Ovechkin milestone thread - 850 and Beyond!

[bobholly39]

Greateast goal scorer of all time AINEC

I mean it's certainly not "not close", but sure, he is the greatest.

 

[Firsov99]

I think at this point the goals will come, the only question is how ugly it will get in terms of hurting his team in the end.

His hot start aside he isn't a positive player at ES anymore and that isn't going to get any better with age.

This season alone he has since Jan 1st a line of 41-24-13-37 (minus 15) and that minus partially hides the ENG and he is already playing 75% offensive zones starts at ES.

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

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At some point the race for Gretzky's record is going to hurt even more than it does right now.

I understand your argument. Chasing the record does have some collateral damage. Theoretically, the Caps are digging a small hole because they, basically, have to delay rebuilding the next generation team. But do you truly think that hockey fans (even the Caps fans) and the sport in general would win from curtailing the record chase? Only Ovi haters would benefit from this

 

[gtrower]

He seems to have a lot left in the tank. After a crazy good start - he cooled off a ton, but still seems he will find a way to score 50.

If he truly has a lot left in the tank because he was saving energy, this could bode well for Capitals playoff run.

He took a knock and didn’t finish the game against Boston on 13 JAN. Then missed a few practices right after where he acknowledged having sustained an “upper body injury.” Up to that point he had 24+28 in 37 games (1.41 ppg).

Over the next 9 games leading up to the all star break he put up 5+1 (0.66 ppg).

Since the all star break (where he also missed a few COVID protocol games) he’s put up 19+10 in 28 (1.04).

We’ll never know for sure whether it was old man legs fading after being leaned on heavily will all the early Caps injuries or the knock he took (probably a combo of both) but the nosedive in production following that Boston game is pretty evident that something changed.

 

[SeanConn]

If he can do back to back 50 goal seasons (this season and next) he’ll be #1 all time with 10 50 goal seasons.. 48 or 46 goal seasons tho I’m sure he must already own the “record” lol

 

[filinski77]

I understand your argument. Chasing the record does have some collateral damage. Theoretically, the Caps are digging a small hole because they, basically, have to delay rebuilding the next generation team. But do you truly think that hockey fans (even the Caps fans) and the sport in general would win from curtailing the record chase? Only Ovi haters would benefit from this

The Caps are 12th in the league (despite being one of the oldest teams in the league). Ovechkin has easily been the Caps best player this year (12 more points than #2 and TWICE as many goals as #2 on the team).

Ovechkin is literally giving the team a shot at a playoff run, and haters will still say the Caps are worse off because of him.

 

[Fallschirmyager]

He seems to have a lot left in the tank. After a crazy good start - he cooled off a ton, but still seems he will find a way to score 50.

If he truly has a lot left in the tank because he was saving energy, this could bode well for Capitals playoff run.

People seem to forget the team as a whole played like dog food for a month.

If he can do back to back 50 goal seasons (this season and next) he’ll be #1 all time with 10 50 goal seasons.. 48 or 46 goal seasons tho I’m sure he must already own the “record” lol

He already owns the seasons of 45+ with now 13 I think.

 

[filinski77]

If he can do back to back 50 goal seasons (this season and next) he’ll be #1 all time with 10 50 goal seasons.. 48 or 46 goal seasons tho I’m sure he must already own the “record” lol

Yup! He has 12 seasons of 46 or more goals, and Gretzky is 2nd with 9 of them.

Considering the large discrepancy in league scoring (there were years were scoring 50 in Gretzky's era was the equivalent of scoring 37 goals in the 2010's), this makes Ovechkin's position here (46+ goal seasons) even more impressive.

 

[Caps8112]

I think at this point the goals will come, the only question is how ugly it will get in terms of hurting his team in the end.

His hot start aside he isn't a positive player at ES anymore and that isn't going to get any better with age.

This season alone he has since Jan 1st a line of 41-24-13-37 (minus 15) and that minus partially hides the ENG and he is already playing 75% offensive zones starts at ES.

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

At some point the race for Gretzky's record is going to hurt even more than it does right now.

Yep take his 48 goals away this season and they miss the playoffs but go on....

 

[SkinsFan09]

This season alone he has since Jan 1st a line of 41-24-13-37 (minus 15) and that minus partially hides the ENG and he is already playing 75% offensive zones starts at ES.

