Thoughts - Gr8 to beat #99 in goals scored?

[Drivesaitl]

Heres some more background on the respective goal totals.
OV has the most PP goals where its easier to score because of man advantage. he has 324 vs Waynes 204. So OV with 120MORE PP markers.

But Wayne had different scoring attributes. For instance being highest alltime in EVG 617 for Wayne and 565 for Ovi.

But the most interesting stat that features the difference in players is Wayne had an amazing career 73 shorthanded goals. OVI not featured much there has career 5 goals.

Gretz also had a much higher career shooting % if that matters in discussion. 17.6 vs 13. The Caps feed OV everything and they do on the PP. Wayne wasn't the primary target on a PP. The Oilers had plenty of legend weapons.

 

[94 Oil Drops]

I'll simplify this.

Gretzky = greatest player ever
Ovechkin = greatest goal scorer ever

Still, an amazing feat that will stand the test of time.

 

[oilexport]

I'll simplify this.

Gretzky = greatest player ever
Ovechkin = greatest goal scorer ever

Still, an amazing feat that will stand the test of time.

Gretzky = greatest player ever
Ovi = all time leading goal scorer

Make whatever comparisons we like. If Gary Suter didn't cheap shot Wayne 8 years before he retired, Ovi would have to play to age 50, to get the most goals. You see, Wayne was never quite the same, after the back injury.

 

[Pass the Saitl Sauce]

It’s great for the game of hockey. Gretz still had more assists than anyone has points

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

Heres some more background on the respective goal totals.
OV has the most PP goals where its easier to score because of man advantage. he has 324 vs Waynes 204. So OV with 120MORE PP markers.

But Wayne had different scoring attributes. For instance being highest alltime in EVG 617 for Wayne and 565 for Ovi.

But the most interesting stat that features the difference in players is Wayne had an amazing career 73 shorthanded goals. OVI not featured much there has career 5 goals.

Gretz also had a much higher career shooting % if that matters in discussion. 17.6 vs 13. The Caps feed OV everything and they do on the PP. Wayne wasn't the primary target on a PP. The Oilers had plenty of legend weapons.

Probably because Wayne shot on goalies that practically had t-shirts for pads.

 

[Spawn]

Nah. motivationally having a record total to beat is different than not having one. OV has the benefit of a chase number which can impact such things as motivation. Had Wayne been chasing somebody with hgher goal totals he'd likely have more goals. Other factors I've mentioned is Gretz had no benefit of 3 on 3 OT, his WHA goals are not counted, and he has 9 less ENG than OV. Wayne also has 120 LESS PP goals than Ovi because Wayne had far less PP toi on the respective clubs he played on. At least in terms of Goals scored per game Gretz was better. But then again as I've mentioned in G'G Bossy and Lemieux were the greatest of alltime.

Saying Gretzky didn’t have as many advantages as Ovechkin is a bit off to me. Gretzkys goal scoring peak was in by far the highest scoring era in modern NHL history.

And in terms of goals scored per game, Ovechkin just tied the record in one fewer game played.

And I’m sorry, but I just don’t give credit to Gretzky for goals he could have scored. Whether that’s because of injuries he suffered, or he just decided he didn’t want to score goals anymore or whatever, that’s an argument against greatest goal scorer of all time for me. Not for.

 

[bellagiobob]

This one bothered me the past couple of seasons. I was 9 when Gretzky came into the league, so my teen years as an Oilers fan were pretty awesome. It bothered me to realize this was an actual possibility and then probability. Wayne has helped me get over it with his Americanish behavior - a reminder that our sports heroes are, after all, just really good at sports.

That's pretty much where I'm at. For years I was hoping that OV wouldn't catch him, and now I'm fine with it, he deserves the record, he's been an incredibly consistent goalscorer his entire career. I try not to think about Wayne too much lately, it honestly just makes me sad. I just go to my Oiler happy place and remember all the great moments he had on the ice.

 

[Bring Back Bucky]

Good thing they aren’t booing because I will throw down.

 

[Bring Back Bucky]

man they can stretch this whiny ditty out for hours.

 

[oilexport]

Probably because Wayne shot on goalies that practically had t-shirts for pads.

As 5 opposing players were hooking, slashing, biting, and tackling Wayne. You see, t-shirts and no referees were common then.

 

[alphahelix]

People who say things like "availability is the best ability" are just... something else.

I'm available. Am I better than Gretzky because hes unavailable? Dumb AF.

We're talking about goalscoring ability, not longevity. They are not the same thing.

 

[nexttothemoon]

Tangential but It's kind of cool that they played almost the exact number of games to score the exact number of goals.

Gretzky 894 in 1487 games
Ovechkin 894 in 1486 games

 

[Hockeylife2018]

Obviously the change in sticks would make a difference, but could you imagine prime ovechkin in the 80s? Dude would be putting up 80+ goals a season

 

[McShogun99]

Even if Ovechkin retired at 800 goals I’d still consider him the best goal scorer in NHL history just due to the era he played in. The fact that he tied Gretzky in 1 fewer game just cements it. If he played from 1970 to 1990 he’d easily have over 1000 goals.

 

[bellagiobob]

Tangential but It's kind of cool that they played almost the exact number of games to score the exact number of goals.

Gretzky 894 in 1487 games
Ovechkin 894 in 1486 games

Gretz actually scored his 894th in his 1479th game. Went scoreless the last 8 games of his career.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

As 5 opposing players were hooking, slashing, biting, and tackling Wayne. You see, t-shirts and no referees were common then.

Haha fair enough.

 

[Garbo Man]

Even if Ovechkin retired at 800 goals I’d still consider him the best goal scorer in NHL history just due to the era he played in. The fact that he tied Gretzky in 1 fewer game just cements it. If he played from 1970 to 1990 he’d easily have over 1000 goals.

If there had been no lockouts or COVID shortened seasons then Ovi would be closer to 1100 honestly

 

[Chet Manley]

Obviously the change in sticks would make a difference, but could you imagine prime ovechkin in the 80s? Dude would be putting up 80+ goals a season

On the flipside, imagine Gretzky with a modern stick enabling his 14 year old girl arms to pick corners with a flick and not having guys draped all over his back to the point of ruining his 30s.

 

[McShogun99]

On the flipside, imagine Gretzky with a modern stick enabling his 14 year old girl arms to pick corners with a flick and not having guys draped all over his back to the point of ruining his 30s.

Gretzky would have been great in any era. Not just for his IQ but most of the great players have a higher work ethic then their peers.

 

[MessierII]

Ovechkin is the greatest goal scorer to ever live

 

[Mr Positive]

Gretzky would have been great in any era. Not just for his IQ but most of the great players have a higher work ethic then their peers.

Also modern medicine and recovery which allows a guy like Ovechkin to score 40 goals at 39 years old.

 

[Bring Back Bucky]

Just for the sake of making sure my feelings don’t get misinterpreted. f*** Ovechkin.

 

[Bring Back Bucky]

Ovechkin is the greatest goal scorer to ever live

Mike Bossy is on the phone for you.

 

[PitkanensGitch]

Just for the sake of making sure my feelings don’t get misinterpreted. f*** Ovechkin.

What's there to dislike? Greatest goal scorer, always laughing, tough as nails power forward.

 

[Dradavich]

Ovechkin is the greatest goal scorer of all time, the only guy who comes close is Bossy but he didn't have the longevity, If Bossy played in this era he might have had the longevity but would he have scored as much? Who knows, you can only speculate much like Gretzky vs Lemieux.