Ovechkin milestone thread - 850 and Beyond!

[abo9]

I posted this on the Habs board:

The reason I love Ovechkin is because he genuinely loves hockey. He leaps up like a kid when a teammate scores, he declines penalties on the other team because he didn't feel it was fair, he taps Carey Price on the pads for robbing him on a last-second shot, he goes on an epic celebration bender after winning the Cup.

If Ovi didn't play the game, he'd be the guy on HF posting to himself on the GDT. He's the ultimate hockey fanboy. We are genuinely lucky to be watching him.

He's also pretty good at scoring.

That.

Others in this thread saying that McDavid doesnt give them the same feeling... well McD, Matthews etc. Dont exude the same excitment for the game as Ovechkin.

Remember when he was younger and still going to the all star games, how freaking awesome he was? Yeah, old school dudes hated his antics, but thats what the all star game is for and he understood it before anyone else.

His stanley cup celebration was epic, not because he drank tons of beers or ate pizzas... but hecause it was genuinely over-the-top silly!

Lots of funny moments in commercials too. Still celebrstes each goals with veing excited too.

Idk, lots of hockey player seem to be raised to not let any emotion show, while Ovechkin is putting them on full display and just enjoying himself

 

[Firsov99]

Just watched goal 802

Wtf was Kuz doing? Everyone talks about Ovechkin racking up goals on empty netters, but hey it helps hos team win games. But Kuz trying to get the puck to Ovechkin there could have been a pretty bad turnover...

For those saying empty net goals diminish the whole thing... well i just checked Gretz because thats who Ovechkin is chasing, but the both of them are very close on their percentage of empty net goals vs their career goals.

I'd be a bit bummed down if Ovechkin played 10 mins a night all on the PP and in empty net situations... but he's still the best player on the Caps

He said after the game that had he scored, half of the world would have hated him. That’s why he passed back to Ovi

 

[didimentionlarseller]

Id say he's better than Gretzky as a pure goal scorer already - he's played in a harder league with better competition his whole career than Gretzky did im pretty sure at this point that he's going to surpass his scoring total will be interesting to see by how much

 

[abo9]

He said after the game that had he scored, half of the world would have hated him. That’s why he passed back to Ovi

Ovi didnt have a lane though, it was such a bad play haha

Im glad these guys are still able to have fun . Its what makes Washington a treat. I dont think it''l be the same once Ovechkin teyires, but I sure hope so

 

[TeeTee]

Congrats to Ovi. An amazing accomplishment.

 

[flying squirrel]

Congrats Ovechkin!!! He has given us fans some great moments, special player...

 

[Hanji]

I posted this on the Habs board:

The reason I love Ovechkin is because he genuinely loves hockey. He leaps up like a kid when a teammate scores, he declines penalties on the other team because he didn't feel it was fair, he taps Carey Price on the pads for robbing him on a last-second shot, he goes on an epic celebration bender after winning the Cup.

If Ovi didn't play the game, he'd be the guy on HF posting to himself on the GDT. He's the ultimate hockey fanboy. We are genuinely lucky to be watching him.

He's also pretty good at scoring.

Ovechkin also has maybe the largest stick collection signed by NHLers. He's known for pestering fellow NHLers for their autographs.

Some people may think he acts arrogant; but he's the dude hounding players with 1/10th his talent and productivity for signatures.


The guy is an outrageous fan of the game.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

If he stays healthy he will smash the great one in the 24-25 season.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

 

[Hanji]

That.

Others in this thread saying that McDavid doesnt give them the same feeling... well McD, Matthews etc. Dont exude the same excitment for the game as Ovechkin.

Remember when he was younger and still going to the all star games, how freaking awesome he was? Yeah, old school dudes hated his antics, but thats what the all star game is for and he understood it before anyone else.

His stanley cup celebration was epic, not because he drank tons of beers or ate pizzas... but hecause it was genuinely over-the-top silly!

Lots of funny moments in commercials too. Still celebrstes each goals with veing excited too.

Idk, lots of hockey player seem to be raised to not let any emotion show, while Ovechkin is putting them on full display and just enjoying himself

I was at the 2005 WJC and there was quite a bit of disapproval of Ovechkin. He was different. Many of the fans there disapproved of his antics and tinted visor. When he was injured in the final a lot of people were giggling and saying he'd last 1 season in the almighty NHL if he continued with his celebrations and wrecking-ball style.

Considering where we are now, it always puts a smile on my face remembering that game and the sentiments of those people.

 

[OldCraig71]

I posted this on the Habs board:

The reason I love Ovechkin is because he genuinely loves hockey. He leaps up like a kid when a teammate scores, he declines penalties on the other team because he didn't feel it was fair, he taps Carey Price on the pads for robbing him on a last-second shot, he goes on an epic celebration bender after winning the Cup.

