Maxime Talbot – Not a Fan Of Alexander Ovechkin

 

Obviously forgetting that it’s a ridiculously hot summer in the Northeast and that the 2011 Winter Classic at Heinz Field on New Year’s Day is still over five months away, the NHL held a press conference Tuesday afternoon to hype the overdone spectacle. While those media members this pandered to were likely delighted by the festivities, I would guess that a large portion of hockey fans aren't too worried about this affair at the moment because, well … IT’S JULY!

Anyhoo, even for all of the fluff quotes plundered out there by the likes of Gary Bettman and Mario Lemieux, we did learn a very important lesson as a result of this random media relations moment: Maxime Talbot is not the president of the Alexander Ovechkin fan club.

During the promotion of the game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals yesterday, Talbot was very vocal about his dislike for Washington’s Russian sniper in an interview with 105.9-FM, The X in Pittsburgh.

When asked by the hosts rather sarcastically whether he was upset that Ovechkin would not be in attendance at the press conference, Talbot very honestly replied, “I’m kind of happy he’s not there. I really didn’t want to see him. I just hate the guy.”

Talbot’s hatred is not a new thing, either.

“The first time I met him, he did not give the best impression to me,” Talbot said.

Talbot went on to tell the hosts that during last year’s NHL Awards Ceremony when the Penguins were defending Stanley Cup Champions, teammate Evgeni Malkin introduced him to his Russian comrade. Talbot left with the impression that Ovechkin was a female hygienic practice.

“I’m not really gonna say what happened. But I’m like, ‘Okay, this guy is a real douche.’”

I guess whatever helps fuel this kinda-sorta rivalry is always a good thing. But are we really surprised that a Penguins player isn't too fond of the arch-rival of Sidney Crosby? I mean, when his own countryman doesn't like him, it's hard to expect anybody else be a fan of No. 8.

Full audio of the interview with Talbot can be heard at http://www.1059thex.com/main.html.

Also, be sure to check out this post by Greg Wyshynski over at Puck Daddy, which shows the players in attendance at the press conference (Crosby, Dupuis and Talbot from the Pens; Knuble and Steckel from the Caps) attempting to make field goals by shooting the hockey puck from about 50 yards away through the uprights. Jeff Reed's job is safe.