Will Ovechkin hit 20 goals this season?

[The Gr8 Dane]

He's still leading the team in scoring that's certainly something

 

[McFlash97]

Like I thought.

Everyone chases Gretzky, then reality hits. It isnt that easy to knock off the Great One's records.

The last part and the pressure that comes with it isn't fit for everyone. Ovechkin better hit 30 this year , or he has absolutely no chance as he ages out of this league.

He will be 39 next year and is a heavy player. The league will pass him by fairly quick.

Phenomenal career and goal scorer. However tk be at the top. You have to pass the Great One.

 

[authentic]

Like I thought.

Everyone chases Gretzky, then reality hits. It isnt that easy to knock off the Great One's records.

The last part and the pressure that comes with it isn't fit for everyone. Ovechkin better hit 30 this year , or he has absolutely no chance as he ages out of this league.

He will be 39 next year and is a heavy player. The league will pass him by fairly quick.

Phenomenal career and goal scorer. However tk be at the top. You have to pass the Great One.

This may be true but without lockouts he would’ve broke his record already and in a much lower scoring era

 

[surixon]

This may be true but without lockouts he would’ve broke his record already and in a much lower scoring era

I mean Gretzky also expienced work stoppages.

 

[Canadiens Ghost]

Ovi already has nearly 1400 more SOG in his career than Gretzky. The Great One will remain the best no matter what.

 

[authentic]

I mean Gretzky also expienced work stoppages.

Yes 1994-95, that season he scored 11 goals in 48 games. Ovechkin missed out on what could’ve been his 19 year old rookie season, possibly another 40 goals, half the season in 2012-13 where he scored 32 in 48 games and then another half season in 2020-21 where he scored 24 goals in 45 games. So we’re looking at maybe another 10 goals for Gretzky somewhere around 70-80 for Ovechkin.

Ovi already has nearly 1400 more SOG in his career than Gretzky. The Great One will remain the best no matter what.

Yeah but Gretzky said you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take so Ovechkin took note of that

 

[Woodrow]

Gretzky currently sits 24th all time in games played. Ovechkin should pass him for games played next season.

 

[surixon]

Yes 1994-95, that season he scored 11 goals in 48 games. Ovechkin missed out on what could’ve been a 19 year old rookie season, possibly another 40 goals, half the season in 2012-13 where he scored 32 in 48 games and then another half season in 2020-21 where he scored 24 goals in 45 games. So we’re looking at another maybe another 10 goals for Gretzky somewhere around 70-80 for Ovechkin.



Yeah but Gretzky said you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take so Ovechkin took note of that

Wayne didn't start until he was 19 as well due to being in the WHA. They actually are comparable in terms of age starting their NHL career and having a similar lengthed mid career shortened lockout season. So no I don't really subscribe to the lockout excuse.

 

[authentic]

Wayne didn't start until he was 19 as well due to being in the WHA. They actually are comparable in terms of age starting their NHL career and having a similar lengthed mid career shortened lockout season. So no I don't really subscribe to the lockout excuse.

You don’t have to subscribe to anything you don’t want to but Gretzky was 18 when he started, his birthday is in January so he wasn’t eligible to play in the NHL the season before, that was the earliest he could’ve played based on when he was born.

 

[Senor Catface]

Wayne didn't start until he was 19 as well due to being in the WHA. They actually are comparable in terms of age starting their NHL career and having a similar lengthed mid career shortened lockout season. So no I don't really subscribe to the lockout excuse.

I'm a big Gretzky fan, but he started as a rookie in the NHL at 18, not 19.

I think it's fair to say Ovechkin would have made the NHL at 18 as well. With shortened seasons in 12-13, 19-20, and 20-21, that's another 70 odd games.

I'm not sure how many more goals he would get, but COVID and lockouts did take away about 150 games from him.

 

[CatOTails]

Ovi's not a top line calibre player at this point of his career.

