What probability do you feel Ovechkin has to catch Gretzky now?

[Wretched Oil]

Does he do dekes?

 

[PaulD]

894 to 727

Needs 168 goals.

Say 10 more this year.

158

Then would need 40 a season for 4 seasons.
Or 32 a season for 5 seasons.

I can see him hanging around trying to get it. But coming up short.

 

[HabsCode]

Ovechkin has 13 goals in his last 16 games, which is 3 more than Matthews in his last 16. Pretty insane when you think about it, over a full season, he would definitely have competed for the Rocket.

 

[Beukeboom]

NHL and PA have already agreed to the '22 and '26 Olympics as part of the recent CBA renewals.

I've actually missed this.

In that case it all boils down to performance. I can't see him trudge along scoring sub 30 goals a year to be honest. I think he'll head for KHL whenever that happens.

 

[DrewGl]

I've actually missed this.

In that case it all boils down to performance. I can't see him trudge along scoring sub 30 goals a year to be honest. I think he'll head for KHL whenever that happens.

A lot of people say this and I know he loves Russia but I really don't see one of the top NHL players in recent history bailing to the KHL until he gets the record...if he does, then possibly.

 

[HurricaneFanatic]

Can he seriously slow down just a little. It's almost to the point of annoyance lol.. 167 to go. 21 goals in 37 games? Insane.

 

[HurricaneFanatic]

Nice, thanks for the extra insight. I remember him saying that about not wanting to hang around if he couldn’t compete to his own standards, so I was definitely wondering if there’s been a change of mindset now that he is within striking distance.

Either way, it’s going to get interesting when he pots #800 and then a couple of goals later, passes Howe and has only Gretzky left to focus on.

If he can manage about 10 more goals this season and if we get a full season in 2021-2022 (40 goals is fair), this could happen around late-January or early-February 2023. Gretzky scored 802 on March 23, 1994. Will be interesting to see if Ovechkin gets it on a similar date 29 years later.

Crazy to think that he could be at that stage in less than two years.

Gretzky only had 92 more goals his last 5 years? Unreal

 

[The Panther]

Gretzky only had 92 more goals his last 5 years? Unreal

Gretzky scored over 700 goals before he turned 30.

 

[Selanne00008]

Gretzky scored over 700 goals before he turned 30.

That's pretty insane. It also makes me think maybe Wayne should have retired earlier. Limping in to the finish line?

 

[Dondini]

That's pretty insane. It also makes me think maybe Wayne should have retired earlier. Limping in to the finish line?

Are you serious? he has 97 points at age 36 for 5th in the league in scoring and 90 points at age 37 and tied for 3rd in league scoring. This is dead puck era to. Limped to the finish line lol? Gtfouh

 

[HurricaneFanatic]

That's pretty insane. It also makes me think maybe Wayne should have retired earlier. Limping in to the finish line?

Nah. He retired at right time. He just simply aged and wore down, unlike Ovi. 30 years old in hockey is generally considered old.

 

[Andon]

I think two things are very relevant: one of them was brought up above, i.e. "is he done with 50 goal seasons". Maybe he is, but even going for one next season would be huge, if that means 40 goals at the end it still ups his numbers to a point where it's much more tangible to divide the 100+ goals to 5 years in a way that feels realistic to him and people around him.

Another point is 30+ goal seasons. He's now at 21 for this season and I think it's pretty important for him to get 30 this year and he's conscious about it. He's always had 30+ goals for 15 seasons and ongoing (record is 17 / Gartner), whether there's lockouts, pandemics, bad shooting% years, whatever. If he gets to 30 this year, that stat sheet looks as hot as ever and no decline in sight.

 

[ovikovy817]

New NHL record for Ovi

Ovi scored his 242nd goal in the 1st period.
Gretzky is now 2nd.

 

[Big Phil]

I think two things are very relevant: one of them was brought up above, i.e. "is he done with 50 goal seasons". Maybe he is, but even going for one next season would be huge, if that means 40 goals at the end it still ups his numbers to a point where it's much more tangible to divide the 100+ goals to 5 years in a way that feels realistic to him and people around him.

