Ovechkin milestone thread - 850 and Beyond!

[BallardEra]

Also just noticed he has 16 goals in his last 15 games.

 

[Firsov99]

Wow I wasn't aware who has passed away since then.

Marc-André Fleury looks back on decades-long rivalry with Alex Ovechkin: ‘I feel fortunate I was able to play in his time’

WASHINGTON, DC -- Marc-André Fleury knows better than most just what Alex Ovechkin is capable of. Ovechkin has scored on Fleury more…

russianmachineneverbreaks.com

Octopi, Sam Spade (a huge Caps fan) - just a couple of examples.

 

[BallardEra]

Octopi, Sam Spade (a huge Caps fan) - just a couple of examples.

Oh wow. The names ring a bell too. Sad to hear.

 

[Fantomas]

Rickey Henderson just died and in recent days I've seen several times the media quote Bill James saying "If you broke him in two you'd have two Hall of Famers."

This is also true of Ovechkin.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Even the Incrementalists (you know the ones who say things like "oh, so if he has 893 goals, he's not the best, but 895 and he is, that's 2 goals, who cares"?) are going to have a tough time downplaying him right now. 28 points in 22 games, 18 goals in 22 games, that's just insane for a 39 year old.

 

[Susannah]

It has been a pleasure watching him score all these goals over years. From his first goal against Columbus to now, he celebrates them like it was his first.

 

[ovikovy817]

In true NHL fashion I am certain they will just shrug their shoulders at trying to make sure all Caps games when hes close are televised "Sorry, nothing we can do about it".

I want to hear Joe B's call on #894 and #895 but unfortunately it will be televised nationally in the US.
I think they will start to show the games when he's a hatty away.
Hope Ovi can score #892, 893, 4 and 5 in the same game. and surprise the NHL

 

[Midnight Judges]

Even the Incrementalists (you know the ones who say things like "oh, so if he has 893 goals, he's not the best, but 895 and he is, that's 2 goals, who cares"?) are going to have a tough time downplaying him right now. 28 points in 22 games, 18 goals in 22 games, that's just insane for a 39 year old.

It is interesting to watch people try to devalue Ovi with arbitrary increments.

A regular in the history revision forum recently claimed that Beliveau was "elite" later in his career because he was 5th in points and 6th in goals during his later stretch (fair enough, and this is true). He then claimed in the same post that Ovechkin did "nothing of note" after 2010. Ovie is 3rd in points and 1st in goals during that span.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

I want to hear Joe B's call on #894 and #895 but unfortunately it will be televised nationally in the US.
I think they will start to show the games when he's a hatty away.
Hope Ovi can score #892, 893, 4 and 5 in the same game. and surprise the NHL

That would be sick. Obviously very unlikely but Ovi is the last guy I'd count out doing it. FWIW he has 4 career 4-goal games with the last coming in 2017. I already follow pretty closely for a non-Caps fan but once he's about 4 away I will be ready to tune in to any game. Depending on when he gets near too I may try to go to some games in person to try to catch it live, but that may be tough.

 

[DitchMarner]

I think there's this pervasive notion that Gretzky was a shell of his prime self goal-scoring wise in his later years while Mario was always Mario and could always score at an incredible clip.

However, Mario's goal-scoring near the end of his career really faded as well. Sure, he was about 40, but the fact that Ovechkin is doing what he's doing at close to age 40 is strengthening his case for being a better goal scorer than Lemieux in addition to being a greater one.

 

[TheBeard]

I think there's this pervasive notion that Gretzky was a shell of his prime self goal-scoring wise in his later years while Mario was always Mario and could always score at an incredible clip.

However, Mario's goal-scoring near the end of his career really faded as well. Sure, he was about 40, but the fact that Ovechkin is doing what he's doing at close to age 40 is strengthening his case for being a better goal scorer than Lemieux in addition to being a greater one.

Mario slowed down because he was always injured

 

[Sensatauro]

Even the Incrementalists (you know the ones who say things like "oh, so if he has 893 goals, he's not the best, but 895 and he is, that's 2 goals, who cares"?) are going to have a tough time downplaying him right now. 28 points in 22 games, 18 goals in 22 games, that's just insane for a 39 year old..

You might say, Ovi is a true warrior of time even!

 

[GordonGraham]

With my luck it will happen vs a team like vancouver, edmonton calgary winnipeg toronto and the game will be blacked out on sportsnet/tsn

 

[authentic]

Mario slowed down because he was always injured

Then here’s Ovechkin on pace for 55 goals in an injury plagued season, missing 16 games already. I think this is the most impressive play from a 39+ year old in NHL history, that he’s doing it while chasing down Gretzky’s record seems too good to be true.

 

[wolfgaze]

With the way the Rangers (my home team) have been defending lately - Ovi could be good for a couple of goals tomorrow night.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Then here’s Ovechkin on pace for 55 goals in an injury plagued season, missing 16 games already. I think this is the most impressive play from a 39+ year old in NHL history, that he’s doing it while chasing down Gretzky’s record seems too good to be true.

My initial reaction was nah Howe, Jagr, Selanne did better but then I looked back and it wasnt really the case.

 

[authentic]

My initial reaction was nah Howe, Jagr, Selanne did better but then I looked back and it wasnt really the case.

Well Howe’s 40 year old season was amazing, but the rate Ovechkin is going is just too many goals for a player that age and in the modern day takes the cake for me.

 

[Blades Ov Steel]

This thread is full of amazing stats and posts. This record is such a big deal, this thread should be pinned permanently.

 

[ottawah]

His G/G are the highest for a season in his career thus far this year. At 39. Thats just insane.

A late bloomer?

 

[Ghost of Murph]

Scoring is easier than it's ever been since Ovi got into the league. To be doing it at that age is insane though

I can't imagine a prime ovechkin in the league these past 4-5 years lol

Good point. Ovi was leading the league in goals before he got injured, and has picked up where he left off since returning. At 39 för crying out loud.

Just how much would prime Ovi be scoring in the current NHL? Would a 75-80 goal season be possible? I think definitely so given his game in his prime.

 

[Plural]

Octopi, Sam Spade (a huge Caps fan) - just a couple of examples.

Somehow forgot or never realized Sam Spade passed. Octopi for sure, but Sam I didn't know/remember. Good posters both and hope their families are well.

 

[ItWasJustified]

Then here’s Ovechkin on pace for 55 goals in an injury plagued season, missing 16 games already. I think this is the most impressive play from a 39+ year old in NHL history, that he’s doing it while chasing down Gretzky’s record seems too good to be true.

There's a difference between having constant back pain and having an one-off injury.

 

[NVious]

How many players have ever assisted on an Ovechkin goal? Do any lists exist?

 

[TimeZone]

Another one.

 

[hockeykicker]

another one