Ovechkin Milestone Thread - Countdown to 894

[authentic]

Kind of crazy that their per game primaries are roughly the same too (0.96 for Sid, 0.92 for Ovi)

Pretty good given that Ovechkin has been quite a bit more durable and played so far until 37 and most of those primaries are goals. Still don’t think he’s been better than Crosby on per game basis since his peak but it definitely shows they are closer than many think.

 

[kugelbahn]

Pretty good given that Ovechkin has been quite a bit more durable and played so far until 37 and most of those primaries are goals. Still don’t think he’s been better than Crosby on per game basis since his peak but it definitely shows they are closer than many think.

Last 4 yrs:
OV 205 primary points in 229 games, 0.90 per game
Crosby 175 primary points in 201 games, 0.87 per game

NHL Stats

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

www.nhl.com

So on per game basis OV is better in recent years.

OV is also better on per game basis in Goals Created and Offensive Points Shares for the whole career

NHL & WHA Career Leaders and Records for Goals Created Per Game | Hockey-Reference.com

1. Mario Lemieux (0.710), 2. Cy Denneny (0.692), 3. Wayne Gretzky (0.685), 4. Mike Bossy (0.616), 5. Connor McDavid (0.550), 6. Marcel Dionne (0.507), 7. Howie Morenz (0.494), 8. Bobby Orr (0.493), 9. Phil Esposito (0.491), 10. Auston Matthews (0.488)

www.hockey-reference.com

Crosby has advantage in points per game, like most centers do over scoring wingers due to the role they play.

 

[kugelbahn]

OV with another first star of the month, his 9th.
McDavid already has 7, Crosby 5.

 

[Randyne]

first star of the month + rookie of the month
Ovechkin 12. Backstrom 1
McDavid 10. Draisaitl 2
Sid 6, Malkin 5

 

[Windy River]

That’s true. Having Malkin who was the Pittsburgh leading scorer on 2/3 Cups was a great testimony to Crosby‘s playing abilities. Having Kessel who was the leading scorer on 1/3 was another one. Crosby was so smart and clutch that he didn’t even ever need to lead his team in points in the winning runs. Nor was he ever asked to carry his team in the SCF.

Ovi didn’t lead his team in scoring either for the one single cup that he came along for the ride for. Which has nothing to do with Crosby being better than him overall, but is simply a fact.

 

[BallardEra]

 

[kugelbahn]

This is some statistical anomaly right here.
Are they freaks of nature like OV?

"Only 2 percent of people in the world are natural blondes. (About one in 20 Americans are.)"
"Blonde hair comes from a teeny-tiny genetic mutation.."

11 Brilliant Scientific Facts About Blondes

Do blondes really have more fun? Scientists have researched stereotypes about blondies -- and what they've found is fascinating!

cafemom.com

 

[SkinsFan09]

Ovechkin is 37 and is 15 goals and 12 points ahead of the rest of his teammates through just 39 games. In the last 18-20 games or so, he leads the NHL in 5v5 points.

There were an incredible number of posts this offseason criticizing the Capitals for sacrificing winning for the sake of the goals chase when in reality they should still be focusing on Ovechkin as their guy because he's still that guy.

 

[kugelbahn]

Ovechkin is 37 and is 15 goals and 12 points ahead of the rest of his teammates through just 39 games. In the last 18-20 games or so, he leads the NHL in 5v5 points.

There were an incredible number of posts this offseason criticizing the Capitals for sacrificing winning for the sake of the goals chase when in reality they should still be focusing on Ovechkin as their guy because he's still that guy.

Right, who is going to score goals but him?
Kuzy has 6G so far, Willy (20+ goals scorer) has not played yet,
Becky - same, Oshie missed 17 games. The most injured team this year.
They don't have Drai, Guntzel, Malkin, Marner, Nylander etc.
Its scoring by committee plus OV and finally solid goaltending.

 

[M2Beezy]

Ovechkin is 37 and is 15 goals and 12 points ahead of the rest of his teammates through just 39 games. In the last 18-20 games or so, he leads the NHL in 5v5 points.

There were an incredible number of posts this offseason criticizing the Capitals for sacrificing winning for the sake of the goals chase when in reality they should still be focusing on Ovechkin as their guy because he's still that guy.

Looking at the player stats of the Caps this year hes head in shoulders above everyone else. Unreal theyre missing Backstrom and Wilson and hes carrying this team. As an Ovechkin fan its great to see. As a neutral fan Id love to see the Caps add some important pieces this year to give the team the best chance at winning the Cup, adding a 2nd Cup to Ovechkins extensive trophy case. Would be an incredible story

 

[SkinsFan09]

Right, who is hoing to score goals but him?
Kuzy has 6G so far, Willy (20+ goals scorer) has not played yet,
Becky - same, Oshie missed 17 games. The most injured team this year.
They don't have Drai, Guntzel, Malkin, Marner, Nylander etc.
Its scoring by committee plus OV and finally solid goaltending.

