#rob carlin

[thornescratch]

Carlin being so amused that the kid was stunned is hilarious, given his own reaction the last time this happened.

Also Ovi continues to have the best sense of humor in the world.

[liesofasilvertongue]

Rob Carlin getting emotional is hitting my heart HARD.

[hoespill]

NO NOW WE HAVE TO SAY BYE TO ROB CARLIN

[thetrashpitals]

very bummed about Rob Carlin being laid off by NBC

[andrebearakovsky]

“you’re not alan may!”

“and you’re not joe b!”

they are confused and so am i

[thornescratch]

Rob Carlin: We had you mic'd up I think on draft night when you drafted Nick and I know you didn’t even really want to do that; you were a kid yourself; you’re dealing with the language barrier. What was that night like when they came to you, like ‘so, you’re gonna make our draft pick’.

Alexander Ovechkin: Uh, yeah it was like, pretty funny. I was nervous and I knew right away we’re gonna draft Nicke and, uh, George write me letter.

[Intercut draft video of George McPhee and Alexander Ovechkin

George McPhee: And then you say, ‘The Washington Capitals are happy to select’– and then I’ll give you– Ovechkin: No, no, no. Can you say that? I just give– jersey, because I, I… McPhee: No, don’t be shy. Ovechkin: *pleading* Please, please, George, please.]

Alexander Ovechkin: Yeah it was fun; I was nervous but, uh, again that’s something I will never forget again.

Rob Carlin: Were you more nervous to do something like that than you’ve ever been for playing hockey?

[Intercut draft video of George McPhee and Alexander Ovechkin

George McPhee: *reciting* The Washington Capitals... are happy to pick... Nicklas Backstrom. Ovechkin: Okay. Okay. George McPhee: Don’t say Ralph Backstrom.]

Alexander Ovechkin: You don’t wanna make mistake because if you make mistake, uh, basically you screw up.

Rob Carlin: *laughs* And that video lives forever.

Alexander Ovechkin: Yeah, so. Or you make different name like, Marcus Backstrom, you know?

[Intercut draft video of George McPhee and Alexander Ovechkin

Ovechkin: The Washington Capitals are happy to pick Nicklas Backstrom. McPhee: *nudging Ovechkin* Did you wink? Did you wink? Ovechkin: Huh? Oh. *laughs, leans back to microphone and winks to crowd*]

Rob Carlin *to Backstrom*: Here’s this larger than life personality even then, and you were a quiet and reserved kid at this point. What was that night like for you?

Nicklas Backstrom: Yeah, it was fun, I think. *laughs* And I just remember it, when he walked up on the stage, I was like... I knew I was going to go around somewhere like that - but obviously it was a little bit of surprise when Ovi was up there, and all of a sudden he calls my name. I've seen that video afterwards too, like, when you guys were talking at the table and stuff like that, so. It was pretty cool to see it afterwards, I think. Overall, I think we both were nervous about it.  *turns to Ovechkin*  But it seemed like it was a good pick by him.

Alexander Ovechkin: *laughs* Yeah. Thanks.

Rob Carlin: Did you guys know each other at all before then? Because, you guys-- it’s well-documented-- you can’t be, like, any different. You know, like, you’re total opposite ends of the spectrum--what was it like when you got to know each other?

Alexander Ovechkin: Since day one I think because we have young group of guys in the organization, you know, we kind of getting close together right away. And you know there was very special moment when we have Greenie, Backy, Semin, back there, you know, lots of different guys,

Rob Carlin: *to Backstrom*: The videos of him driving the cart and all that, did you think, like, “oh yeah this is gonna be my guy for a decade plus?”

Nicklas Backstrom: No, I mean, I wasn't expecting that, but-- as Alex said-- I mean, we were young guys, he really took me under his wing when I got here, and drove me around and showed me, showed me the city. I mean, I think, we all connected pretty quickly, I think and as he said, as a young group of guys we were well connected on the ice and off the ice.

They trimmed down and edited out parts of this epic love saga, so you should read the whole transcript.

[thornescratch]

Alex Ovechkin to Nicklas Backstrom during interview: ‘You gonna sign six more years and then I’ll sign for five more years’

With Nicklas Backstrom entering the final year of his 10-year contract, and Alex Ovechkin in the penultimate year of his own 13-year contract, conversation has naturally turned to whether the duo will be looking to re-sign with the Capitals. With...

Nicklas Backstrom: “Yeah, I mean I did my math for the radio show there. You know what? I think it’s – I’m not going to jinx it for him – but I think it’s doable, for sure. Like, without a doubt. I think so. And I know he’s hungry for it too.”

Alex Ovechkin: “Well, we’ll see. What you gonna sign six more years and then I’ll sign for five more years and here we go.”

Rob Carlin: “This is something that is going to be a big thing, the contract year. Would you ultimately, the two of you, love to stack it like that and maybe one day you guys go out together? You ever thought about that as you start looking down the road now?”

Alex Ovechkin: “Yeah, of course when contracts end up, you just want to see what’s the future and I’m pretty sure what we did together and for this organization it’s going to be forever right? So I don’t know. It’s not our job to talk about what they want to do but I’m sure Nicky and I would love to stay and we’ll see.”

It was so nice of Nick and Ovi to basically reveal their marriage vow renewal plans on air.

[thornescratch]

Lots of powerful but potentially disruptive energies here, as Alex Ovechkin shows off his zooks and Nicklas Backstrom smiles directly at the camera during an interview in a locker room/interview set that looks more like an interrogation room.