How many goals for Ovechkin this season?

[WarriorofTime]

If the Capitals can maintain a middle of the road Powerplay and he stays healthy (I think his missed games last season were primarily due to bereavement) then 40 is definitely obtainable.

This is a really good point, the organizations goal now is is the goal record so you'd have to think he'll be getting looks like crazy

He is objectively their best offensive player. So he should be in a position to be "getting looks like crazy". All teams should be putting their best offensive players in a position to produce offense. It's not like he should objectively be playing Sonny Milano based on merit right now, but only remains top line, PP1 because of the "record chase".

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

He's had some pretty good chemistry with Strome and Carlson being back and healthy would also help on the PP.

Indeed. Strome had been terrific and was probably their best forward last year not named Ovechkin. The season fell apart when Carlson got hurt.

Still, a 38 year old needs help. It’s not realistic to think he can continue to carry some of these bums around.

 

[gtrower]

44

Maintains around a .6 gpg pace but takes some maintenance days and misses a few weeks due to injury.

 

[jigglysquishy]

I'd bet on him breaking the age 38 record.

 

[CDN24]

He will shoot his age - 38. Not sure how good the Caps will be, he will get a shot at every Empty netter opportunity , but not sure Caps are good enough to be leading by 1 or 2 late in the 3rd in most games.

 

[Golden_Jet]

40 goals

 

[TGWL]

I'm going to say at least 36. He shoots at least 12.5% and takes more than 285 shots.

 

[WarriorofTime]

This is a complete aside, but semi-relevant to the topic. It's impressive that Bret Hull managed 37 goals at age 38 in very a low scoring 2002-03 season. Granted, Detroit itself was not a low scoring team by any means (they scored 14 more goals on the season than than the 2022-23 Capitals for instance), but of course, Hull himself was a big part of that. He was still playing the third most Forward minutes on a contending team (110 points).

Dare I say, he's almost become underrated through the passage of time.

 

[Faceboner]

One more 50 goal season come on ovi you got this baby

 

[EdJovanovski]

74 to break Gretzky's record

 

[NewtJorden]

35-40

 

[BallardEra]

74 to break Gretzky's record

He's at 822 so 73 to hit 895

 

[AvroArrow]

I'll say 41 goals. In the past 10 years (excluding the shortened season) he's hit 40+ and usually 50+ goals. I don't expect him to be much slower than he was last year.

 

[KingsHockey24]

41, 8 empty netters.

 

[McShogun99]

52 if he plays close to a full season.

 

[EdJovanovski]

He's at 822 so 73 to hit 895

Oh I must've thought Gretzky had 895 because I kept 895 in my head because that's the number he needs to break the record. He only needs 73 then? 100% happening this szn then

 

[Toby91ca]

40 at his age has never been done before. It depends on how ass the rest of the team is. If Kuznetsov and Backstrom look like they should be playing beer league at MedStar then I think there’s very little chance. Ovi is a mutant but he’s still human (kind of).

I mean....that's true....but's it's been done at an older age...Howe had 44 goals at 40 years old.

My prediction.....going out on a limb here: 25-45.

 

[Ezekial]

At least 35 if he plays 65+ games.

 

[Aashir Mallik]

If kuznetsov bounces back, strome keeps his play, and Backstrom can return from the injury then I have him at mid to high 40s

Otherwise I could see as low as mid 30s

 

[Conbon]

The entire team is structured around getting Ovi goals. He will hit 40 no doubt in my mind

 

[BallardEra]

The entire team is structured around getting Ovi goals. He will hit 40 no doubt in my mind

No it isn't.

That's the gameplan for the PP though for obvious reasons.

 

[Jeremy Hronek]

Ovechkin hasn't really played a speed and skill game for the past 5 seasons. He is more about positioning and quality shooting. I don't see him dropping off significantly.

 

[Karl Eriksson]

I’ll say 30

 

[orby]

Around 40 IMO.

 

[End on a Hinote]

I think he'll surprise a lot, but just narrowly miss 50.

I say 47.