The goaltending has helped. It also helps when your best player goes from 0.78 PPG to 1.5+ PPG in 20 game stretches. He has dragged them into a playoff spot.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

The Habs moms were in the stands watching the game, while their daddy was on the ice scoring a hat trick on them

 

[leafsfan5]

Every year since like 2015 I have worried about drafting Ovechkin in fantasy and him falling off, it's why I typically avoid him

But every year, he's up at the top.....this guy does not age

 

[BallardEra]

About 7 years ago Ovechkin was at 501 career goals and their prediction had him finishing with 846 career goals after his age 40 season.

How Many Goals Will Alex Ovechkin Score in His Legendary Career?

 

[BallardEra]

Gretzky wowed by Ovechkin chasing his NHL goals record

 

[TJHKY]

 

[vippe]

I think it's worth mentioning that while Ovechkin definitely is carrying the team, a lot of depth players has stepped up and contribute when the team has battled injuries.

Never would I have imagined this team playing so well for long stretches with Wilson, Backis, Oshie and Carlsson all out for extended periods.

Spoiler: Not really on topc, but some context of contribution from non-stars

Milano 10 points his last 12 games
Sheary 15 points his last 15 games
Gustafsson 13 points his last 7 games
Dowd 8 points his last 9 games
Johansson 8 points his last 11 games

That's 5 players with a total caphit of 5.45M with 49 points through 54 games combined, hats off.

 

[Video Nasty]

There are lots of excellent arguments for Sidney Crosby. ^^^This isn't one of them.

Sid was gifted a Conn Smythe while he produced at a 65 point/21 goal pace as a minus player who didn't penalty kill and had minimal defensive responsibilities.

I could probably come up with 50 arguments that are better than this one.

I’d like to think that anyone remotely neutral and a fan of the game over an individual team and which player is on which team could be honest with themselves, but I know that’s unrealistic.

I agree with you on this one.

Some important context for his first Conn Smythe in particular is that Crosby and the Penguins were expected to win more Cups following the one they nabbed in 2008-2009 prior to 2015-2016. There were supposed to be plenty of opportunities for Crosby to win one after Malkin already claimed one. Instead, Crosby had zero Conn Smythes entering his 11th season.

There was no way the Penguins were going to win a second Cup and Crosby would be passed over again. It’s an important part of legacy building and the writers didn’t know if it would be their last chance to give it to Crosby who was 11 years into his career and had noticeably declined since he was exiting his peak years and just a few seasons removed from his string of injuries.

I also don’t know why some can’t acknowledge that Crosby can be a top 10 player ever and also have a pair of the weakest Conn Smythes in league history. These two things can be true.

 

[Midnight Judges]

I’d like to think that anyone remotely neutral and a fan of the game over an individual team and which player is on which team could be honest with themselves, but I know that’s unrealistic.

I agree with you on this one.

Some important context for his first Conn Smythe in particular is that Crosby and the Penguins were expected to win more Cups following the one they nabbed in 2008-2009 prior to 2015-2016. There were supposed to be plenty of opportunities for Crosby to win one after Malkin already claimed one. Instead, Crosby had zero Conn Smythes entering his 11th season.

There was no way the Penguins were going to win a second Cup and Crosby would be passed over again. It’s an important part of legacy building and the writers didn’t know if it would be their last chance to give it to Crosby who was 11 years into his career and had noticeably declined since he was exiting his peak years and just a few seasons removed from his string of injuries.

I also don’t know why some can’t acknowledge that Crosby can be a top 10 player ever and also have a pair of the weakest Conn Smythes in league history. These two things can be true.

See I think the 2017 one was fine.

The 2016 one was a Canadian media thing.

 

[vippe]

There are lots of excellent arguments for Sidney Crosby. ^^^This isn't one of them.

Sid was gifted a Conn Smythe while he produced at a 65 point/21 goal pace as a minus player who didn't penalty kill and had minimal defensive responsibilities.

I could probably come up with 50 arguments that are better than this one.

In regards to the 15/16 Conn Smythe I often think of the 05/06 one when Scott Niedermayer won the trophy, while really good wasnt the surefire winner. And probably handed it because he was the captain of a very dominant team.

But to me, the Moen/Påhlsson/R.Niedermayer line was the absolute key to that stanley cup victory and out of those Påhlsson was the most deserving one..

