a slick one-touch backhand assist from Dylan Strome. The 39-year-old sniper is still running the show, leading the Caps with 38 goals in just 58 games this season—even after battling back from a fractured left fibula. Yeah, nothing’s stopping this guy.
The man has spent two decades proving doubters wrong, racking up 891 goals in 1,484 games—all with the Capitals, the team that made him the No. 1 pick back in 2004. Gretzky may have set the bar at 894, but Ovi’s got that record in his sights, and if history has taught us anything, it’s that betting against The Russian Machine is a losing game. Now, with just four goals separating him from The Great One himself, the internet is digging up Ovi’s legendary clapback to Don Cherry’s old criticism.
Back in the day, Don wasn’t exactly a fan of Ovi’s electric goal celebrations, calling him out with a classic Cherry take: “Acting like an idiot jumping around. I tried to tell him don’t do it. I’m gonna tell you what this guy—he’s got a free ride. He runs, a guy, he does this stuff, I am predicting someone’s going to get him and somebody’s going to get him good.” Basically, Don wasn’t having any of Ovi’s high-energy, high-emotion style, and he wanted the Great 8 to tone it down. Spoiler alert: Ovi did not tone it down.
When asked about it, Ovi hit back in the most Ovechkin way possible—by giving the most hilariously savage response while literally acting like a robot. “Old people, you know like… They’re like when people show some energy, some emotions… So they’re like robots,” he said. “You can go like this. You have to skate like this…No celebration when you score goal. Thank you, Don,” he continued as he imitated robotic movements and sounds. Yep, he mocked Cherry’s old-school, no-fun hockey philosophy right on camera. Fast forward to today, and Ovi’s just four goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record—so yeah, the celebrations definitely aren’t stopping anytime soon.
But where did all this drama even start? Let’s rewind the clock to over a decade ago—back when a young and passionate Alex Ovechkin was electrifying the NHL and challenging the no-fun NHL. The moment? His iconic 50th goal of the season against the Tampa Bay Lightning. And Ovi, being Ovi, didn’t just score—he set the ice on fire with his now-legendary “Hot Stick” celebration, acting like his stick was too hot to handle. It was bold, flashy, and straight-up electric. But, of course, not everyone was a fan. Enter Don Cherry, who went full old-school hockey mode, using his Coach’s Corner segment to tell the GR8 to “get some class.”
Ovechkin, though? Oh, he wasn’t about to take that lying down. It didn’t take long for him to fire back in the classic Ovi manner by referring to Cherry as an “old guy”, then things escalated and he started doing the robot during an interview with Rachel Nichols for ESPN. Mockery, but make it hilarious. And now? Fast forward to today, and the same energy Ovi was criticized for is exactly what makes him a legend. While Cherry might have rolled his eyes at Ovi’s flair, today’s young guns are watching The Russian Machine and taking notes—because let’s be real, who wouldn’t want to play like the guy who’s about to pass Gretzky?
Alex Ovechkin as a role model for youngsters!
Logan Cooley was just learning how to walk when Sidney Crosby began his NHL career, and he has been a fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins, his hometown team, winning several Stanley Cups. However, when it came to choosing a favorite hockey player? The only answer was clear: Alex Ovechkin. “That’s the real one,” Cooley said, now skating for the Utah Hockey Club. “He was my favorite player growing up.” And honestly, he wasn’t alone. For two decades, Ovi’s raw power, thunderous slap shots, and fearless, hit-first-ask-questions-later style have made him the kind of player kids all over the world wanted to be. From the ice rinks of the United States to the ice surfaces of Canada and his native Russia, children have been dressing up in yellow skate laces, tinted visors and that Ovi attitude.
Now, with the 39-year-old legend closing in on The Great One’s all-time goal record, he’s facing off against the same players who once had his name stitched on their jerseys. “I had Ovechkin jerseys, and everyone did. Who didn’t?” said Brock Faber of the Minnesota Wild. “Everyone always wanted to be Ovi.” That’s the impact he’s had—whether it was his rookie season lighting up the league, his record-shattering power-play goals, or that unforgettable moment lifting the Stanley Cup in 2018, Ovi has been more than a player. His fellow Russian, Ivan Miroshnichenko, summed it up best: “He’s a big, Russian man. He’s a legend.”
From Finland to North America, players such as Vladislav Namestnikov consider Ovi as the guy who “opened up the doors for everyone else.” And for Wyatt Johnston, who was still in diapers when Ovechkin and Crosby took over the league, the star power still hits different. “They’ve dominated the league for as long as I’ve lived,” he said. Whether it’s young stars idolizing him or former teammates like Nate Schmidt still marveling at what he can do on the ice, one thing’s clear—Ovi’s story isn’t just about scoring goals. It’s about inspiring a generation.
The post Alex Ovechkin’s Iconic Reply to Don Cherry Criticism Resurfaces as Wayne Gretzky’s Record Nears appeared first on EssentiallySports.