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

[chauron]

He has 9 rockets. He's already the greatest goal scorer....

Qualitatively, not yet quant thought. But good argument still.

 

[Your old Jofa helmet]

99% he does not catch 99

 

[KaseMeOutside]

It's hard to say, I remember Selanne's last few years and the goal scoring just kind of dropped off, it's really important that Ovechkin get to play with good linemates. Anaheim for years couldn't find a center to play with TS after they traded McDonald, he was just so good still it didn't matter who you put him with up until the last 2 seasons.

If Ovechkin wants to play into his 40's, he will break it as long as he remains on a talented team

 

[HurricaneFanatic]

I feel he's too competitive to allow himself trudging along in the league just to reach a record. I'm not talking about now, but can't see him clinging on to a roster spot in order to get a few 20 goals + 15 assist campaigns at the end. The day he's not close to being a ppg player I'd bet he ends up in Russia a few seasons.

He's pretty much stated this. Numerous times. The record would be nice for him, but he isn't losing sleep over it.

 

[Seanaconda]

I hope OV retires when it feels right instead of becoming Jagr to beat that record.
I do fear the latter though. That would be sad.

Jagr was still good Calgary somehow managed to make him look old if he went to another team he could probably have another comeback as of now.

Problem is I want him to retire so they can finally get him to the hall and retire his jersey on the pens

 

[ole ole]

He's not gonna catch Wayne but it doesn't matter: when you factor in the era, multiple lockdowns and shortened seasons, he is the greatest goal scorer of all time.

Ya he might be next to Gretzky.

 

[cowboy82nd]

Jagr was still good Calgary somehow managed to make him look old if he went to another team he could probably have another comeback as of now.

Problem is I want him to retire so they can finally get him to the hall and retire his jersey on the pens

His last year in Florida he looked old. Love the guy but he couldn't keep up anymore.

 

[JasonRoseEh]

Qualitatively, not yet quant thought. But good argument still.

Adjusted the 65 goal season is top 3 all time

 

[BM14]

The best thing is he wouldn't need to and Ovechkin is as durable a player as the league has ever seen. Stop acting like guys didn't get away with garbage all the time, especially star players. Messier was dirtier than hell and never had to fight anyone while still being protected. Again, laughable.

How many Russians were impactful players back then? You can count them on one hand. Why don't you do some research and find out why, kid.

Laughable.

 

[torniojaws]

2 %

He should already be at about 12 - 13 goals by now (7), if he is going to maintain the pace needed. Next season might be another 56 game one, making the chance even smaller.

He's not going to score 30 goals at age 38 (2022-23) anymore.

He needs 181 goals. Let's say he gets 20 goals each season, he would need 9 seasons.

 

[chauron]

Eventually it’ll all come down to one question ... is this a meaningful goal for him personally, does he strive for it? If it’s only us who look forward to that, then it’s unlikely he’ll even play for that long. If he’d win another cup now he might actually be done if his goals would be met.

 

[thefutures]

Ovechkin greatest ever. Not close. Goals baby.

 

[Big Phil]

Zero.

His skating is getting bad. He cant handle the puck. He really isnt even involved in the flow of the game anymore. I watch a lot of Caps games and he rarely has the puck.

His minutes will start to decline due to his overall game.

I was watching the other night, in overtime against Boston, and it was sort of weird watching him because normally your interest peaks when he gets the puck, especially in a 3-0n-3 setting. But he just didn't look like Ovie of old anymore. I don't know, age catches up with everyone, maybe 35 was the time for him. Who knows. I don't see him hanging around if he is a 30 goal guy, at best.

10%? Like someone else said, it won’t matter as he’s already the GOAT for goal scoring.

That'll be a good debate when the dust has settled. It all depends on how someone looks at it. I would say definitely greatest pure goal scorer of all-time. No argument pretty much. But when you factor in Gretzky and Lemieux's overall offensive game (among others) and how they scored as many goals as they did yet still racked up insane assist totals I find that even more impressive that they were so great at goal scoring and yet they were at least as good at one other aspect of their game.

 

[Midnight Judges]

I wouldn't read too much into this latest 19 game stretch. He's had chances. The goals will come.

