Alex Ovechkin goal watch

[BGDave]

10 PP goals and 32 empty netters, I think he's gonna do it.

 

[dash]

 

[Loco2]

The Path to Beating The Great One

So, we are here in 2020, with Ovechkin likely staring down finishing the season somewhere around 710 goals and being just short or past Mike Gartner for 7th all-time in goals. Here's a potential scenario:

• 2021 > Age 35, scores about 35 goals, moves to 745, passes Esposito, Dionne, and Hall to 4th all-time
• 2022 > Age 36, scores about 30 goals, moves to 775, passes Jagr to 3rd all-time
• 2023 > Age 37, scores about 30 goals, moves to 805, passes Howe to 2nd all-time

Of course, Ovechkin could absolutely exceed those totals and surprise us with another 40-goal season or slightly better...But the above scenario would leave him as a newly minted 38-year old man ready to start the 2023-2024 season with only 90 goals needed in his twilight years to ascend Mt. Gretzky. With the solid year he's had, this...actually... seems...doable.

Checking back in on how reality met expectations...
2021 - 24 goals to reach 730 (COVID shortened year)
2022 - 50 goals to reach 780
2023 - 42 goals to reach 822
2024 - 31 goals to reach 853

Even with COVID and injuries shortening 2021, his three year total for 2021-2023 was more than 20 goals beyond my expectations and he added yet another 31 goals this year. He is still top 20 in shots this year and his shooting percentage is below his career average, but only by 1.5%. His PP “office” has reliably brought 12-18 goals a season for a decade now. He still broke 30 without a true first line center. Those are all huge positives for continued decent production. Here are my predictions for the coming years:

2025 - 33 goals to reach 886 (now within single digits)
2026 - 24 goals and surpasses Gretzky after a slump to start the season, ends the year with 910
2027 - Caps sign him for one last year, and he pots 18 more to finish his career with 928

 

[buffhockey]

 

[dash]

^

Probably true...Gretzky also missed some games due to a work stoppage as well though. OV should get pretty close to this record with a decent season in 2024-25.

 

[sbb122]

^

Probably true...Gretzky also missed some games due to a work stoppage as well though. OV should get pretty close to this record with a decent season in 2024-25.

I still think he would be chasing Jagr because of lockouts and his KHL stint

 

[dash]

I still think he would be chasing Jagr because of lockouts and his KHL stint

Yeah, you could possibly tack on at least 100 goals to Jagr's NHL total - That gets him pretty close to 894.

 

[Comeds]

I still think he would be chasing Jagr because of lockouts and his KHL stint

The era Jagr did it in too......You could mug players all day long with no calls then. Ah the excitement of a 2-1 game with a total of 24 shots.

 

[forty_three]

Plus he played a couple seasons for Adam Oates who made him play defense.

Yeah, you could possibly tack on at least 100 goals to Jagr's NHL total - That gets him pretty close to 894.

I saw once that at all the top pro levels Jagr has played in, his goal total is 1098. And counting.

Gretz had 940 in NHL/WHA

 

[buffhockey]

 

[sbb122]

^

Olaf Kolzig for OV. I always forget he played in those 10–12 games for Tampa.

 

[buffhockey]

Restart the countdown.

41 to tie.

 

[Kings4OT]

I find it amazing teams know exactly where he is going to be and to shoot from and he still gets em in.

 

[dash]

700 assists for OV - I think he passes too much

 

[dash]

One more closer to 894

 

[Comeds]

Pretty sure Cole Caulfield will eventually take the record from Alexechkin.

 

[naslundfan19]

#855 was scored tonight.

 

[forty_three]

#855 was scored tonight.

Sweet backhander. Goalie was nowhere.

 

[thedddd]

#855 was scored tonight.

It was the Ovechkin special.

 

[buffhockey]