How many years left for Ovechkin?

[tfwnogf]

He's not scoring goals, but he's still leading the team in points (tied but played 3 fewer games than Strome). 10 points in his last 10 games, only 2 goals tho. I think people overrate his dropoff because omg where are the goals but he doesn't have much help, Caps have terrible offense. Maybe it's just a cope but I'm not writing him off until he officially retires.

 

[AM]

All comes down to health.

 

[Toby91ca]

Ya that was a weird post basically saying that he would retire if he had the record but won't because he is chasing it.

But then again maybe he meant something else?

Yeah, that's how I interpreted it.....he can't retire because he's so close he needs to keep playing for the record....I don't get that. Honestly, that is not how you want to get the record either....not saying he won't have a bounce back year and cruise past the record....just saying if he doesn't, I don't think I'd want to see him chip away at it with 10-15 goals a year to get there.

Not the same thing, but several players retired before easily reachable milestones. Gretzky as an example....894 goals, could have easily stuck around for 900....Ovechkin is already older than Gretzky was when he retired. Messier/Lemieux and Yzerman could have all stuck around an extra year and easily got to 700 goals each. Spezza retired at 995 points, etc, etc. The Spezza one hurts for me....not because I'm partial to him, I just mean the number....if it was me, I'd stick around to get those 5 points no matter what.

 

[Toby91ca]

He's not scoring goals, but he's still leading the team in points (tied but played 3 fewer games than Strome). 10 points in his last 10 games, only 2 goals tho. I think people overrate his dropoff because omg where are the goals but he doesn't have much help, Caps have terrible offense. Maybe it's just a cope but I'm not writing him off until he officially retires.

I'll be completely honest here....if you just look at stats, agree, total points aren't too bad, still a 55+ point pace....way down for him, but pretty good for a 38 year old (not worth $9.5M though). But watching him play is the real issue though, he's obviously taken a step back....though you could say similar things last year too at times....but the goals did come.

 

[abax44]

This season is his first big dip in production due to age. I expect he will train harder than ever this summer and be much better next season. I think he will play 2 or 3 more years and that'll be just enough to beat the record.

Guy looks like a bag of milk. Not too sure he could train less hard.

 

[tfwnogf]

I'll be completely honest here....if you just look at stats, agree, total points aren't too bad, still a 55+ point pace....way down for him, but pretty good for a 38 year old (not worth $9.5M though). But watching him play is the real issue though, he's obviously taken a step back....though you could say similar things last year too at times....but the goals did come.

He's very slow now but I can't count him out.

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

A year ago I was pumped Ovi may break the record by this time next year or near the end of it but now with this current pace, I'm kind of hoping he doesn't break it as he'll be into his 40s and it just gives me less excitement to drag it out.
Goes to show how dominant Gretzky was.

Kind of like Marleau playing for 40 years to break the games played record.

 

[Toby91ca]

He's very slow now but I can't count him out.

That's the thing....you'd imagine he would at least be able to be somewhat productive on the powerplay....but I think the teams that are struggling on the PP are the ones that stay mostly stationary and passing the puck around the perimeter.

A year ago I was pumped Ovi may break the record by this time next year or near the end of it but now with this current pace, I'm kind of hoping he doesn't break it as he'll be into his 40s and it just gives me less excitement to drag it out.
Goes to show how dominant Gretzky was.

Kind of like Marleau playing for 40 years to break the games played record.

With Marleau though, did anyone really care that much about the games played record? It means something as someone thinks you are worth enough to keep putting you in games, but other than that...not something I've ever cared about

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

That's the thing....you'd imagine he would at least be able to be somewhat productive on the powerplay....but I think the teams that are struggling on the PP are the ones that stay mostly stationary and passing the puck around the perimeter.


With Marleau though, did anyone really care that much about the games played record? It means something as someone thinks you are worth enough to keep putting you in games, but other than that...not something I've ever cared about

No definitely not but more just saying how long it took for someone to break it than the importance of the record.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

Dunno if it makes sense but swapping Kuzy with Mikael Granlund would work. Kuzy's more talented but it's no use if he doesn't care. The Sharks are rebuilding and MG isn't a long term solution for them. He's played pretty well this season, although he's currently nursing an injury.

Why would the Sharks have any interest in paying the huge $ difference in salary between MG & EK when EK has totally checked out? It would take a significant sweetner IMO.

 

[614 CBJ]

years or days?

 

[abo9]

The last time his production took a dip, he came back and won a CS the next year + 3 rockets in a row

Obviously he's aging, but it all depends on his motivation.

Although, hes also been busy off the ice, so who knows if his focus is on the records?

He is an NHL player, has a family, defended a PHD thesis (did he get his PHD?), opening a hockey school, supports charities, and probably more... idk how he does it all haha

Dr. Ovechkin? Alex Ovechkin is officially one step away from earning his PhD.

