Ovechkin Milestone Thread - Countdown to 894

[cupface52]

I disagree.

He's done after next year and heading back to Russia.

If next year, the caps are a top 3 team in their division, and he has a 40/40/80 type season, I think he sticks around and signs a one year deal. If he's sitting around the 30/30/60 mark OR the caps are a bubble team, it'll be his last year.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Ovie will do whatever he wants and he friggin loves playing hockey. If the team is contending, that could play into his decision.

 

[Lou Sassole]

It's not only the goals but how durable he has been. This guy is just indestructible.

Durability while being one of the most prolific hitters ever.

 

[User9992]

I disagree.

He's done after next year and heading back to Russia.

He won't play in Russia imho. He will retire in NHL after next season.
There is no reason to play in KHL in your 40's unless you get paid huge amount of money.

 

[Fantomas]

There is no reason to play in KHL in your 40's unless you get paid huge amount of money.

Okay thanks for your insights.

 

[BallardEra]

Friday Four: Rejuvenated Ovechkin poised to topple Gretzky’s goal record this season – Sportsnet.ca

Ovechkin-Crosby rivalry still going strong 20 years later | NHL.com

Capitals, Penguins captains seek to produce more memories in 70th head-to-head matchup

www.nhl.com

 

[Selanne00008]

Selke baby!!!

 

[ViD]

He won't play in Russia imho. He will retire in NHL after next season.
There is no reason to play in KHL in your 40's unless you get paid huge amount of money.

Pretty sure both him and Malkin promised to finish their career in Dynamo and Magnitogorsk respectively even if it’s for a few games

 

[Hockey241978]

Funny how all the most “durable” players are all floaters. Kessel, Marleau, Kane, Ovechkin, etc.

Amazing what not playing defense, battling along the boards, or blocking shots will do for one’s durability.

Now do career hits Ovi has against Crosby's which is more physical than hugging someone along the boards! Ovi 3664 hits, Crosby 1129! It would take Crosby 3 more careers to equal Ovi's totals! Haha

 

[AD1066]

Now do career hits Ovi has against Crosby's which is more physical than hugging someone along the boards! Ovi 3664 hits, Crosby 1129! It would take Crosby 3 more careers to equal Ovi's totals! Haha

One could argue Crosby is the most elite grinder in history, props to him for aging as well as he has. He doesn't belong in the grouping of Kane, Kessel, and others who play a mostly finesse game.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Funny how all the most “durable” players are all floaters. Kessel, Marleau, Kane, Ovechkin, etc.

Amazing what not playing defense, battling along the boards, or blocking shots will do for one’s durability.

Insane take. Everyone quoted the hit stats already, but Ovechkin was one of the most high-impact physical players of his generation. He threw hits at top speed with car crash levels of impact.



Prime Ovie was the closest thing you’ll see to an Eric Lindros type physical presence in this league, especially in context of what’s legal these days. To play that style and never sustain a major injury is mind-boggling. He’s one of one.

 

[pi314]

Wait so you're saying people should get injured and be martyrs of sorts just to play defense?

Also- what is this like 2010? Ovechkin won his cup and while doing so has also becomes the GOAT scorer. Everyone, including every NHL player and GM would have nothing bad to say about him in regards to his style of play.

Just you.

Incorrect.

Not “just me”.

I never used to even watch his play away from the puck.

Bruce Boudreau in 2008 in a post game interview.

Reporter: “What did you think of Alex play tonight?”

Boudreau: “Alex was good with the puck.”

Reporter: “Are you saying Alex didn’t play well without the puck?”

Boudreau: “Alex was good with the puck.”

Seemed like a strange thing to say.

So I watched him away from the puck the next game.

Boudreau was right.

You can’t unsee it.

His former coach would agree with the take.

 

[Ridley Simon]

As a huge Ovi and Caps fan, I have to say there’s simply no chance of that happening. All indications are he has zero interest in playing beyond his current contract, which expires after next season. Seems extremely clear he is looking forward to returning home to Moscow with his family after next season.

I mean i could be wrong, or he could change his mind, but both Russian and English language interviews seem to indicate that desire.

IF the team is doing well, he has a chance at another Cup, and of course he’s healthy?

Why would he leave? Honest question? He’d have been in DC for 21 or so years. How is that different than 22 or 23 or 24?

It’s not. Not materially.

Hell, he can play in Russia when he’s 45, akin to Jagr in CZ.

He wants to win. Period. If the Caps suck ass as he winds down? He will leave. IF he’s on a good/great team and is contributing to that? No better place to play hockey than that.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Funny how all the most “durable” players are all floaters. Kessel, Marleau, Kane, Ovechkin, etc.

Amazing what not playing defense, battling along the boards, or blocking shots will do for one’s durability.

Clown comment. Good Lord man/woman. Stop hating.

 

[895]

his hit on Jagr is the hit version of the goal against the Coyotes

 

[Ridley Simon]

I wonder is it result of Ovi being good at avoiding hits, or players avoiding to hit Ovi for some reason (respect, getting bounced, making him angry)?

