2010 Offseason Thread

If Alex Ovechkin didn't know who Max Talbot was before today, he does now.

Talbot, the pesky Pittsburgh Penguins forward, fired a verbal salvo at Ovechkin Tuesday during an event to promote the 2011 Winter Classic, calling the Washington Capitals superstar a "douche" during an interview with a Pittsburgh radio station.

And not only does Talbot think Ovechkin reminds him of a feminine hygiene product, he went a little further, letting the world know he has a pretty intense dislike of Ovechkin. Has since the first time they met, Talbot says.

"I just hate the guy," Talbot told Pittsburgh's 105.9 The X. "I can't lie. Sorry. Even more so for a guy like Ovechkin. Like, seriously, OK ... yeah. I don't like him. The first time I met him, let's say he didn't give the best impression to me, so better reason to hate him even more.

"(Teammate Evgeni) Malkin knew Ovechkin and introduced me to him and the first impression wasn't great. I'm not really gonna say what happened but I'm like, 'OK, this guy is a real douche.'"



Ovechkin, who wasn't at the promotional event at Heinz Field, site of the Winter Classic, hasn't responded to Talbot's comments, which has become the latest chapter in an intense rivalry between two of the best teams in the NHL's Eastern Conference. In 2009, the Pens eliminated Ovie's Caps in a thrilling, seven-game series en route to the Stanley Cup title.

Washington takes on Pittsburgh Dec. 23 in the U.S. capital then the two meet again a week later in the Winter Classic.

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