Ovechkin's Celebrations Bad for Hockey?

During Saturday's game between the San Jose Sharks and the Montreal Canadiens on Hockey Night in Canada, CBC broadcaster Don Cherry decided to make use of the first intermission to talk about a little hatred brewing in the National Hockey League between their two top stars: Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby.  Here is the segment:

There were many responses to his criticism.  Obviously Ovechkin and his coach disagree with Cherry, and Alexander the Great even went as far as to say Cherry might be jealous of Russians because Canadiens don't have a soccer team.

Personally, Ovechkin's celebrations are his own business.  I think it increases desperately needed viewership for the league, and you can't blame a guy for loving to score.  At least he doesn't celebrate goals he scores when his team is down 6-1 with 30 seconds left.  As for Don Cherry's warning about skaters putting a target on Ovechkin's head because of his showboating, he's a physical player.  I'm sure he wouldn't mind some rough stuff, especially since he's probably already the center of attention for most, if not all defenses in the league.  (And as Puck Daddy pointed out, assuming anyone can catch him and assuming Ovechkin doesn't knock down guys going after him first.)

The one part of the clip that should be of concern is Ovechkin's taunting.  He points at other players, talks trash to them on the ice, and does various actions (such as putting his hand to his ear) that some people may take offense to.  Now, soccer celebrations may be more flamboyant than even the craziest hockey ones, but they don't taunt, at least not as obvious as a lot of the NHL's top agitators.  Even Sean Avery did most of his talking with dirty moves, shots, and pokes with his stick than his mouth.

But frankly I don't agree with Don Cherry.  Ovechkin isn't stupid; he's been the league's top scorer for the past 2 years for a reason.  His passion is a huge part of his game, and I'm sure Gary Bettman doesn't mind it at all either.  He can hold his own if someone tries to take a shot at them, and even if they do, the Capitals won't just stand by and let their superstar get manhandled by a thug.  The fact that Cherry is trying to talk like Canadiens are the epitome of great hockey personnel is extremely rude to every other country sending in superstars into the league, such as America and Russia.  Everyone is raised differently; maybe Canadiens are taught to be more reserved while Russians have their emotions hang on their sleeve, but there is room for both mannerisms in hockey and all professional sports.