For this poll, it's not necessarily talking about Ovechkin's 5 best seasons, but the 5 seasons that are his most iconic. The ones that are talked about the most and the ones that are most memorable to fans.
Ovechkin's 5 most iconic seasons
- Thread starter slapKing
- Start date
2006: great rookie year
2008-2010: his true peak
2013: his return after thinking he was done as a top goal scorer
2018: cup + conn smythe
2025: goal scoring record
2008-2010: his true peak
2013: his return after thinking he was done as a top goal scorer
2018: cup + conn smythe
2025: goal scoring record
Hockey Outsider
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- 2006 - rookie season which shows that all of the hype was justified. 50+ goals and 100+ points on a terrible team. Beat Crosby for the Calder.
- 2008 - one of the best seasons of the 21st century. First player since Lemieux to score 65 goals. Amazing variety his goal-scoring ability (something that younger fans might not realize).
- 2010 - Ovechkin was at his best this year (on a per-game basis). Had he not missed ten games, he likely would have won a 2nd Art Ross and a 3rd consecutive Hart.
- 2013 - a huge comeback season, after people started to write him off.
- 2018 - won the Conn Smythe, and helped Washington win the only Stanley Cup in its history.
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2005-2006: Monster rookie season, the best of the 21st century. 50-50 season as a rookie will be very hard to reproduce in today’s game. This was also the year of his famous goal that he scored from the back, laying on the ice against the Coyotes.
2007-2008: Very arguably the best season of his career and one of the greatest goalscoring seasons of all time, if not the best. When I think about “Peak Ovechkin” that’s the version of him that comes to my mind.
2012-2013: After a terrible 2011-2012 season, which was the worst in his career up to that point, he rejuvenated in the 2nd half of the shortened season en route to a Rocket and a Hart trophy after most of the hockey community thought he was cooked as a top player in the world.
2017-2018: Probably the season that has helped him the most on a legacy standpoint. He finally gets his cup along with a Smythe which was the final piece of the puzzle to an all time great career.
2024-2025: Beats the goal record while having possibly the best season ever for a 39 y/o player.
2007-2008: Very arguably the best season of his career and one of the greatest goalscoring seasons of all time, if not the best. When I think about “Peak Ovechkin” that’s the version of him that comes to my mind.
2012-2013: After a terrible 2011-2012 season, which was the worst in his career up to that point, he rejuvenated in the 2nd half of the shortened season en route to a Rocket and a Hart trophy after most of the hockey community thought he was cooked as a top player in the world.
2017-2018: Probably the season that has helped him the most on a legacy standpoint. He finally gets his cup along with a Smythe which was the final piece of the puzzle to an all time great career.
2024-2025: Beats the goal record while having possibly the best season ever for a 39 y/o player.
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JackSlater
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I'd say the main ones are 2006 (extremely memorable, excellent rookie season) 2008-2010 (peak Ovechkin) 2018 (Stanley Cup, strong season) and 2025 (goal record, also a strong season). I don't think any other season is comparable. So something like...
2006
2008
2009 or 2010
2018
2025
2006
2008
2009 or 2010
2018
2025
hamzarocks
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2006
2008
2009
2010
2015
These 5 years he was a top 5 player in the league. With 2008-2010 he was #1A or #1.
2013 he was also top 5 but overall the season was weaker than 2015 when he was the a top 3 player in a full 82 game season .
2018 he was great but maybe a fringe top 10 player in the regular season. He did win the cup+smythe but he wasnt a better player than any of the 5 years above or 2013 both individually as a player and across the league
2008
2009
2010
2015
These 5 years he was a top 5 player in the league. With 2008-2010 he was #1A or #1.
2013 he was also top 5 but overall the season was weaker than 2015 when he was the a top 3 player in a full 82 game season .
2018 he was great but maybe a fringe top 10 player in the regular season. He did win the cup+smythe but he wasnt a better player than any of the 5 years above or 2013 both individually as a player and across the league
I would switch 2013 with 2025 but otherwise agree with the reasons listed.
2025 even if it had been like the previous 2 would just need to be in there for 895 reasons.
2006 - I don't know if he had the best rookie season of all-time, but he's in contention for it. Iconic season to kickstart his career
2008 - Peak season, his best showing. Swept awards
2009 & 2010 - More peak seasons. They're a bit more "boring" than the others, but to me Ovechkin is who he is in large part because of his 3 year peak, so it's hard to ignore any of the 3.
2025 - Beating the all-time goal-record is certainly iconic. Hard to ignore it
Runner-ups:
2018 - I really wanted to find room for the cup/smythe win. But honestly - it was a bit of a "run of the mill" cup/smythe win. Great performance and all - but nothing that stands out "all time" - a lot of players have won cups and smythes. The rookie season, the all-time great peak, the goal-record - those are more iconic to me.
