Background

Upper Deck’s All-Star Vinyl line includes figures from the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NFL and the NHL.  While they focused on NFL quarterbacks to begin the ASV line, they have since shifted their focus to the NBA and NHL.

One of the more recent releases is that of the Russian hockey sensation Alexander Ovechkin.  Also known as Alexander the Great, the Ovechkin ASV figure was released on May 15th.  It makes sense that two of the first NHL figures released are the young phenoms Crosby and Ovechkin.  Think I’m lying?  Check out the goal below.

Packaging

The standard All-Star Vinyl packaging is always impressive.  The artwork on the box includes several sketches from line illustrator - MAD.  The front flap opens up to a window, allowing the figure to be displayed in the box.  However, you’d have to come up with a good way to keep that flap open indefinitely.

The Figure

The Alexander Ovechkin All-Star Vinyl figure is approximately 12” in
height with 6 points of articulation (knees, shoulder and wrists).  The
sculpt is done so that Ovechkin is holding his hockey stick using both
of his hands.  It looks as if he’s getting ready for a big check.  The
figure comes with a removable helmet as well as a hockey stick that
fits into the sculpted holes in his gloves.

The home version, which we are reviewing, is limited to 1,500 pieces.
The away version is a little more limited at a run of only 500 pieces.
The sculptor on the NHL line is Rocco Tartamella, while Jeremy Madl -
aka MAD – is the illustrator for the hockey characters.

Our Opinion

It’s sort of disappointing that Upper Deck didn’t release the Ovechkin
figure wearing the new Washington Capitals jersey.  I’m sure the piece
was already in production well before they announced the new
retro-looking jersey.  But since UD is doing some of those retro unis
with upcoming Tom Brady and LeBron James ASV figures, maybe they will
try it with Ovechkin.  And I say good riddance to those old Caps
jerseys.  They were some of the ugliest uniforms since the old Gorton’s
Fisherman jersey the Islanders used to wear.

When it comes to the Ovechkin figure, I think the UD artists did a
great job stylizing his look.  I’m sure I’m not the only person who
didn’t know what Alexander Ovechkin looked like, but comparing his
photo to the figure, I think all involved did a great job. 

And the best part of the figure is his pose.  Gripping the hockey stick
with two hands is the way to go, in my opinion.  It’s difficult,
because a hockey stick is a pretty large piece of equipment and it
takes up a great deal of space.   But the two handed pose gives the
sense of a hockey related move, while not turning it into an “action”
figure.

You can pick one up at the following:

NHL shop has the Ovechkin figure for $59.99
The Urban Stash still has the home Crosby for $99.99

Ovechkin ASV Grades:

Quality: 9/10
Paint: 8/10
Durability: 9/10
Hype: 8/10
Fun Factor: 10/10
Value: 8/10
Overall: 9.2/10