Another point is 30+ goal seasons. He's now at 21 for this season and I think it's pretty important for him to get 30 this year and he's conscious about it. He's always had 30+ goals for 15 seasons and ongoing (record is 17 / Gartner), whether there's lockouts, pandemics, bad shooting% years, whatever. If he gets to 30 this year, that stat sheet looks as hot as ever and no decline in sight.

If he gets 30 this year then that is 16 straight years of at least 30 in which he breaks Gartner's record. Right now they are tied. He has 21 for the season with 15 games left. That means he needs 9 in 15 games.

On a side note, how the heck is he a -5 on the Caps this year?

 

[SotasicA]

NHL and PA have already agreed to the '22 and '26 Olympics as part of the recent CBA renewals.

But there is no deal with the IOC. If the terms are bad, NHLers won't go.

Plus, there's that genocide thing going on. Probably wouldn't effect the Russians though, if there is a boycott.

 

[HurricaneFanatic]

If he gets 30 this year then that is 16 straight years of at least 30 in which he breaks Gartner's record. Right now they are tied. He has 21 for the season with 15 games left. That means he needs 9 in 15 games.

On a side note, how the heck is he a -5 on the Caps this year?

9 in 15 games for this guy is no problem.

 

[Demandedace]

If he gets 30 this year then that is 16 straight years of at least 30 in which he breaks Gartner's record. Right now they are tied. He has 21 for the season with 15 games left. That means he needs 9 in 15 games.

On a side note, how the heck is he a -5 on the Caps this year?

No joke it’s a lot to do with how often we pull the goaltender and give up at least one empty net goal. It has happened an absurd number of times haha

 

[Big Phil]

No joke it’s a lot to do with how often we pull the goaltender and give up at least one empty net goal. It has happened an absurd number of times haha

Yeah, I factor that in as well. But this is a very good Caps team who is winning far more than they are losing. I mean, how often did an empty net goal go in while he was on the ice? The Caps have only lost 11 regulation games. I am not trying to say Ovechkin is a horrible defensive player, but in the last few years he has definitely ignored that aspect more than he used to, I think.

 

[gtrower]

Yeah, I factor that in as well. But this is a very good Caps team who is winning far more than they are losing. I mean, how often did an empty net goal go in while he was on the ice? The Caps have only lost 11 regulation games. I am not trying to say Ovechkin is a horrible defensive player, but in the last few years he has definitely ignored that aspect more than he used to, I think.

Literally the opposite. He’s been a lot more conscious defensively as he ages. Was excellent defensively during the Cup run. He’s not a plus defender overall (he doesn’t really need to be) but he’s also not the pylon Pens fans try to convince everybody he is.

 

[Demandedace]

Yeah, I factor that in as well. But this is a very good Caps team who is winning far more than they are losing. I mean, how often did an empty net goal go in while he was on the ice? The Caps have only lost 11 regulation games. I am not trying to say Ovechkin is a horrible defensive player, but in the last few years he has definitely ignored that aspect more than he used to, I think.

Very much not the case

 

[Leafs1991]

Plus/minus is not a good indicator of a players defensive game.

 

[powerbomb]

I considered it a long shot at best before the pandemic, I consider it a long shot at best after the pandemic. And frankly it wouldn't make a difference if he did or didn't surpass 894 with respect to who I consider the greatest goalscorer of all-time... and it's neither Wayne or Alex.

If you ask me who I trust to score a goal with the game on his stick in crunch time, which thusly must hold the mantle of best scorer of goals in NHL history, it's Mario Lemieux. Hands down, the most gifted goalscorer of all-time. Alex Ovechkin has absolutely put up incredible stats in his career, but those who insist that he's the greatest... either never watched Mario play or are addicted to watching the same highlight reel shot on loop. Without question, Ovie has one of the all-time greatest slapshots from the slot, which he has put on full display and his place in history is assured, but in my mind it will never be as the true GOAT when it comes to pure goalscoring talent.

