Alex Ovechkin on the one NHL rule he would change if he could
NHL superstar Alexander Ovechkin has gone on record to talk about the one rule change he would make in the NHL if he had the ability to do so
With four teams still remaining in the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, league star Alexander Ovechkin is spending the summer at home in Russia after his Washngton Capitals were eliminated by the New York Rangers in the first round. The Great 8's mind is still on hockey, though and something he'd like to see changed as soon as possible.
Ovechkin was a guest on the Russian podcast "This is Hockey, Brother!" this week and was asked what rule in the NHL he would change if he had the power to do it, and why? Ovechkin was quick to respond.
"Video replay. Why? Well, first of all, when you watch the video replay, the referees make decisions that are not very clear, whether there was offside, whether there was a goal. Well, it's kind of unclear to me. Now they canceled [the goal], and the same situation at the next game they counted it."
Ovechkin was asked whether he believes video replay can be helpful in certain situations.
"Well, sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't. That is, you make a request, you realize that there is a goalkeeper, there should not be a goal, but it turns out that it counts, and if we have the same situation, on the contrary, they do not count. So you sit there and think why do you need it at all?"
Ovechkin's perspective on replays is not anything new. Several players and many fans have said the same thing. The main argument against video replay seems to be the time it takes for the review and how it messes with the flow of the game. That said, I don't expect it to go away any time soon.
| POLL |
MAI 31 | 149 ANSWERS Alex Ovechkin on the one NHL rule he would change if he could Do you agree with Alex Ovechkin that video replay is not needed in the NHL? |
| Yes | 52 | 34.9 % |
| No | 84 | 56.4 % |
| Not sure | 13 | 8.7 % |
| List of polls |
|
8 hours ago | By Tom Banks Matthew Tkachuk Drawing Heated Criticism For Decision To Play In Four Nations Finale |
|
10 hours ago | By Tom Banks Paul Maurice Breaks Silence on Matthew Tkachuk's Injury Status Ahead of Panthers Game Tomorrow Night |
|
12 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente Video Captures Jon Cooper Sending a Message to McDavid and Marner Ahead of OT Game-Winning Goal |
|
14 hours ago | By Tom Banks Connor McDavid Makes his Feelings Clear on the Passing of the Torch from Sidney Crosby |
|
15 hours ago | By Tom Banks Brandon Hagel Puts the Final Nail in the Coffin After Latest Shot at the Tkachuk Brothers and Team USA |
|
17 hours ago | By Tom Banks Brady Tkachuk and Insider Both Give Devastating Update On Matthew Tkachuk's Injury Situation |
|
18 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente Brad Marchand Puts the Tkachuk Brothers on Blast Following Championship Win |
|
Feb 20 | By Graham Montgomery Team Canada Star Defenseman Ruled Out Moments Before Final Showdown with Team USA |
Previously on Bladeofsteel
![Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates with defenseman Zach Werenski (8) his goal against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531044.webp "Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates with defenseman Zach Werenski (8) his goal against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images")
![Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates with Team USA forward Auston Matthews (34) his goal against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530978.webp "Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates with Team USA forward Auston Matthews (34) his goal against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images")
![Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team United States at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530962.webp "Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team United States at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images")
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Connor McDavid (97) celebrates scoring in overtime to win with defenseman Devon Toews (5) and defenseman Cale Makar (8) and forward Mitch Marner (16) against Team USA during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530869.webp "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Connor McDavid (97) celebrates scoring in overtime to win with defenseman Devon Toews (5) and defenseman Cale Makar (8) and forward Mitch Marner (16) against Team USA during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images")
![Feb 17, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Brandon Hagel (38) controls the puck during the first period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team Finland at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530840.webp "Feb 17, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Brandon Hagel (38) controls the puck during the first period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team Finland at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images")
![Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goalie Jordan Binnington (50) stops Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530819.webp "Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goalie Jordan Binnington (50) stops Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images")
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Brad Marchand (63) lifts the 4 Nations Face-Off trophy after winning against Team USA in overtime during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530800.webp "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Brad Marchand (63) lifts the 4 Nations Face-Off trophy after winning against Team USA in overtime during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images")
![Feb 17, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada defenseman Josh Morrissey (44) and forward Anthony Cirelli (71) try and find the loose puck during the second period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team Finland at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530722.webp "Feb 17, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada defenseman Josh Morrissey (44) and forward Anthony Cirelli (71) try and find the loose puck during the second period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team Finland at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images")
