Alexander Ovechkin Needs to Grow Up

I've seen a lot of Alexander Ovechkin's interviews, goal celebrations, and off-ice encounters/events that he's taken part in.

Nine times out of 10 he looks like he has some sort of disorder that keeps him from thinking and acting like a normal person. I mean, after every single goal he scores it's almost like it was his first goal ever.

Don't get me wrong, I play the game of hockey and I know it's full of emotion, and when you score a goal it's a major rush, but c'mon Ovy. How old are you? 

Okay, you scored, probably a pretty nice goal too, but don't throw a birthday party over it. Everybody scores in the NHL buddy. He's scored 60 times already this season. You'd think he'd know how to celebrate reasonably and not like a kid at Toys 'R Us who's just found the action figure that he's been waiting to own for the past four months.

If I was a teammate, especially a linemate, I'm not quite sure if I'd be able to handle him after a goal. All the Russian yelling, basically running around the ice, recklessly jumping into the boards, goofy toothless smiles and actions—I'm angered thinking about it.

Ovechkin is easily one of the best players in the NHL. I get that and I respect his talent. He's a major face in the league, and when he gets the puck people get excited. This is a good thing. He wears a letter on his left shoulder because he puts pucks in the net quite often.

All the analysts say how much they like the fact that Ovechkin has so much fun out there. That he's simply "like a little kid out there." I find that very true. But not in the same positive way that they use it.

He acts like a seven-year-old, and it's sort of an embarrassment to the game itself. It's definitely not classy, and it definitely doesn't do anyone any good. Unless of course, somebody has had a rough day and needs a good laugh to cheer them up. Really, it's easy to cherish the game and not throw a rave party after you put one home.

Take Jarome Iginla for example. He's third in the league in scoring, and he's one of the classiest guys in the NHL. When he scores a goal, yeah, he celebrates, but the disco lights and dance floor tunes stay turned off. 

The occasional crazy celebration is great, especially on game winning tallys, but if you're down 6-0 and you score a goal to make it 6-1, keep your voice down and stay off the glass. That's all I'm saying.

Personally, I think it's time he grows up a bit out there.