Hockey Hall of Famer, Stanley Cup champion, and doctor? Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is one step away from earning a new,…

russianmachineneverbreaks.com

 

[abo9]

A year ago I was pumped Ovi may break the record by this time next year or near the end of it but now with this current pace, I'm kind of hoping he doesn't break it as he'll be into his 40s and it just gives me less excitement to drag it out.
Goes to show how dominant Gretzky was.

Kind of like Marleau playing for 40 years to break the games played record.

Meh, Gretzky scored his last 91 goals over 5 seasons, at a pace of 20 per year. Those were from age 34 to 38. Looks better when the record is already beat I suppose.

Due to circumstances in Ovechkin's career, he's still 96 games behind Gretzky at age 38. I would have been thrilled if he beat the record in kess games than Gretz to really cement it, but ultimately its not like he's been dragging around 10 years at a 20 goals pace from age 40 to 50 to get it.

Credits to Gretzky that he was still an above ppg player in those last 5 years, but ultimately Ovechkin's last 5 years might overlap with a 42 and 50 goals season..

 

[Siludin]

This guy will really benefit from the break

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

What are you talking about? Kessel can simply retire but Ovechkin can’t?

Kessel has no incentive to continue his career any further but Ovechkin does if he truly cares about the record.

If Ovechkin was in the same situation as Kessel (nothing major to play for), he would simply hang them up at this point.

 

[hockeykicker]

Sure but they're saying without any proof. They're just assuming he is because he's playing bad.

He could be, he could not. But we don't know.

I love comments like this because you are expecting posters on hfboards who are not in the locker room to magically provide you with proof.

All you have to do is follow along from beginning of year with ovechkin missing multiple practices for maintenance and then missing games because he was injured.

Do injuries magically go away once you return to the ice? Do players not play with injuries?

It's cool if you don't think so but saying we aren't giving any proof makes zero sense

 

[DuklaNation]

He should retire after this season. Chasing that record while not producing at a decent rate isn't a good image.

 

[Toby91ca]

Kessel has no incentive to continue his career any further but Ovechkin does if he truly cares about the record.

If Ovechkin was in the same situation as Kessel (nothing major to play for), he would simply hang them up at this point.

Kessel has 992 points, you don't think he'd like to hit 1,000?

 

[ViD]

This guy will really benefit from the break

Looks like he already started… in Dubai

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

Meh, Gretzky scored his last 91 goals over 5 seasons, at a pace of 20 per year. Those were from age 34 to 38. Looks better when the record is already beat I suppose.

Due to circumstances in Ovechkin's career, he's still 96 games behind Gretzky at age 38. I would have been thrilled if he beat the record in kess games than Gretz to really cement it, but ultimately its not like he's been dragging around 10 years at a 20 goals pace from age 40 to 50 to get it.

Credits to Gretzky that he was still an above ppg player in those last 5 years, but ultimately Ovechkin's last 5 years might overlap with a 42 and 50 goals season..

Fair point. I stand corrected then.
Gretzky did decline earlier than Ovi but it was his back wasn't it?

 

[Shrimper]

He needs 64 goals to pass Gretzky and will probably get another 10 one would assume this year. 54 goals with two years left on his contract - all it takes is one good season of 30+ and he's a lock before his contract is up.

 

[Sniper99]

That has been suggested is there any source for this?

Ovechkin (lower body) will draw back into Washington's lineup for Thursday's game against St. Louis, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.

Analysis:Ovechkin missed Washington's previous three contests due to the injury. He has eight goals and 27 points in 38 outings this campaign. Ovechkin is projected to play alongside Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tom Wilson in his return.

 

[wetcoast]

Ovechkin (lower body) will draw back into Washington's lineup for Thursday's game against St. Louis, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.

Analysis:Ovechkin missed Washington's previous three contests due to the injury. He has eight goals and 27 points in 38 outings this campaign. Ovechkin is projected to play alongside Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tom Wilson in his return.

I know about the injury this year it was last March that was suggested in another thread and the poster in this thread was talking about this year where everyone agrees when that injury occurred.

The point is that his play before the injury didn't change.

 

[DRW895]

Just check his contract at capfriendly

 

[Beukeboom]

Meh, Gretzky scored his last 91 goals over 5 seasons, at a pace of 20 per year. Those were from age 34 to 38. Looks better when the record is already beat I suppose.

Due to circumstances in Ovechkin's career, he's still 96 games behind Gretzky at age 38. I would have been thrilled if he beat the record in kess games than Gretz to really cement it, but ultimately its not like he's been dragging around 10 years at a 20 goals pace from age 40 to 50 to get it.

Credits to Gretzky that he was still an above ppg player in those last 5 years, but ultimately Ovechkin's last 5 years might overlap with a 42 and 50 goals season..

That's selling Wayne a bit short. He was tied for third place in scoring his second to last year at the age of 37 on a non playoffs team. Sidney Crosby is not even top 20 at the moment, and he is 36...

Wayne retired as soon as he felt he couldn't do himself justice out there, and that drop was immense between 37 and 38. I hope Ovie does the same. But it's prob likely he gives it another year to see if he can turn it around. But I can't see three seasons of this or worse.