Ovechkin milestone thread - 850 and Beyond!

[ottawa]

That’s a pretty cool stat. I wonder if there are other players who scored at least one goal in all their playoff series (Let’s say 20 series minimum).

I checked Gretzky for fun because I always assume he has the record for everything.

Scored a goal in 33 of his 38 career series and in 20 of his first 23 (compared to Ovechkin).

 

[Hockey Outsider]

I checked Gretzky for fun because I always assume he has the record for everything.

Scored a goal in 33 of his 38 career series and in 20 of his first 23 (compared to Ovechkin).

I looked at four other likely candidates (did this manually, corrections welcome)

Lemieux played in 20 playoff series. He had at least one goal (and usually quite a bit more than that) in 18 series. He was scoreless in 1992 against the Rangers (he only played in two games) and his final series, in 2001 against the Devils (who went on to win the Cup).

Bossy played in 28 playoff series. There was only one where he didn't score a goal - the 1984 Stanley Cup finals against Edmonton.

Richard played in 22 playoff series. He didn't get a goal in four of them. 1952 against Detroit (Sawchuk allowed 2 goals in 4 games), 1954 against Boston (scoreless in the sweep), 1959 against Toronto (only played in three games) and 1960 against Chicago (his final season, 38 years old). This was a really low-scoring era, outside of the WWII seasons.

Finally - Bobby Hull played in 22 series. He was shut down only twice, once against Montreal in 1980 (hard to hold this against him, he was 41 years old, back from the WHA, and it was a three-game sweep) and Boston in 1970 (Orr's Bruins swept).

So it looks like Ovechkin (22-for-22) has the record.

 

[foame]

So it looks like Ovechkin (22-for-22) has the record.

I think it ties him with Henrik Zetterberg, who potted at least one goal in the first 22 series he played but went scoreless in his 23rd against TBL. Zetterberg ended up scoring at least one goal in 23 out of the 24 series he played overall.

 

[TJHKY]

 

[Randyne]

Interesting how many goals Ovechkin created without touching the puck

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Interesting how many goals Ovechkin created without touching the puck

And people say that he doesn’t or can’t defend. I guess they don’t see hitting as a defensive attribute.

If he doesn’t smoke Jagr at center ice, the Czechs gain the zone and probably generate some scoring chances.

 

[Randyne]

And people say that he doesn’t or can’t defend. I guess they don’t see hitting as a defensive attribute.

If he doesn’t smoke Jagr at center ice, the Czechs gain the zone and probably generate some scoring chances.

Yep, that kind of hitting it's a definition of f two-way play - both defence and offence, Ovechkin threw hundreds of them.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Ovi should easily score the 22 goals necessary to surpass Howe this season. He'll need 2 40-goal seasons and one of 35 to pass Gretzky.

I'm rooting for him to break Gretzky's record, but I certainly wouldn't be betting on it. It's inevitable that a guy never known for off-ice dedication will soon be visited by Father Time. Ovi turned 37 yesterday.

If he does break it, let's hope he's still a viable player, not a broken-down travesty of himself, desperately hanging on to score a few more goals. I suspect he has too much pride for the latter.

 

[BallardEra]

Ovi should easily score the 22 goals necessary to surpass Howe this season. He'll need 2 40-goal seasons and one of 35 to pass Gretzky.

I'm rooting for him to break Gretzky's record, but I certainly wouldn't be betting on it. It's inevitable that a guy never known for off-ice dedication will soon be visited by Father Time. Ovi turned 37 yesterday.

If he does break it, let's hope he's still a viable player, not a broken-down travesty of himself, desperately hanging on to score a few more goals. I suspect he has too much pride for the latter.

He has 4 seasons left on his contract so needs to average 28.5 goals over that span.

Shane Doan scored 28 goals in 72 games at the age of 39.

Selanne had 31 goals in 73 games at the age of 40.

Only a catastrophic injury at this point would derail his chances at 895.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

He has 4 seasons left on his contract so needs to average 28.5 goals over that span.