Players get hurt hitting Ovechkin. Why run into a wall, that is skating towards you?

You don’t.

 

[Lucas Hood]

Remember the


Top 3 hitter of all time is


soft because 16 years ago his coach


answered a question about a game in a postgame


conference where he praised his play with the puck I


type like a redditor ergo


this is the correct take with facts and logic and all


your arguments are invalid

 

[PM88RU]

IF the team is doing well, he has a chance at another Cup, and of course he’s healthy?

Why would he leave? Honest question? He’d have been in DC for 21 or so years. How is that different than 22 or 23 or 24?

It’s not. Not materially.

Hell, he can play in Russia when he’s 45, akin to Jagr in CZ.

He wants to win. Period. If the Caps suck ass as he winds down? He will leave. IF he’s on a good/great team and is contributing to that? No better place to play hockey than that.

Ovi is a challenge-driven man, and has always been.

Ovi has said it many times that he doesn’t want to play being a passenger. And by the end of the contract he’ll be worse than now, playing PP specialist on the dot afterwards is just too small a role for him to accept. And what to stay for? He’s got one ring already, he’s got record (hopefully), so does another slim chance for a Cup seems that challenging for him? I doubt that very much.

One dream of playing in NHL is fulfilled, legendary legacy is established, time to move on.

As much as he loves to play hockey, there’re plenty of other ways one can contribute to, besides being a player, and those new challenges I’m sure will seem much more interesting and intriguing for Ovi by the time his contract expires.

I wouldn’t mind seeing him to establish some hockey school in Russia or becoming FHR president some time in the future.

Leaving WSH as a contender team actually would be a pleasure I think. Having spent a biggest part of his life on franchise and leaving it as well functioning team is a bless a few superstars have privilege to experience.

 

[DRW895]

Pretty sure both him and Malkin promised to finish their career in Dynamo and Magnitogorsk respectively even if it’s for a few games

After Malkin dropped his hometown with Stanley Cup twice and was catched with US citizenship... serious doubts about him retiring in MMG

 

[Calderon]

After Malkin dropped his hometown with Stanley Cup twice and was catched with US citizenship... serious doubts about him retiring in MMG

Do you mean Malkin didn't take the Cup to Magnitogorsk? Did he take it to Russia at all? I haven't heard about the citizenship thing either. Not the first Russian player I would've thought would obtain it.

 

[Hanji]

After Malkin dropped his hometown with Stanley Cup twice and was catched with US citizenship... serious doubts about him retiring in MMG

Do you mean Malkin didn't take the Cup to Magnitogorsk? Did he take it to Russia at all? I haven't heard about the citizenship thing either. Not the first Russian player I would've thought would obtain it.

A quick google search shows Malkin brought the Cup to Russia every time he won it.
To Magnitogosk in ‘09 and Moscow in ‘16 and ‘17.

 

[Zuluss]

Malkin is probably being confused with some other Russian players (Tarasenko?) who could not bring the Cup to their hometown for stupid political reasons.

 

[DRW895]

A quick google search shows Malkin brought the Cup to Russia every time he won it.
To Magnitogosk in ‘09 and Moscow in ‘16 and ‘17.

What`s wrong? 1 of 3, Moscow isnt his home town

Do you mean Malkin didn't take the Cup to Magnitogorsk? Did he take it to Russia at all? I haven't heard about the citizenship thing either. Not the first Russian player I would've thought would obtain it.

Malkin has US citizenship along time ago, we know about that since late 2019

 

[Nsjohnson]

Incorrect.

Not “just me”.

I never used to even watch his play away from the puck.

Bruce Boudreau in 2008 in a post game interview.

Reporter: “What did you think of Alex play tonight?”

Boudreau: “Alex was good with the puck.”

Reporter: “Are you saying Alex didn’t play well without the puck?”

Boudreau: “Alex was good with the puck.”

Seemed like a strange thing to say.

So I watched him away from the puck the next game.

Boudreau was right.

You can’t unsee it.

His former coach would agree with the take.

You're argument is flawed from the very beginning.

We aren't talking about a player like a Marleau who can score some goals, is soft as hell, doesn't hit anyone, has nothing to his game besides some goals, has some vision, a good guy in the locker room. I like Patty.

This is the greatest goal scorer of all time, Cup champion, too many awards to name, one of the best hitters to ever play the game, one of the hungriest, and a great teammate.

His lack of defensive prowess isn't a problem.

You also ignore that he is an incredible passer.

A Russian truck that is durable, used to hit everything that moved, the best goal scorer GOAT, a great passer, and a great teammate.

Go ahead and tell us why you REALLY don't like Ovechkin.

I can probably guess.

 

[jd22]

Insane take. Everyone quoted the hit stats already, but Ovechkin was one of the most high-impact physical players of his generation. He threw hits at top speed with car crash levels of impact.



Prime Ovie was the closest thing you’ll see to an Eric Lindros type physical presence in this league, especially in context of what’s legal these days. To play that style and never sustain a major injury is mind-boggling. He’s one of one.

And each one of these clean. Incredible hitter.

I guess he does a couple other things well too.