Alex Ovechkin Needs to Learn His Lesson Sooner Rather Then Later

The world needs more Sidney Crosby's and less Alex Ovechkin's. The two best players in the world right now hands down. Polar opposites off the ice. Polar opposites in the way they behave on the ice.

Ovechkin is a reckless player. He is the most entertaining player in the league to watch hands down. I personally love watching him play, but I am getting sick and tired of watching the victims of his reckless behavior lay motionless on the ice.

Sergei Gonchar, Tim Gleason and most recently Brian Campbell all have felt the effects of Alex Ovechkin playing on the edge. How many more players does he have to hurt to garner serious concequences?

Sure he's the best pure goal scorer in the league. The plays he makes are the type that get you out of your seat cheering. I'm sure this season he will be electrifying all of us deep into the playoffs. All the while Brian Campbell will be sitting at home watching his Blackhawks make a run at the cup without him.

Watching that hit really made me lose some respect for Alex Ovechkin. After all why should I respect a player who does not respect anyone else in the league. He is no better then someone like Steve Downie and Dan Carcillo. The only difference is he one of the best players in the world so we do not villainize him like the others.

I think Ovechkin needs to learn his lesson. Stop with the reckless hits that endanger other players on the ice. Continue to be energetic, continue to be exciting, continue to be all the things that the fans around the world love about you. But stop with the cheap crap.

Arguments are made both ways but no one can dispute that Sid the Kid and Alexander the Great are the best in the world. But to me, the difference in character is immense. When I look at Crosby I see a kid who is mature beyond his years, a leader. When I look at the things Ovechkin does on the ice I see a player who knows he gets away with dirty plays because of his name. I respect the way Sidney Crosby plays and I respect the way he carrys himself off the ice. I respect Alex Ovechkin's talent but not his actions.

Im not asking Ovechkin to change his game completely and play without an edge. I just want to see respect for other players shown. I want to watch a leader, not a bully.