Good point. Was thinking more in terms of Ovi-like numbers than contract seasons left.

Still a big challenge. He'll have turned 40 just before that 4th season. It all depends on how steep is his inevitable decline.

 

[ViD]

Imagine if he’s got 890 at the end of the contract, then signs for one more year, scores 5 and retires.

Good point. Was thinking more in terms of Ovi-like numbers than contract seasons left.

Still a big challenge. He'll have turned 40 just before that 4th season. It all depends on how steep is his inevitable decline.

Washington window is closing for good in 2 years. I don’t see why they wouldn’t keep extending him to break the record while rebuilding.

 

[crazy8888]

Imagine if he’s got 890 at the end of the contract, then signs for one more year, scores 5 and retires.


Washington window is closing for good in 2 years. I don’t see why they wouldn’t keep extending him to break the record while rebuilding.

What is happening in 2 years why is the window closing for good then?

 

[abo9]

Ovi should easily score the 22 goals necessary to surpass Howe this season. He'll need 2 40-goal seasons and one of 35 to pass Gretzky.

I'm rooting for him to break Gretzky's record, but I certainly wouldn't be betting on it. It's inevitable that a guy never known for off-ice dedication will soon be visited by Father Time. Ovi turned 37 yesterday.

If he does break it, let's hope he's still a viable player, not a broken-down travesty of himself, desperately hanging on to score a few more goals. I suspect he has too much pride for the latter.

He just had his most productive season point-wise since 2010 (12 years ago)... and you're NOW worried that he doesn't train enough to avoid father time?

Also, his PHD dissertation is literally about comparing training methods between Russia and North America.

His extremely solid track record at longevity and reinventing himself, his resistance to injuries, his genetic makeup (two athlete parents), his love for the game, etc. don't really have me worried for him experiencing a drastic decline like "normal" players do.

I believe that he's in the Jagr class of freaks and that he might continue to be excellent even at 40 (maybe not winning Rockets but 30-40 goals being a possibility). Now, he does have a family, so idk, maybe he'll retire before his kids are NHL prospects

 

[ViD]

What is happening in 2 years why is the window closing for good then?

Their prospect pool is abysmal and their core will all be past their primes

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

He has 4 seasons left on his contract so needs to average 28.5 goals over that span.

Shane Doan scored 28 goals in 72 games at the age of 39.

Selanne had 31 goals in 73 games at the age of 40.

Only a catastrophic injury at this point would derail his chances at 895.

Doan's goals from 2009/2010 to 2016/2017 ... 18, 20, 22, 13, 23, 14, 28, 6. You cherry-picked an anomalous, last-hurrah season from a guy who I'd have on my team any day, but shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as Ovi.

Bracketed around the 31 goal season you cited are seasons where Selanne scored 12, 27, 27, 31, 26, 12, 9. Moreover, Selanne benefited from the 2004/2005 lockout season like no other player. It literally rejuvenated his career. There is no such parallel in Ovi's career.

Those are unconvincing comparables.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Imagine if he’s got 890 at the end of the contract, then signs for one more year, scores 5 and retires.


Washington window is closing for good in 2 years. I don’t see why they wouldn’t keep extending him to break the record while rebuilding.

As stated above, I suspect Ovi has too much pride to hang around trying to break the GOAT's record by scoring charity goals at the end of his career.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

He just had his most productive season point-wise since 2010 (12 years ago)... and you're NOW worried that he doesn't train enough to avoid father time?

Also, his PHD dissertation is literally about comparing training methods between Russia and North America.

His extremely solid track record at longevity and reinventing himself, his resistance to injuries, his genetic makeup (two athlete parents), his love for the game, etc. don't really have me worried for him experiencing a drastic decline like "normal" players do.

I believe that he's in the Jagr class of freaks and that he might continue to be excellent even at 40 (maybe not winning Rockets but 30-40 goals being a possibility). Now, he does have a family, so idk, maybe he'll retire before his kids are NHL prospects

We're talking goals here, not points.

I've never heard about Ovi's PhD dissertation. Regardless, it's irrelevant to this discussion.