 

[McShogun99]

Speed is always the first thing a player loses as they get older but if he plays as a PP specialist he’s still going to hit 20 goals a year. He breaks it if he plays until his early 40’s.

 

[Riseonfire]

That'll be a good debate when the dust has settled. It all depends on how someone looks at it. I would say definitely greatest pure goal scorer of all-time. No argument pretty much. But when you factor in Gretzky and Lemieux's overall offensive game (among others) and how they scored as many goals as they did yet still racked up insane assist totals I find that even more impressive that they were so great at goal scoring and yet they were at least as good at one other aspect of their game.

Don't think you'll find anyone arguing about the overall games of the players you mentioned. When it comes to purely putting the puck in the net, IMO it's OV 1st, Bossy 2nd, and lots of candidates for 3.

 

[Minar]

Ovechkin greatest ever. Not close. Goals baby.

No. There is more to hockey than just putting in goals. Gretzky put in that many goals plus more assists than anyone has points. And don't give me the 'he played in a high scoring era' malarkey because noone els in his era came anywhere close to that.

 

[Albatros]

No. There is more to hockey than just putting in goals. Gretzky put in that many goals plus more assists than anyone has points. And don't give me the 'he played in a high scoring era' malarkey because noone els in his era came anywhere close to that.

Mike Gartner scored as many as Ovechkin has.

 

[MacMacandBarbie]

I was watching the other night, in overtime against Boston, and it was sort of weird watching him because normally your interest peaks when he gets the puck, especially in a 3-0n-3 setting. But he just didn't look like Ovie of old anymore. I don't know, age catches up with everyone, maybe 35 was the time for him. Who knows. I don't see him hanging around if he is a 30 goal guy, at best.



That'll be a good debate when the dust has settled. It all depends on how someone looks at it. I would say definitely greatest pure goal scorer of all-time. No argument pretty much. But when you factor in Gretzky and Lemieux's overall offensive game (among others) and how they scored as many goals as they did yet still racked up insane assist totals I find that even more impressive that they were so great at goal scoring and yet they were at least as good at one other aspect of their game.

You find it impressive that centers who touch the puck more often have more assist totals than wingers?

 

[MacMacandBarbie]

No. There is more to hockey than just putting in goals. Gretzky put in that many goals plus more assists than anyone has points. And don't give me the 'he played in a high scoring era' malarkey because noone els in his era came anywhere close to that.

To say Mario didn't come anywhere close to that is pretty ridiculous. Hull was a winger and didn't impact the game in the same way as Wayne but still put up similarly impressive single season goal numbers(nobody is going to get 86 goals in a single season again). Others matched him on assist/playmaking output that didn't have his goal scoring touch.

So yeah, most people agree Wayne is the GOAT, but he definitely played in a high scoring era. There isn't much debating that.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

It’s an outside chance now, maybe 10-20% chance. It’s a shame how he managed to stay healthy his entire career only to be robbed of so much playing time.

Over 150 games lost to lockouts and the virus, he’d be at 800 goals already if everything had gone right.

 

[tread102]

Way too many people quick to say he’s the greatest goal scorer ever. He definitely may be, but he gotta finish his career. He’s in the 4th quarter. If he fades hard he isn’t. If he finishes strong then he’s the best.

 

[tread102]

It’s an outside chance now, maybe 10-20% chance. It’s a shame how he managed to stay healthy his entire career only to be robbed of so much playing time.

Over 150 games lost to lockouts and the virus, he’d be at 800 goals already if everything had gone right.

yea and Mario would’ve put up more points and goals than Gretzky if it wasn’t for a bad back cancer retirement due to those issues and then a heart condition. Should’ve could’ve would’ve.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

yea and Mario would’ve put up more points and goals than Gretzky if it wasn’t for a bad back cancer retirement due to those issues and then a heart condition. Should’ve could’ve would’ve.

This isn’t about Mario, no need to bring him up...

 

[TaLoN]

So yeah, most people agree Wayne is the GOAT, but he definitely played in a high scoring era. There isn't much debating that.

And still put up over 90 points in a season as a broken down old man with a bad back in the heart of the dead puck era.

It doesn't matter what era it is, Prime Gretzky is likely prime over the league by a LARGE margin.