'Simply the best'

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RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Washington Capitals now own the rights to Alexander Ovechkin -- "simply the best player on the planet not already playing in the NHL," in the words of one independent scouting service.

The expected announcement came from general manager George McPhee 12 minutes past noon yesterday in RBC Center, the first pick of the annual NHL Entry Draft. It took the Russian left wing nearly five minutes to make his way to the stage after pausing to hug a few dozen people near his seat.

Ovechkin was only the third No.1 pick for the Caps in their 30-year history. Their first, Greg Joly, was a bust; the second, Rick Green, was a defensive gem.

Ovechkin (6-foot-2 and 210 pounds) is projected to be a "dominant world-class player" by a scouting service, Red Line Report, which cuts few individuals a break in assessments. He will turn 19 on Sept.17 and already has played for more than two seasons with Dynamo Moscow in the Russian Super League, where youngsters are far and few between.

"It is very important to be No.1," Ovechkin said in halting English after he was picked. "My mom and dad always said to try to be first. If you are second, you are second; if you're No.1, you're No.1."

Ovechkin said it was "my dream for maybe two years" to be in the NHL and he "was ready to give my heart [to Washington]." He admitted to being surprised and impressed by the warm reception from several hundred Caps fans in the building.

There was no disputing his selection as the best player in the draft. But, there are dozens of "can't-miss kids" who missed.

"Time will tell if this was the right decision," said Caps majority owner Ted Leonsis, who beamed over the selection.

But Ovechkin is only a start; the Caps have to rebuild the core of the team after last season's sale of proven veterans in an effort to trim a bloated payroll.

"We have so much work to do [on rebuilding that] we were entertaining trade [offers]," Leonsis said. "Some teams made offers to us and while they were good, [we] felt we should build around this kid and the youth we have in the system."