I'm tired of people calling Michael Jordan the GOAT. If you take out his seasons with the Bulls, he really was just a borderline All-Star.

 

[Firsov99]

The Caps are 12th in the league (despite being one of the oldest teams in the league). Ovechkin has easily been the Caps best player this year (12 more points than #2 and TWICE as many goals as #2 on the team).

Ovechkin is literally giving the team a shot at a playoff run, and haters will still say the Caps are worse off because of him.

Ovi is still doing great, but he has been slowing down. I am a big Ovi fan, but I can't ignore the fact that he has lost speed and some stamina (specifically his in-between games recovery). I wouldn't want to accuse another poster of being an Ovi hater, but I perfectly understand his argument. The Caps will, most likely, suck mightily once Ovi, Backy, Oshie (maybe even Carlson) retire virtually simultaneously in a few seasons. Heck, they might not even make the playoffs after this season.

But I don't mind the tactic of milking everything out of the most successful Caps generation, helping Ovi break the record, and sacrificing a few potential rebuilding years. The record (and this generation) is worth a lot more in my view. Breaking the record would be something special.

 

[filinski77]

Ovi is still doing great, but he has been slowing down. I am a big Ovi fan, but I can't ignore the fact that he has lost speed and some stamina (specifically his in-between games recovery). I wouldn't want to accuse another poster of being an Ovi hater, but I perfectly understand his argument. The Caps will, most likely, suck mightily once Ovi, Backy, Oshie (maybe even Carlson) retire virtually simultaneously in a few seasons. Heck, they might not even make the playoffs after this season.

But I don't mind the tactic of milking everything out of the most successful Caps generation, helping Ovi break the record, and sacrificing a few potential rebuilding years. The record (and this generation) is worth a lot more in my view. Breaking the record would be something special.

I agree, and the Caps are 'technically' choosing to be competitive instead of rebuilding. The issue is that 95% of teams would do the exact same thing. It's not like the Caps have been a mid-tier team, and are choosing to try and be competitive despite not being able to make the playoffs.

2020 -> Caps were 5th in the league
2021 -> Caps were 5th in the league
2022 -> Caps are 12th in the league (and currently SEVENTEEN points ahead of the next closest team in the division)

The team might be aging, but until they're not a good team anymore, there is no reason for anyone to act like the Caps are only playing to help Ovechkin. 12th place might not make them a top competitor, but they're good enough to go on a run and make it far.

 

[Firsov99]

I agree, and the Caps are 'technically' choosing to be competitive instead of rebuilding. The issue is that 95% of teams would do the exact same thing. It's not like the Caps have been a mid-tier team, and are choosing to try and be competitive despite not being able to make the playoffs.

2020 -> Caps were 5th in the league
2021 -> Caps were 5th in the league
2022 -> Caps are 12th in the league (and currently SEVENTEEN points ahead of the next closest team in the division)

The team might be aging, but until they're not a good team anymore, there is no reason for anyone to act like the Caps are only playing to help Ovechkin. 12th place might not make them a top competitor, but they're good enough to go on a run and make it far.

"there is no reason for anyone to act like the Caps are only playing to help Ovechkin"
Definitely not. Although the team does have it in mind considering the number of emptynetters scored by Ovi. This might become more obvious when he is 39 and 40, and the number of ESG goals drastically goes down. This is when PPGs and ENGs become critical.

When the time comes, and Ovi becomes a liability, we could revisit this argument by another poster. Hopefully, Ovi will continue aging like a vintage wine.

 

[WarriorofTime]

“The capitals would be better off scratching Ovechkin in favor of the next man up from the AHL”, geez wetcoast, you’ve gone full delusional. I’m sorry the player you hate is doing unprecedented things. It’s ok. It’s only sport. This isn’t healthy.

 

[zappa4ever]

OV: really starting to slow down, getting old, at the point of hurting his team and just not contributing...

Also OV:
16 GOALS in last 21 GMS

 

[ovikovy817]

Imagine Caps will win the Cup this year and haters will say "yeah but what about a rebuild?"

 

[Fantomas]

I think the Caps would have a real shot to win it this year if they had a decent goalie.

 

[SkinsFan09]

Yup, their goaltending prohibits legitimate title run discussions.

 

[LokiDog]

Imagine Caps will win the Cup this year and haters will say "yeah but what about a rebuild?"