However that line probably not the sexiest picks out there, and I think Kessel/Bonino/Hagelin line was in a similar situation. It was the best line for Pens and Kessel was the best player on it, but since it wasnt a slam dunk.. they went with the captain.

I dont mean this as disrespect to Crosby in any way, he's one of the best every Conn Smythe this year or not. I kinda wish Kessel did win it though because I felt he was deserving.

 

[Calderon]

Here's the scoring lead for December. How is Ovi more deserving than McDavid and Thompson? Erik Karlsson had 19 points in 12 games as well, 1.58 ppg. Sure, the Caps were on a roll. Buffalo won 9 of their 12. Oilers didn't do very good. Didn't check if any goalie deserved serious consideration.

Nevertheless, it's a slim chance Ovi would've been chosen had his goal total at the end of December been, say, 796 instead of having scored goals #800-802. It can be argued the record itself warrants the POTM accolade, and in that case that's surely fair enough.

Before anyone calls me a hater, Ovi is my favorite active player, but I have grown some strong mixed feelings because of, you know, politics. The league sure doesn't shy away from this PR bump though.

 

[Hockey Outsider]

I agree that Crosby's 2016 Conn Smythe was weak. In my article ranking the Conn Smythe winners from the past 40 years I said "this is probably the weakest showing on the list".

On the other hand, Pittsburgh won due to a balanced team effort. There wasn't another player who was clearly more deserving. Someone had to win, and Crosby was arguably the best choice from an underwhelming group:

• Phil Kessel outscored Crosby 22-19. But a three point gap is small, and the only series where Kessel was clearly better was the 2nd round. Even though Crosby can be overrated defensively, he was still used in a much less sheltered way than Kessel, and got the tougher matchups. (I don't hear many people complaining that Ovechkin won the Smythe despite being outscored 32-27, so a three point difference isn't the trump card that some people claim).
• Matt Murray played well, but his save percentage was "only" 92.3%, which was much lower than what a goalie typically needs to win (the five previous winners were 94.6%, 94.0%, 92.0%, 94.5%, and 93.4%). And he missed three games, which didn't help.
• At the time, I don't recall Kris Letang being discussed as the potential Conn Smythe winner. He probably would have gotten my vote. He logged a ton of minutes in every situation (he was their #1 defenseman at ES and on the PP, and #3 on the PK). He wasn't flashy but was consistent series after series. Still, he wasn't nearly as good as Duncan Keith, who won the Smythe the year before (or Chris Pronger, who probably could have taken three Conn Smythes over the past decade, but somehow didn't win any).

I agree Crosby's 2016 Smythe was really weak by historical standards. But I wouldn't say it was undeserved, because that implies someone else deserved it more. There was no frontrunner, so the voters did the sentimental thing and gave it to the long-time captain.

(EDIT - just realized what thread this is. Maybe revisiting Crosby's 2016 Conn Smythe for the 100th time should be moved out of this thread, where we should be celebrating the historic things Ovechkin is doing).

 

[MacMacandBarbie]

In regards to the 15/16 Conn Smythe I often think of the 05/06 one when Scott Niedermayer won the trophy, while really good wasnt the surefire winner. And probably handed it because he was the captain of a very dominant team.

But to me, the Moen/Påhlsson/R.Niedermayer line was the absolute key to that stanley cup victory and out of those Påhlsson was the most deserving one..

However that line probably not the sexiest picks out there, and I think Kessel/Bonino/Hagelin line was in a similar situation. It was the best line for Pens and Kessel was the best player on it, but since it wasnt a slam dunk.. they went with the captain.

I dont mean this as disrespect to Crosby in any way, he's one of the best every Conn Smythe this year or not. I kinda wish Kessel did win it though because I felt he was deserving.

Kessel line got cherry picked offensive zone deployments, and he played 08 Ovechkin level defense. To say Crosby, who played against the top lines, had the most time on ice, 3 game winning goals and multiple game winning assists while playing solid 2 way hockey didn’t deserve it over Kessel is absolutely ridiculous.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Kessel line got cherry picked offensive zone deployments, and he played 08 Ovechkin level defense. To say Crosby, who played against the top lines, had the most time on ice, 3 game winning goals and multiple game winning assists while playing solid 2 way hockey didn’t deserve it over Kessel is absolutely ridiculous.

What is 08 Ovechkin level defense? Is that where you're on the ice for 67 non-power play goals against despite playing in front of an AHL caliber blue line and terrible goal tenders? Whereas Crosby was on the ice for 73 and 75 non PP goals against in the subsequent 2 seasons despite playing in front of a hall of fame goal tender and a decent group of defensemen?

 

[Sun God Nika]

Here’s hoping caps find a way to miss the playoffs and draft Bedard so Ovi can keep scoring 50 till he 50