Really?
Let's say, you take OV and put him on any other team. How many teams would there be where OV ends up playing below 2nd line?

 

[sr edler]

Really?
Let's say, you take OV and put him on any other team. How many teams would there be where OV ends up playing below 2nd line?

He's too slow and barely moves out there. He's been given unreasonable TOI on the Caps he wouldn't get on most other teams where he doesn't have any nostalgic value. I'm sure there's some team(s?) out there that would try to fit him on their 1st line, but even bad teams like say Buffalo have LWs that brings more overall value and hustle (Skinner). Look how Vegas scratched Kessel in the last playoffs for instance (and won the Cup), they're an org that doesn't seem to cater to nostalgia.

I'm not sure how many more goals he would get, but COVID and lockouts did take away about 150 games from him.

This is a fantasy outlook on hockey where players aren't people but video game characters or names on a stat sheet. In real life players both age and get worn out by playing tons of games which shortens their longterm durability. Both Selänne and Lidström spoke publicly on how the 04–05 lockout extended their careers. Selänne might have been outright done (as in retired) hadn't that lockout happened, whereas Lids probably wouldn't have been as effective around the Z/Dats era.

Ovechkin also played in the softest era of hockey ever, which helped his overall durability.

 

[ozzie]

This may be true but without lockouts he would’ve broke his record already and in a much lower scoring era

Would have, could have. It's like the Mario vs Wayne debate, life happens. Wayne actually did it, Mario may have been the most skilled player ever. Wayne dealt with his own work stopage in 94/95. Open pandora's box into wooden sticks, goalie equipment, etc etc. Just not worth it. No excuses.

To be the man, you got to beat the man. Wayne is the man. Ovie is an old fighter in the final rounds with rubber legs right now, he doesn't look like he can go the distance. He needs to turn this season around.

 

[Senor Catface]

This is a fantasy outlook on hockey where players aren't people but video game characters or names on a stat sheet. In real life players both age and get worn out by playing tons of games which shortens their longterm durability. Both Selänne and Lidström spoke publicly on how the 04–05 lockout extended their careers. Selänne might have been outright done (as in retired) hadn't that lockout happened, whereas Lids probably wouldn't have been as effective around the Z/Dats era.

Ovechkin also played in the softest era of hockey ever, which helped his overall durability.

Nah, just common sense.

You didn't disprove anything I said because my comment was outside any argument about who is "better."

My comment was simply a) Gretzky was 18 when he started in the NHL and b) Ovechkin played in the NHL during 4 shortened seasons.

 

[Gillings]

The pressure that comes with passing Gretzky and being known as that guy. You are basically the most famous sports personality of all time. It’s probably heavy. Really heavy. I am not even sure he wants it.

 

[Pez68]

Thinking Gretzky is a better goal scorer than Ovechkin is galaxy brained nonsense.

 

[ItWasJustified]

Look how Vegas scratched Kessel in the last playoffs for instance (and won the Cup), they're an org that doesn't seem to cater to nostalgia.

I don't think any serious hockey fan believes the Washington Capitals can win the Stanley Cup this year.

 

[WalterLundy]

This is what happens when the greatest goal scorer ever - Gretzky.

Decides to pass instead of score at the peak of the Oiler's Dynasty.
Is too humble to continue to embarass the league, should have gunned for 100 goals in a season.
Could have hit 1000 goals if not for his humility, respect for the game and helping his team.

Instead he just won scoring titles based on his assists alone, breaking and changing hockey pool rules around the world.

Dam you Wayne, you should have finished the job, taken care of business.

You’re right. He was on pace for 102 goals in 80 games through his first 57 games of 83-84 while averaging a 3 points per game that nobody in league history has sniffed for each stretch that long. Pacing for 102 goals, 138 assists and 240 points in 80 games. Silly.

Heck even with still prioritizing playmaking he breaks 1000 goals without the Suter hit destroying his ‘92-‘99 production.