Just think about all the Cups you COULD win if you sold all the old bums.

 

[SeanConn]

I understand your argument. Chasing the record does have some collateral damage. Theoretically, the Caps are digging a small hole because they, basically, have to delay rebuilding the next generation team. But do you truly think that hockey fans (even the Caps fans) and the sport in general would win from curtailing the record chase? Only Ovi haters would benefit from this

Please don't understand his "argument" it's bogus lol...

There's no reason why the organization can't stay competitive and build for the future without tanking for the future or whatever warped idea this guy has about how teams are expected to "properly" rebuild...

Look how well it's worked out for the Oilers.

Ovechkin will have a solid chance to pass Gretzky's record and reach 900 goals whether Washington choses to go into full rebuild mode or not. This guy is just trying to rile people up, don't let him. ^_^

 

[wetcoast]

Yep take his 48 goals away this season and they miss the playoffs but go on....

Seriously dude?

But I guess that will get you the likes you want and deflect attention away from the stats right?

Here they are again and it's extremely clear that he is hurting the team at ES.

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

 

[wetcoast]

“The capitals would be better off scratching Ovechkin in favor of the next man up from the AHL”, geez wetcoast, you’ve gone full delusional. I’m sorry the player you hate is doing unprecedented things. It’s ok. It’s only sport. This isn’t healthy.

Because that's exactly what I said right?

Well no it wasn't but it is clear that his obsession with the goals record is glossing over the fact that 5 on 5 he has been a real liability out there since January 1st.

the stats simply don't lie and it's not like he isn't being sheltered with offensive zone starts either.

 

[wetcoast]

I understand your argument. Chasing the record does have some collateral damage. Theoretically, the Caps are digging a small hole because they, basically, have to delay rebuilding the next generation team. But do you truly think that hockey fans (even the Caps fans) and the sport in general would win from curtailing the record chase? Only Ovi haters would benefit from this

Like I said originally I think Ovi is going to get the record, it's just sad to see how much he has slipped in this calendar year and how bad it potentially will get chasing the record.

I remember seeing guy Lafleur when he came back and it was cool but players obviously didn't play hard against him and he just didn't look anything like the Flower in his heyday but it is what it is, everyone including capitals ownership is 100% in on the goals record.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Here they are again and it's extremely clear that he is hurting the team at ES.

Ovie leads the team in ES goals and ES points by significant margins.

Your post is beyond stupid.

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

 

[Caps8112]

Seriously dude?

But I guess that will get you the likes you want and deflect attention away from the stats right?

Here they are again and it's extremely clear that he is hurting the team at ES.

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

is collecting likes a thing on here now? I just like talking about hockey. So you are saying that since the arbitrary date that best fits your irrational Ovi hate that is displayed in every single Ovi thread, where Ovi has 24 goals 13 assists and 37 points in 41 games, good enought for 2nd on his team along with 19 of those being even strength (14 goals), he is hurting his team somehow with a minus 15? the stat category no one cares about. Jeff Schultz was once plus 55 or some crazy number. Is that it? is there more to this idea that a guy who is better then all but a handful of players in the league at doing the most important thing in the game is somehow hurting his team? Out of curiosity, what would be the correct way to deploy Ovi currently according to you? How should they be using him so that he is not hurting the team? who do you want to take his 2nd PP group spot? Think Mojo can hit that one timer?

 

[Firsov99]

Like I said originally I think Ovi is going to get the record, it's just sad to see how much he has slipped in this calendar year and how bad it potentially will get chasing the record.

I remember seeing guy Lafleur when he came back and it was cool but players obviously didn't play hard against him and he just didn't look anything like the Flower in his heyday but it is what it is, everyone including capitals ownership is 100% in on the goals record.

Yes, he couldn't keep up with his earlier production, but he will most likely hit another 50 goal mark and also get 90 points (something he hasn't done since the 2009/10 season). Impressive numbers for a 36-year old in my opinion.

"how bad it potentially will get chasing the record." - Do you think that Ovi would use a rolling chair in his office to collect goals? If he becomes utterly noncompetitive, I am sure that he would not want to be a part of a circus and just retire even if he can't reach Gretzky.

Honestly, I have a feeling that you are trying to devalue the potential goal record by Ovi. You pretend that you are concerned about him (or his team) looking bad late in his career, but, in reality, you just don't want him to break the record. You just won't admit it publicly