2013 - This was important because people thought he was "done" after 2 slower years...and even halfway through this year, he was sucking, and Caps were out of playoffs...then he goes onto close to a ~goal per game pace for last ~30 games or so, helps Caps make playoffs, win division and wins the hart at the same time. Heck of a turnaround for him. I'd have this one seventh.
Amazing career.
2008 - Peak season, his best showing. Swept awards
2009 & 2010 - More peak seasons. They're a bit more "boring" than the others, but to me Ovechkin is who he is in large part because of his 3 year peak, so it's hard to ignore any of the 3.
2025 - Beating the all-time goal-record is certainly iconic. Hard to ignore it
Runner-ups:
2018 - I really wanted to find room for the cup/smythe win. But honestly - it was a bit of a "run of the mill" cup/smythe win. Great performance and all - but nothing that stands out "all time" - a lot of players have won cups and smythes. The rookie season, the all-time great peak, the goal-record - those are more iconic to me.
2013 - This was important because people thought he was "done" after 2 slower years...and even halfway through this year, he was sucking, and Caps were out of playoffs...then he goes onto close to a ~goal per game pace for last ~30 games or so, helps Caps make playoffs, win division and wins the hart at the same time. Heck of a turnaround for him. I'd have this one seventh.
Amazing career.
Bizarre that I am leaving off a Hart season and a Conn Smythe / Rocket season but those are the types of things that separate Ovechkin from the tier below him that includes Messier, Beliveau, Bobby Hull, Bourque, etc.
‘05-06 - established the new generation of superstar. 2 goals in his first game and puts a guy through the glass. Insane start to a career.
08 - best season by any player from the lockout until McDavid 2023. Best player in the world by far.
09 - more dominance. Best player in the world by far.
‘10 best player in the world by far.
2025 - legendary status. Sets all time goals record in style - second in the NHL in GPG. Still elite at 39. Note that the poll is “iconic” not “best.” This will be the moment he’s remembered for.
‘05-06 - established the new generation of superstar. 2 goals in his first game and puts a guy through the glass. Insane start to a career.
08 - best season by any player from the lockout until McDavid 2023. Best player in the world by far.
09 - more dominance. Best player in the world by far.
‘10 best player in the world by far.
2025 - legendary status. Sets all time goals record in style - second in the NHL in GPG. Still elite at 39. Note that the poll is “iconic” not “best.” This will be the moment he’s remembered for.
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Satoru Gojo
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14/15 wayyy underrated
If not for Price having one of the best goalie seasons ever he was hands down the MVP
I would go:
1. 07-08
2. 08-09
3. 17-18
4. 24-25
5. 14-15
If not for Price having one of the best goalie seasons ever he was hands down the MVP
I would go:
1. 07-08
2. 08-09
3. 17-18
4. 24-25
5. 14-15
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Sky04
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Not really, 1st in goals 4th in points and not really any storyline, not sure why anyone would bring that season into the top-5, stunk out in the playoffs that year too.
It's not more impressive or memorable than his 2010 season where he dominated the league until the Olympics or his rookie season.
Nemesis Prime
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SkinsFan09
Registered User
2006: Rookie year - phenom, blazing speed and rejuvenates hockey in D.C.; outscored the rest of the team by 49 points
2008: One of the greatest seasons ever, 65 goals in a down scoring environment and 112 points when the closest teammate had 69 to drag a team into the playoffs
2010: Pre-Olympics one of the greatest offensive stretches in the modern era
2018: Conn Smythe and most goals in a single playoff run since Crosby in 2009
2025: Top 5 in the NHL in points/60 (including 5 v 5) at age 39 and may finish 2nd in goals after a leg fracture; and of course 895
Honorable mention to the second half of the 2013 MVP season when he began a stretch of 48 goals in 50 games in the middle of one of the lowest scoring eras in NHL history where an Art Ross = 87 points
2008: One of the greatest seasons ever, 65 goals in a down scoring environment and 112 points when the closest teammate had 69 to drag a team into the playoffs
2010: Pre-Olympics one of the greatest offensive stretches in the modern era
2018: Conn Smythe and most goals in a single playoff run since Crosby in 2009
2025: Top 5 in the NHL in points/60 (including 5 v 5) at age 39 and may finish 2nd in goals after a leg fracture; and of course 895
Honorable mention to the second half of the 2013 MVP season when he began a stretch of 48 goals in 50 games in the middle of one of the lowest scoring eras in NHL history where an Art Ross = 87 points
That was my thought. Went with 2010 over 2009 as 2010 had him dominating the scoring race until the Olympics, and the Caps being an absolute scoring juggernaut. It just felt like a more noticeable season than 2009, which kind of just slides in the middle of his peak. Though 2009 had his best playoff performance
Dr John Carlson
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Iconic? It's pretty easy to me, as a Caps fan the entire time...
05-06: Burst onto the scene with an all-time great rookie year.
