tbh can you blame any of them
Who would've thought a 37 year old Ovechkin is pacing for another 50 goal season. This guy defies logic and normal aging curves
It’s also worth noting that there was nothing pointing to the continued increase in scoring across the league that we’ve enjoyed over the past 6 seasons.
I don’t blame any of us, myself included, who didn’t think it was likely for Ovechkin, who had just entered his age 29 and was still not even halfway to Gretzky’s goal record by the end of it (475 goals) and continuing to play in a scoring environment of that 2.71-2.77 GPG range to break the record.
Keep in mind, we had just exited a season where there was only one scorer above 87 points (Crosby with 104) and 3 goal scorers above 40 (Ovechkin himself of course the lone 50 goal scorer).
The season of that thread would see Jaime Benn as our Art Ross leader with 87 points and a repeat of Ovechkin as the lone 50 goal scorer above just two others in the 40s. I don’t see where the optimism
It was sensible then to predict him falling short in the overall chase and I don’t think anyone in those older threads should be looked back on with smug laughter. Combine that with the 32 and 38 goals in his mid 20s, as well as 33 goals at age 31 in what still remained a lower scoring environment before the uptick we’ve been experiencing, and I don’t think it’s necessary to give anyone grief unless they’ve steadfastly held to the notion of him not breaking within the last few seasons.
Ovechkin has certainly redefined how I look at the aging process for superstars in the modern era. He’s made me think that someone like McDavid could very well be still racking up Art Rosses post 30.
Any way, hoping to see him notch two tonight to officially begin the final countdown to Gretzky.
