Barry Trotz admits he was wrong about Alex Ovechkin

Kevin Allen | USA TODAY Sports

Barry Trotz concedes his assessment of Alex Ovechkin as a player and person is far different from what it was before he became his coach.

"I totally miscast him from afar," the Washington Capitals coach told USA TODAY Sports. "Perception is reality, and my perception was all off."

When Trotz was hired by the Capitals, he thought he was inheriting a rebellious player who would be difficult to coach. What he discovered was that he inherited a one-of-a-kind player who is fascinating to coach.

"I call him fearless," Trotz said. "He is not scared of any player in the league. He is not scared of having to play against top players. He is not scared of criticism. He is not scared of accountability. He is not scared of coaching. He is a stand-up guy. He shoulders more of everything than is imaginable. And he does a lot in the community."

Boasting 49 goals, Ovechkin goes into tonight's home game against the Carolina Hurricanes looking to record his sixth 50-goal season in 10 NHL seasons.

With point production among premium players at historic lows this season, Ovechkin entered Monday nine goals ahead of his two closest competitors.

Eleven players had managed to score 30 goals this season.

To appreciate how dominant Ovechkin can be, consider that he has scored 22 goals in his past 28 games at a time when everyone is lamenting how difficult it is to score in this league.

Over his first 10 seasons, he is averaging 47 goals a season.

As dominant as Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby has been, he has scored 47 or more once. Anaheim Ducks winger Corey Perry has done it once, and the New York Rangers Rick Nash and Chicago Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have never scored that many.

"Ovi can change a game in so many different ways," Trotz said. "He can change it with his physicality. He can change it with pure skill, one-on-one, or change it with high-skill execution with a quick strike on the power play or the rush."

His shot is hockey's version of a supernova, an explosion that outshines his galaxy.

"Most guys need the puck in their wheelhouse," Trotz said. "He doesn't. His shot explodes on goalies."

Given Ovechkin's remarkable production, the question you have to ask is why he has faced so much criticism in his career.

Last season, Ovechkin scored 51 goals, and the prevailing story line was his minus 35 plus-minus. He has been criticized because the Capitals have not won. He has been criticized as being overly flamboyant. He has been accused of not being coachable.

But Trotz has found Ovechkin extremely coachable.

"There are a lot of sensitive players in the league, and he's not one of them," Trotz said. "He takes coaching. He's tough. I can be hard on him. I can be up front with him, even in front of his teammates."

Trotz is probably the perfect coach for Ovechkin, because he is very clear about what he wants.

He thinks Ovechkin's issues involved the normal maturing that many players experience and an inaccurate perception that he wasn't serious about winning.

"There was an assumption that he didn't care, and he does," Trotz said. "The one thing you can say about Ovi is if you ask him to do something, he does it."

Trotz said one reason why Ovechkin is viewed as difficult is that he is always honest to a fault.

"Ovi will tell you exactly what he thinks," Trotz said. "Other players will tell you what you want them to think."

Trotz says all you have to do is look at Ovechkin's numbers to know he is one of the league's most committed athletes. No one should average 47 goals in an era of shot-blocking and zealous defense.

"You don't get as good as he is without putting in the work," Trotz said. "You don't get as strong as he is without putting in the work."