Ovechkin is now halfway to Gretzky!

[billcook]

5 Richards would put him second all time?

No, that would be six.

Rocket Richard actually lead the league in goals 6 times. And of course Gretzky. There may be others but I doubt it.

Five, not six. Gretzky, Howe and Conacher the same. Esposito six times and Bobby Hull seven times.

 

[drganon]

Bobby Hull-7 (not counting whl)
Phil Esposito-6
Wayne Gretzky-5
Maurice Richard-5
Gordie Howe-5
Charlie Conacher-5

 

[Sensinitis]

What a beast. Happy to have followed him ever since his rookie year.

Rock on Ovie

Hopefully he hits 700. Would be a great achievement. Very doable for him.

 

[habscup*]

I know bobby hull led 7 times. I thought the rocket only led 5 times

True, I just checked Rocket lead in 5 years, and was 2nd twice only to Gordie Howe and Jean Beliveau. Would've led in 58 too but missed a ton of games. So yes, Rocket only lead 5 times.

 

[Sam Spade]

Bobby Hull-7 (not counting whl)
Phil Esposito-6
Wayne Gretzky-5
Maurice Richard-5
Gordie Howe-5
Charlie Conchar-5

Damn, if Ovechkin could somehow win another goal scoring title that is some pretty elite company.

 

[pm88]

With a goal against the Stars Ovechkin now has 447 goals in the NHL. That's exactly half of what Gretzky scored. It took Ovechkin 9 and a ½ seasons, or actually 9 seasons if you count the 2012-13 lockout, to score 447. Ovechkin still has about 13 and a ½ season of hockey left so the question is, can he score another 447 goals to reach Gretzky? If not, how close will he come?

13.5 seasons?? you're implying he's going to play until he's 43. I say he has about 10 more years in him.. I think he'll push his career until the end of his 30s before he calls it quits. I think he has a decent shot to hit 700.. but it all depends on how his play is once he's officially out of his prime. You naturally don't see a lot of older players score as much as their younger selves so I'm wondering how much Ovechkin will be affected by age as well. He can atleast reach 600 I think by the time his career is done.

Either way, he's a hell of a player and one of the greatest scoring talents we've seen. I don't watch any Caps games, but I'm happy that the guy seems to be becoming a better player. I think coaches really misguided him in trying to force him to play styles that weren't suited for him, but it looks like Trotz is a good fit there

 

[JoeThorntonsRooster]

Damn, if Ovechkin could somehow win another goal scoring title that is some pretty elite company.

If everybody in the NHL was shooting at their career shooting percentage, stamkos would have 1 more goal, and everybody else would have less. It's not unrealistic at all to suggest that ovechkin could win it this year. Nash, Tara, and Seguin are riding hot streaks andaren't likely to keep up their pace for the rest of the season. I'm pretty sure it'll be neck and neck between stamkos and ovechkin, but I think ovechkin will end up finding a way to edge it out.

 

[kaiser matias]

I just want to see Ovechkin set a new NHL record for shots.

He passed Mario Lemieux in the last month or so and is 43 shots away from cracking the all-time Top 30 for career shots. He could crack the Top 25 by the end of this season, although Hossa is moving up the list in front of him too.

If he maintains his career average of 5 shots per game, he should pass Bourque on the all-time list (which should be noted only dates from 1967; I have to think Howe would be on top otherwise) in about six more seasons.

 

[Mulletman]

13.5 seasons?? you're implying he's going to play until he's 43. I say he has about 10 more years in him.. I think he'll push his career until the end of his 30s before he calls it quits. I think he has a decent shot to hit 700.. but it all depends on how his play is once he's officially out of his prime. You naturally don't see a lot of older players score as much as their younger selves so I'm wondering how much Ovechkin will be affected by age as well. He can atleast reach 600 I think by the time his career is done.