It's not a knock on him because his talent is undeniable. He is a force every game. But that doesn't mean fans should simply forget greatness that has come before, either. You can have an absolute cannon for a shot, but nobody had the dynamic range of #66 when it came to putting the biscuit in the net.

All that being said, it's fun to watch Ovechkin any given night and I hope that he pushes for that record as hard as he possibly can. There's nothing I love more than seeing greatness shine.

 

[Kryten]

That's pretty insane. It also makes me think maybe Wayne should have retired earlier. Limping in to the finish line?

Well he did retire when he finally finished a season below a point per game. Crosby and Mcdavid are currently the only 2 players I believe with this streak.

I just want Ovie to keep his 30+ goals a season going. Only 9 more to go this year.

Marleau is the poster boy for limping to the finish line

 

[filinski77]

I considered it a long shot at best before the pandemic, I consider it a long shot at best after the pandemic. And frankly it wouldn't make a difference if he did or didn't surpass 894 with respect to who I consider the greatest goalscorer of all-time... and it's neither Wayne or Alex.

If you ask me who I trust to score a goal with the game on his stick in crunch time, which thusly must hold the mantle of best scorer of goals in NHL history, it's Mario Lemieux. Hands down, the most gifted goalscorer of all-time. Alex Ovechkin has absolutely put up incredible stats in his career, but those who insist that he's the greatest... either never watched Mario play or are addicted to watching the same highlight reel shot on loop. Without question, Ovie has one of the all-time greatest slapshots from the slot, which he has put on full display and his place in history is assured, but in my mind it will never be as the true GOAT when it comes to pure goalscoring talent.

It's not a knock on him because his talent is undeniable. He is a force every game. But that doesn't mean fans should simply forget greatness that has come before, either. You can have an absolute cannon for a shot, but nobody had the dynamic range of #66 when it came to putting the biscuit in the net.

All that being said, it's fun to watch Ovechkin any given night and I hope that he pushes for that record as hard as he possibly can. There's nothing I love more than seeing greatness shine.

Regarding the Lemieux points, I think there is a huge difference between the greatest and the best of all time.

The best would imply that we are more or less looking at a player at their absolute best. Ie. Ovi at his very best vs. Lemieux at his very best. Most players aren’t at their very best for more than a few seasons. The difference is that Ovechkin has remained at close to his best for a significantly larger period than anyone in league history.

When considering the “greatest” goal scorer of all time, there is way more to consider. Ovi has what, 2 or 3 times as many (retro) rockets, and more goals (despite playing in a much lower scoring era). Those 2 points are what make him the GOAT goal scorer imo.

 

[powerbomb]

Regarding the Lemieux points, I think there is a huge difference between the greatest and the best of all time.

The best would imply that we are more or less looking at a player at their absolute best. Ie. Ovi at his very best vs. Lemieux at his very best. Most players aren’t at their very best for more than a few seasons. The difference is that Ovechkin has remained at close to his best for a significantly larger period than anyone in league history.

When considering the “greatest” goal scorer of all time, there is way more to consider. Ovi has what, 2 or 3 times as many (retro) rockets, and more goals (despite playing in a much lower scoring era). Those 2 points are what make him the GOAT goal scorer imo.

Reasonable people can make their own conclusions. Individuals will set their own baseline for what they believe constitutes the GOAT when they evaluate a player. But, for my money, having watched Mario Lemieux throughout his career, he was a wizard with the puck and could beat a goalie any given way. Ovechkin has an all-time great slapshot, but if he isn't the guy that I want with the puck on his stick to win any given game, how can I call him the greatest goalscorer?

It makes a difference in my mind, too, that Ovie has unloaded a factory more pucks on the net than so many of the other stalwarts of history. Sure, his job is to put the puck on net, but it's another consideration when I put players next to each other in terms of who could get a goal on any given shot. I saw Mario score every which way imaginable; again, it stands to reason that the goalscoring GOAT should be the one person you want with the game on his stick when the chips are down, and I don't know how anyone would pick Ovie over Lemieux in that instance.

But fans of every generation will have their preference.