07-08: Statistical peak, first playoffs, first year in the red jerseys.
08-09: Slightly lesser stats, but the 2nd round series against Pittsburgh makes it a lock.
17-18: Obvious.
24-25: Obvious.
Tough to leave off 2010, but that year ended pretty stinky even if most of it was spent at his absolute peak. 2013 Hart season wasn't as much of a consideration for me. 2015 Hart runner up is another contender. No other year is close.
05-06: Burst onto the scene with an all-time great rookie year.
07-08: Statistical peak, first playoffs, first year in the red jerseys.
08-09: Slightly lesser stats, but the 2nd round series against Pittsburgh makes it a lock.
17-18: Obvious.
24-25: Obvious.
Tough to leave off 2010, but that year ended pretty stinky even if most of it was spent at his absolute peak. 2013 Hart season wasn't as much of a consideration for me. 2015 Hart runner up is another contender. No other year is close.
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2005-06 - Incredible rookie season. Top 5 in points/goals. 50 goal season. Just a great first impression.
2007-08 - One of the greatest goal scoring seasons of all time with 65 in a relatively average/low scoring climate
2012-13 - Re-emergence after seeming cooked under Oates in 2010-11 and 2011-12
2017-18 - Roaring back from a down 2017 season to finally win a Cup, along with the Richard and Conn Smythe trophies. Did it "his way" too by lighting up the lamp after a down year in 2017 where there were some narratives of him sacrificing his scoring to play winning hockey. Ovi always does best when he does things his way it seems.
2024-25 - An incredible season in his twilight years and of course, breaking the all time scoring record. Not to mention, scoring at a 50 goal pace at age 39. If it wasn't for his broken leg, we might even be talking a 10th Richard Trophy.
Could definitely go with 09 and 10 but I think if you made a TL of his career by defining seasons, those 2 would basically be extensions of his 08 year and peak as a whole.
2007-08 - One of the greatest goal scoring seasons of all time with 65 in a relatively average/low scoring climate
2012-13 - Re-emergence after seeming cooked under Oates in 2010-11 and 2011-12
2017-18 - Roaring back from a down 2017 season to finally win a Cup, along with the Richard and Conn Smythe trophies. Did it "his way" too by lighting up the lamp after a down year in 2017 where there were some narratives of him sacrificing his scoring to play winning hockey. Ovi always does best when he does things his way it seems.
2024-25 - An incredible season in his twilight years and of course, breaking the all time scoring record. Not to mention, scoring at a 50 goal pace at age 39. If it wasn't for his broken leg, we might even be talking a 10th Richard Trophy.
Could definitely go with 09 and 10 but I think if you made a TL of his career by defining seasons, those 2 would basically be extensions of his 08 year and peak as a whole.
JackSlater
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I would agree I think. 2008 is his clear peak, 2009 is great but lesser, and 2010 has an extended run of peak level play and then a bit of a funk later in the year. It's more memorable at least.
Hockey Outsider
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I wanted to get 2025 in there, but ran out of room. I think 2013 was such an important comeback season for him. A lot of people had written him off after his two down years. Plus I ran out of room for 2009 (which was a lesser regular season than the two years that surrounded it, but it was the best playoff run of his career, and it featured the memorable "dueling hat tricks" game against the Penguins). It just speaks to how many great/memorable seasons Ovechkin had.
Nadal On Clay
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One thing I also think gets overlooked sometimes about Ovechkin’s peak is that it probably should have been extended to a “4 year peak” if he had not been so unlucky with his shooting in the 2010-2011 season. He had 367 shots on goal in 2011 vs 368 the year before, but only scored 32 goals compared to 50. His assists numbers were pretty similar to the 3 previous seasons. I remember people saying he had focused more on being a playmaker that year, which wasn’t really the case if you had watched him play.
Him shooting at his career avg of 13,1% would have given him 16 more goals that year, good for 101 pts and 2nd in scoring. Who knows if that’s enough to take away the Hart from Perry or the Lindsey from Sedin? It really puts in perspective his 2011 season which was once seen as the “start of the decline” that could have be viewed much differently had he not been so unlucky with his shooting %.
Him shooting at his career avg of 13,1% would have given him 16 more goals that year, good for 101 pts and 2nd in scoring. Who knows if that’s enough to take away the Hart from Perry or the Lindsey from Sedin? It really puts in perspective his 2011 season which was once seen as the “start of the decline” that could have be viewed much differently had he not been so unlucky with his shooting %.
Most entertaining season was 08-09 + playoffs versus Pittsburgh. He may not have put up the massive numbers like he did in the season before and after this one but he was just a one man wrecking crew out there that was so dominant. Even though the Penguins were the eventual winners of that series and Cup champions, I was worried the entire time that Ovi would single-handedly will the Caps to victory. I just can't think of any other player I've ever watched that seemed so unstoppable, maybe Mario?