If anyone thinks his 92 in ‘82 or 94 goal pace (87 in 74) in ‘84 wouldn’t top Ovi’s 65 goal post lockout record if he played now they are mistaken.

 

[surixon]

You don’t have to subscribe to anything you don’t want to but Gretzky was 18 when he started, his birthday is in January so he wasn’t eligible to play in the NHL the season before, that was the earliest he could’ve played based on when he was born.

You are correct, just realized hockey reference does it by age you finished the year at and not the age you start the year at. Not a fan of that method.

 

[mcleex]

Ovi already has nearly 1400 more SOG in his career than Gretzky. The Great One will remain the best no matter what.

The great one also took those shots against goalies with pads half the size
You can't tell me goalies were as good back then as they are now either

 

[filinski77]

The great one also took those shots against goalies with pads half the size
You can't tell me goalies were as good back then as they are now either

Also - just looking at SOG numbers completely ignores that Ovechkin takes a TON of his shots from much further away than most forwards do. It actually makes his s% even more impressive (obviously not this year, but you know what I mean lol)

 

[beowulf]

Most likely yes. He now has 5 in 22 which is 19 in 82 games and I am sure he will hit some hot streak allowing him to reach 25+ at some point.

 

[orby]

Father time is undefeated. I still hope to see Ovechkin surpass Gretzky - just because it's fun to see records get broken - but seeing how quickly age is catching up to Ovi underscores just how unbelievable 99's scoring totals were and are.

If Ovechkin falters before goal #895, the record may just stand forever. That said, I think he has 20 in him this season.

 

[authentic]

You’re right. He was on pace for 102 goals in 80 games through his first 57 games of 83-84 while averaging a 3 points per game that nobody in league history has sniffed for each stretch that long. Pacing for 102 goals, 138 assists and 240 points in 80 games. Silly.

Heck even with still prioritizing playmaking he breaks 1000 goals without the Suter hit destroying his ‘92-‘99 production.

If anyone thinks his 92 in ‘82 or 94 goal pace (87 in 74) in ‘84 wouldn’t top Ovi’s 65 goal post lockout record if he played now they are mistaken.

You say that last part like it’s a fact when goals per game were drastically higher, pretty sure Ovechkin’s 65 goals adjusts to around 90 and that’s before getting into the fact that Gretzky played atleast 3 more minutes per game when shifts were longer and star players especially played a lot more, the pace of the game was generally way slower and goaltending and defensive structure was worse than some Junior A hockey games I saw nearly 20 years ago. Half the defensemen and depth players could barely skate by todays NHL standards, the league when Gretzky was putting up cartoonish goal scoring numbers was a far cry from what it is today both in overall talent pool and league parity, there was no attention to detail defensively and breaking down game footage to gameplan around star players didn’t exist yet. It was basically a free for all pond hockey style game, truthfully there are beer leagues that play better defense with goalies who cover the net twice as good as those in the early to mid 80s for quite some time now.

So if you make a boatload of assumptions about how his game would’ve and maybe could’ve evolved then I suppose you could claim that as a fact, but otherwise Ovechkin is the best goal scorer of all-time regardless seeing as how he has led the NHL in goals 9 times to Gretzky’s 5 and has been about equally dominant doing so over the length of his career.

 

[um]

Yes 1994-95, that season he scored 11 goals in 48 games. Ovechkin missed out on what could’ve been his 19 year old rookie season, possibly another 40 goals, half the season in 2012-13 where he scored 32 in 48 games and then another half season in 2020-21 where he scored 24 goals in 45 games. So we’re looking at maybe another 10 goals for Gretzky somewhere around 70-80 for Ovechkin.



Yeah but Gretzky said you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take so Ovechkin took note of that

Also the 2019-20 season where he missed 13 games. Not much but he won the rocket with 48 goals, so he would have gotten a few more.