Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Caps GM admits Ovechkin has played at 242 pounds

Ovi

Via D.C. Sports Bog (h/t Wysh), Capitals GM George McPhee spoke to ESPN 980 Tuesday and disclosed that Alex Ovechkin once played at 242 pounds. (You can download the podcast here.)

According to NHL.com, that would make him the 15th-heaviest player in the league, the same as Dustin Penner. (Though that doesn’t account for all the liars.)

McPhee noted that Ovechkin’s commitment to the game is “a lot better than it was,” but yikes – 242 pounds?

“He’s in terrific shape right now,” McPhee said. “And guys do different things in the summer. Ovi’s usually gotten by by just being a great athlete. Show up and play. And we’ve talked to him, that doesn’t happen in this league. At some point it has to kick in, you have to train, and he’s at 224 right now. And he hasn’t been at 224 in a few years.”

McPhee added: “He played at 242 once, and he got suspended for hitting a few people. And he was crushing guys, and he loved crushing guys, and we said you know what, Bruce [Boudreau] always thought he was a better player at about 227… And you can see it when he’s moving out there, he’s flying.”

It’s not clear whether Ovechkin bulked up to 242 pounds because “he loved crushing guys” or because he loved crushing booze and buffets. Teammate Brooks Laich said last year that Ovechkin is just “big boned”...

Big boned...

Anyway, McPhee also said he wants Dale Hunter to keep coaching next season and – since he believes injuries to Mike Green and Nicklas Backstrom are to blame for most of the team’s struggles – isn’t planning any big changes if the Caps miss the playoffs.

We wonder if owner Ted Leonsis feels the same way.