By now, many have seen Alex Ovechkin's hit on Brian Campbell in Sunday's Washington-Chicago game. Many have different opinions on how the NHL should handle the hit.
Ovechkin was ejected for the third time this season, although the Caps did rally to win. Word out of Chicago is Campbell has a broken clavicle and broken ribs and is done for the season.
The Canes' Brian Pothier played with Ovechkin before being traded to Carolina on March 3. Here's what the defenseman had to say today about the Caps star:
"Ovie is most effective when he's right on the edge of chaos, when he pushes the envelope. When he's hitting and aggressive and getting on the forecheck and skating, that's when he's great. He can overpower people.
"Sometimes, he's going so hard at the guys, it's hard to stop and pull up. Like I said, it's flirting with the edge."
Erik Cole said there's "definitely a recklessness" to Ovechkin's game. But Cole, a physical forward, also noted he used to be much the same in his first years in the NHL.
"I used to be more reckless than I am now," he said. "I think you kind of find your way as you get older in the league and you understand things differently and you look at situations a little differently, where you're not running around out there and finish every hit because you think that's what you have to do to stay in this league.
"There's definitely a fine line there between being physical and being in control, and not only jeopardizing someone else's health but your own."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
Rewriting history
Tue, 03/16/2010 - 15:21 — xpukguyI don't remember Erik Cole ever playing like he said he did. If he did, he'd be the next Cam Neely. The Canes hoped he would be a physical two-way force and never saw it.
Oh, well.
Ovie is the poster boy for
Tue, 03/16/2010 - 09:43 — mokimanoOvie is the poster boy for the double standard that comes from the NHL offices. They have no idea how to police one nasty hit from the next, they have no clue what is reckless vs what is cheap vs what is part of the game. Yeah Ovechkin plays with an edge, plays on the borderline of chaos...but you still have to be responsible for your actions...not sometimes, all the time...and the NHL is lost when it comes to handling head hits, hits from the side, hits that involve serious injury, etc.
Personally
Tue, 03/16/2010 - 05:42 — esteban19492 games wasn't long enough...and yes the injuries Cole suffered and is still working through are my friends NO JOKE ! not making excuses for the man, but unless you have walked or skated in his shoes or skates...it's easy to throw peanut shells from the seats than to do or try to do what he has and continues to do...this sorta talk reminds of how people at the mall walk way around a teen or older adult who has CP in a wheel chair...as if that person walking by could catch it from getting too freaking close...totally rude...but we do live in america and not red china and pretty much say what we want huh ? But then again that's just my opinion iisn't it ??
The Canes are Good,My Grandkids are Better, and Life is Great !!
Go Canes !!
OVI
Mon, 03/15/2010 - 21:01 — sittler27I'm trying to understand this. Ovi makes a reckless hit, it results in injury to the other player, he is a repeat offender, and he gets two games. Cooke makes a reckless hit, it results in injury to the other player, he is a repeat offender and he gets no suspension. Can we just get some consistency from Colin Campbell.
It is driving us all mad
Tue, 03/16/2010 - 10:23 — wxray1To me, the layman, I agree. Where's the consistency?
However, after listening to way too many blowhards on XM radio yesterday, I think I see where Colin is coming from. Apparently, the hits from behind draw much quicker suspensions than the "lateral layouts". We've seen a few, no? Walker, Letowski, Sutter.
Either way, they need to clean up the rules and make this consistent.
On Versus last night, they showed some straight on hits that were perfectly legal, but scary. Those should probably stay, even though all the guys hit looked like their eyes flew out of their heads. But the behind and lateral hits need a good looking at.
Lateral Blind Side hits
Tue, 03/16/2010 - 11:07 — sittler27I agree and have no problem with straight on hits even though the outcomes can sometimes be tough to watch. But if you get tagged big time straight on it is either because you have your head down or have not read the overall circumstances well.
At the risk of sounding like a hockey dinosuar it seems to me that when they revised the instagator rules we had a marked increase in the type of hit Cooke laid on Savard. Without that rule, in that particulr game the next time Cooke was out, there would be a quick line change on the fly and Lucic would jump on and Matt would understand the price to be paid for that kind of cheap shot. Although in Cooke's case he would likely turtle. I have zero respect for how he plays.
Cole
Mon, 03/15/2010 - 20:02 — sittler27I agree he is no longer as effective but we also need to have compassion for his circumstances. He is playing after having two fractured vertebrae in his neck. I strongly suspect when he missed all those games recently it was related to recurring problems he has with his neck.
Time will tell but there has been talk from some folks who socialize with Erik and Emily that he is taking it season by season as to whether he will keep playing and risk possible long term quality of life issues. He has a great a family and there is life beyond hockey.
Cole and Team Respect
Mon, 03/15/2010 - 20:33 — abramsdougOne thing to remember as well is that the players on the Hurricanes and the coaches have a far better insight into Cole's contributions than we do. Recently, I have heard and read that the Hurricanes coaches and players feel Cole provides speed, size, and physicality that the team needs desparately. I was somewhat surprised at how strongly they believed in Cole's role on the team. As such, I personally have to give much more credence to Cole's role.
Compression fractures of the neck are very, very serious injuries; and it is a sign of Cole's personal courage that he didn't take the easy way out and retire based on those injuries. Still, I think Cole will likely have to retire prematurely as a result of the neck injuries. I continue to hope, however, that Cole will rediscover his scoring touch. He is skating, much, much better and is getting great chances.
Cole
Mon, 03/15/2010 - 20:53 — sittler27Amen to that. He could sure use a long run of good luck and get back to a level of consisitency, even if it is not at the high level it was several years ago.
Cole
Mon, 03/15/2010 - 19:48 — CanarseCole used to used to be more reckless? You mean back when he was effective?
yes he was
Mon, 03/15/2010 - 21:04 — louis12580When Erik first made the team, he skated hard and was a physical presence on the ice. That's why he made the team his first year here. He continued that style until he was injured in '06. Even discounting the injury, a lot of players who play that style start showing the effects after a while. A great example of that was Wendel Clarke when he was with the Leafs. After 10 years or so, he was just shot. It takes a toll on the body. As for Erik, something else to remember is that he doesn't have the 100% rotation ability, only about 75%. Try that and see how effective you are.
Too much love...
Wed, 03/17/2010 - 07:18 — CanarseEveryone knows about Cole's injury. I think it's pretty obvious how it's effected his play. Still, the bottom line is getting it done. Brind'Amour has been thrashed repeatedly on this blog and his only guilt is getting old. Is that his fault? Why all the softie support for Cole? He gets big money to play too.