Either way, he's a hell of a player and one of the greatest scoring talents we've seen. I don't watch any Caps games, but I'm happy that the guy seems to be becoming a better player. I think coaches really misguided him in trying to force him to play styles that weren't suited for him, but it looks like Trotz is a good fit there

Selanne played until he was 43 and he relied on speed way more than Ovechkin does. Jagr is turning 43 in a month and he's still playing. Even scrubs like Alfredsson played until 41. With this new "girly man NHL" that we're seeing nowadays I wouldn't be surprised if Ovechkin is still playing when he's 45...

 

[Trap Jesus]

For as many holes as there are in his game, his consistent goal-scoring prowess is pretty damn impressive. The guy seemingly never gets injured and never stops firing pucks on goal. Leading the league in shots on goal 9 of the 10 years he's been in the league (often by a huge margin) and still having more than a 12% shooting percentage is crazy.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

If everybody in the NHL was shooting at their career shooting percentage, stamkos would have 1 more goal, and everybody else would have less. It's not unrealistic at all to suggest that ovechkin could win it this year. Nash, Tara, and Seguin are riding hot streaks andaren't likely to keep up their pace for the rest of the season. I'm pretty sure it'll be neck and neck between stamkos and ovechkin, but I think ovechkin will end up finding a way to edge it out.

Nash is a former Richard winner lets not forget

 

[Beaunett]

Selanne played until he was 43 and he relied on speed way more than Ovechkin does. Jagr is turning 43 in a month and he's still playing. Even scrubs like Alfredsson played until 41. With this new "girly man NHL" that we're seeing nowadays I wouldn't be surprised if Ovechkin is still playing when he's 45...

I would, A) I think he goes back to the KHL at 38. B) Even if he's playing at 45 what will his avg goals be like 15? He's got another ten seasons barring no significant injury or fast decline.

 

[Midnight Judges]

For as many holes as there are in his game,

There are not many holes in his game. Dude has played good defense this year. He's physical. He's a great playmaker, a great teammate, and yes, the greatest goal scorer of his generation, if not ever.

 

[habscup*]

There are not many holes in his game. Dude has played good defense this year. He's physical. He's a great playmaker, a great teammate, and yes, the greatest goal scorer of his generation, if not ever.

His assist totals are very low the last 3 and half seasons, not sure why the sharp decline in that department. 16 in 45 this year, 28 in 78 last year, 24 in 48 in the lockout year, 27 in 78 the year before.

 

[Mulletman]

I would, A) I think he goes back to the KHL at 38. B) Even if he's playing at 45 what will his avg goals be like 15? He's got another ten seasons barring no significant injury or fast decline.

Why would he go to the KHL when he's 38? That's when he starts getting up there in all time goals and has the chance to start making history.

And if ovechkin is scoring 15 goals when he's 45 he'll break gretzky's record no problem. People around here don't realize how much playing for a long time helps your career numbers...

 

[MOGlLNY]

he is edging closer to be a slam dunk for the hall of fame--but I do not see him matching gretz

I..What? He could retire today and be first ballot.

 

[startainfection*]

He won't score anywhere near 895 goals but he has a legit shot at being the greatest goal scorer of all time anyway.

never had 50 in 50 and never had 70 so no he won't

 

[ViD]

In 2004-05, if he had played (big if but possible) he might have got 30 goals. (No Calder trophy, though. )

if not Ovie, who could of won the Calder in 04/05 ?

 

[ViD]

never had 50 in 50 and never had 70 so no he won't

so Selanne is a better goal scorer than Ovie?

 

[Beau Knows]

Great accomplishment by Ovi.

 

[Luca]

so Selanne is a better goal scorer than Ovie?

Well, at the time Selanne has 684 goals (+44 po goals), so yeah.

 

[billcook]

if not Ovie, who could of won the Calder in 04/05 ?

Phaneuf

 

[hisgirlfriday]

If he maintains his career average of 5 shots per game, he should pass Bourque on the all-time list (which should be noted only dates from 1967; I have to think Howe would be on top otherwise) in about six more seasons.

Nice.

 

[canadianguy77]

He'll probably never win another Richard, and I doubt he can be a ppg player from here on out, but he was quite successful early on in his career. I can see him getting 600 before he retires.

 

[WarriorofTime]

LOL. 600 max and even that is unlikely.

LOL. 600 is a lock barring major injury.