If Ovi didn't play the game, he'd be the guy on HF posting to himself on the GDT. He's the ultimate hockey fanboy. We are genuinely lucky to be watching him.

He's also pretty good at scoring.

Very well said @Lshap, we all love Ovechkin, the everyman superstar that enjoys the game and as you said, it has been our pleasure to watch him.

 

[User9992]

Id say he's better than Gretzky as a pure goal scorer already - he's played in a harder league with better competition his whole career than Gretzky did im pretty sure at this point that he's going to surpass his scoring total will be interesting to see by how much

He also played in much lower scoring era than 80's & early 90's. Not to mention he had 2 lockouts & Covid shortened seasons. Otherwise he would have 850+ goals already right now.

 

[BallardEra]

 

[SkinsFan09]

Ovechkin was at 0.78 ppg the first 18 games and the Capitals sucked. He's 1.5 ppg and tops in 5v5 goals and points since and the Capitals are now in a playoff spot

He still carries his team at 37.

 

[BallardEra]

Ovechkin was at 0.78 ppg the first 18 games and the Capitals sucked. He's 1.5 ppg and tops in 5v5 goals and points since and the Capitals are now in a playoff spot

He still carries his team at 37.

He also has 13 more points than the next closest player on the team.

 

[kevsh]

As per Sportsnet, era-adjusted all-time goals leaders

What does Alex Ovechkin have to do to pass Wayne Gretzky in all-time goals?

Alex Ovechkin has moved into sole possession of second on the NHL's all-time goals list, so what is his path from here to first? It's entirely within his reach now.

www.sportsnet.ca

 

[BallardEra]

Gretzky, Howe or Ovechkin: Who's the greatest goal scorer of all time? The answer's not so simple

 

[Randyne]

WSH gets a serious boost when Ovechkin scores first goal of the game
w/o Ovi's 1st goal WSH P% .598 = 98 points over 82 games
with Ovi's 1st goal WSH P% .774 = 127 points over 82 games

 

[Midnight Judges]

As per Sportsnet, era-adjusted all-time goals leaders

What does Alex Ovechkin have to do to pass Wayne Gretzky in all-time goals?

Alex Ovechkin has moved into sole possession of second on the NHL's all-time goals list, so what is his path from here to first? It's entirely within his reach now.

www.sportsnet.ca

I think that assumes he completes the current season - the full 82 games - at the current pace.

Ultimately it's not going to matter though. Ovie will likely hold every meaningful goal scoring record.

 

[andrjusha]

As per Sportsnet, era-adjusted all-time goals leaders

What does Alex Ovechkin have to do to pass Wayne Gretzky in all-time goals?

Alex Ovechkin has moved into sole possession of second on the NHL's all-time goals list, so what is his path from here to first? It's entirely within his reach now.

www.sportsnet.ca

SN screen-shot hockey-reference website (who the hell is doing that other than us, amateur HF posters?)
Which is a bit flawed for adjusted stats, giving 82-game credit for shortened seasons: eg 62 adjusted goals for 32 actual in 12-13 lockout season. I cringe every time I see it...

 

[Randyne]

giving 82-game credit for shortened seasons: eg 62 adjusted goals for 32 actual in 12-13 lockout season. I cringe every time I see it...

Why cringe. 76% of all NHL seasons were shorter than 82 games. All of them were adjusted too.

 

[ricky0034]

Matthews is trying to steal Ovechkin's toilet?

But yeah, Matthews would make a great criminal, cuz he just looks so innocent!

View attachment 626273

he would make a great live action Mario in like a decade

 

[didimentionlarseller]

He also played in much lower scoring era than 80's & early 90's. Not to mention he had 2 lockouts & Covid shortened seasons. Otherwise he would have 850+ goals already right now.

I dont remember well at all but I seem to recall alot of players in the era also wouldnt go after Gretzky hard he was given alot of deference by checkers and other tough guys to be able to rack up his scoring totals - this could just be me imaging it tho

 

[discobob]

he would make a great live action Mario in like a decade

That would give kids nightmares

 

[Zuluss]

802 is a great accomplishment, but dang does he ever rack up the empty net goals over the last two years at an unparalleled pace in hockey history. Which is too bad because it isn't the vintage Ovechkin that got him to 800 goals in the first place.

I don't think anyone can reasonably expect that "vintage Ovechkin" will last all the way. The fact that we are still getting to see a good amount of "vintage Ovechkin" that late in his career is an underappreciated miracle. If you had asked around five years ago "if Ovechkin breaks Gretzky's goals record, how do you think he will do that?", everyone would have said "he will limp to it as a shell of his former self, playing into his 40s and putting together a long string of 20-30-goal seasons as a PP specialist". And yet here we are, with a 50-goal season last year, a fighting chance for another one, and a really good chance the record will fall before Ovechkin turns 40.