Yes, his genetics and injury-free career are points in his favor. I agree he's not a "normal" player. The guy is an absolute freak.

Father Time visits all. Will he outlast the inevitable decline in time to break Gretzky's record? Again, I hope so, but wouldn't bet on it.

 

[BallardEra]

Doan's goals from 2009/2010 to 2016/2017 ... 18, 20, 22, 13, 23, 14, 28, 6. You cherry-picked an anomalous, last-hurrah season from a guy who I'd have on my team any day, but shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as Ovi.

Bracketed around the 31 goal season you cited are seasons where Selanne scored 12, 27, 27, 31, 26, 12, 9. Moreover, Selanne benefited from the 2004/2005 lockout season like no other player. It literally rejuvenated his career. There is no such parallel in Ovi's career.

Those are unconvincing comparables.

My point still stands. Only a significant injury can derail him at this point.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

My point still stands. Only a significant injury can derail him at this point.

Vegas awaits your prop bet.

Glad we agree on the unconvincing nature of your precedents.

 

[BallardEra]

Vegas awaits your prop bet.

Glad we agree on the unconvincing nature of your precedents.

Actually we don't.

A healthy Ovechkin over the next 4 years will get 115 goals without much trouble.

At this point it all comes down to health for him.

You probably predicted him falling off a cliff 3-4 years ago.

 

[crazy8888]

Their prospect pool is abysmal and their core will all be past their primes

I disagree. If i had to rate their prospect pool i would put them somewhere in the middle of the league. Not great but not abysmal either. Plus ever since McPhee left more players want to come here so its not like some holes cant be addressed during the free agency. And besides, there is no 100% timeframe on when the current core is going to burn out or how much of the current core is still going to be here 2 years now. And who is to say they will not be replaced with younger/better players?

 

[MacMacandBarbie]

As stated above, I suspect Ovi has too much pride to hang around trying to break the GOAT's record by scoring charity goals at the end of his career.

What the hell is a charity goal? Should a goalie feel worse for letting a charity goal in vs your standard goal?

 

[abo9]

We're talking goals here, not points.

I've never heard about Ovi's PhD dissertation. Regardless, it's irrelevant to this discussion.

Yes, his genetics and injury-free career are points in his favor. I agree he's not a "normal" player. The guy is an absolute freak.

Father Time visits all. Will he outlast the inevitable decline in time to break Gretzky's record? Again, I hope so, but wouldn't bet on it.

I just dont get why you see such a sudden decline? He needs 28 goals per year until his contract end. He scored 50 last year (in 77 games too) and keeps finding ways to stay in that region.

Even if he declined and scored 40 and then 35, he'll need 40 goals to get there in two seasons.

And he's had bad seasons i the past, so a 30 goal seasons isnt in the realm of impossibility, but then he can always jump back (like last year) or keep trucking at 30 per year

 

[Javaman]

I don't wish injury

Actually we don't.

A healthy Ovechkin over the next 4 years will get 115 goals without much trouble.

At this point it all comes down to health for him.

You probably predicted him falling off a cliff 3-4 years ago.

I don't wish injury on any player. But I don't want to see Ovechkin break the record.

 

[RANDOMH3RO]

We're talking goals here, not points.

I've never heard about Ovi's PhD dissertation. Regardless, it's irrelevant to this discussion.

Yes, his genetics and injury-free career are points in his favor. I agree he's not a "normal" player. The guy is an absolute freak.

Father Time visits all. Will he outlast the inevitable decline in time to break Gretzky's record? Again, I hope so, but wouldn't bet on it.

Ovechkin has already bucked the trend of Father Time greater than anyone else in goal scoring history. He’s the oldest 50 goal scorer in nhl history. His first 5 seasons he scored goals at a .67 rate. His past 5 seasons he scored at a .62 rate. He only needs to score at half that rate to match the total over the next 4 season. I do not see a problem with betting on ovechkin to be the guy to beat the record. He’s got as good a shot as anyone has had, or may have ever.