Alex the great 8

Ovechkin was 14 when Larionov, by that time already a three-time Cup champion, sat with him in the locker room and shared some advice about doing extra summer training and committing to training in the gym.

"He knew at home, from the parents, from mom and dad, to be successful you have to be determined to do extra things off the ice, on the ice and follow the right steps," Larionov said. "It's synergy between genetics from his parents, his approach to the game, his drive, his fire, his power that made him a great player."

At 17, Ovechkin scored a tournament-best six goals in seven games to help Russia repeat as world junior champion, and was again the leading scorer the following year as he emerged as the top prospect in the NHL draft, just ahead of countryman Evgeni Malkin.

The lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 season delayed Ovechkin's North American arrival, but on his first shift, Ovechkin hit an opponent so hard he dislodged the partition holding the plexiglass together. He also scored career goals No 1, then goal No 2 on the way to getting 52 of them and being named rookie of the year.

Ovechkin led the NHL in goals and points in 2008-09, helping the Capitals make the playoffs in his third season, and first of three as NHL MVP.