164 replies to this topic

[Mike in STL]

NBCW is showing literally every Alex Ovechkin ever on his way to 700 goals. Currently 692.

Show is slotted for an hour and half with little to no interruption.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Can someone good at math and that knows hockey tell me the odds Ovi eventually passes Gretzky?

[Mike in STL]

Can someone good at math and that knows hockey tell me the odds Ovi eventually passes Gretzky?

Ovi is 202 goals shy of Gretzky. He's on pace to finish this year with at least another 50 goals. Sits at 34 right now. 16 more puts him at 708. 

 

Using round numbers, to get 200 more goals after this year is 50 a year for four years. 

 

He's 34 now. If he plays until 40 years old, he'll break it. Even is he regresses, the closer he gets, the more likely he hangs around just to break it. Don't see him hanging it up at 40 being 20 goals or something short.

 

Any serious injury that causes him to lose most of a season would put it in danger, but if I'm a betting man, I'm betting he breaks it.

[Mike in STL]

I still don't know that the toll hockey takes on players bodies (The speed, the hitting, 82 games plus playoffs) how guys routinely play up to age 40, and sometimes well past it. Jagr was 44. Selanne was 43. 

 

But a running back is toast by age 30-32 unless your name is Frank Gore.

[DuffMan]

Let's not forget that his rookie year was delayed a whole year by the damn lockout.  Missing that whole season cost him at least 40 goals.

 

Missed another 30 or games from the next lockout (Nice work Bettman!).  If it wasn't for those two work stoppages he would mos likely be around 750 right now already.

 

Quick side note everyone likes to talk about Goodell being the worst commissioner but it's Bettman and it's not even close.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Let's not forget that his rookie year was delayed a whole year by the damn lockout.  Missing that whole season cost him at least 40 goals.

 

Missed another 30 or games from the next lockout (Nice work Bettman!).  If it wasn't for those two work stoppages he would mos likely be around 750 right now already.

 

Quick side note everyone likes to talk about Goodell being the worst commissioner but it's Bettman and it's not even close.

Great point about the missed time. Damn. Haven't really thought about that.

 

Bettman is terrible. But I'll always pretty much despite Goodell for actively covering up CTE and costing people their livelihood and lives. He's a truly awful human, in addition to being a bad commissioner. 

[DuffMan]

14 goals in the last 7 games for #8, Ovie is locked in right now!

[Mike in STL]

14 goals in the last 7 games for #8, Ovie is locked in right now!

Hat trick last night puts him tied for fifth all-time in multi-goal games.

Also league leading 40 goals.

[JeremyStrain]

I still don't know that the toll hockey takes on players bodies (The speed, the hitting, 82 games plus playoffs) how guys routinely play up to age 40, and sometimes well past it. Jagr was 44. Selanne was 43. 

 

But a running back is toast by age 30-32 unless your name is Frank Gore.

cause there's a gentleman's agreement in hockey that you don't go after players that aren't going after you. So if an older player that can't handle the physical banging isn't drilling your guys or playing dirty, you don't hit him, or at least you pull your checks. It's kind of understood the older the players get the less you go after them.

 

For years this is exactly why Enforcers had jobs. You also didn't go after star offensive players. So if you had a gripe with someone over there, you took it out on their enforcer. It's changed a bit over the past 20 years, more widespread physicality, but there are still unwritten rules about going after older and star players.

 

That's why when you hear people getting REALLY bent out of shape over something or a dirty hit, it's usually cause they hit someone they weren't supposed to. Physical guys, 4th liners, they know their lot, it's part of the game, but you don't go hitting and trying to maim a top line guy, cause they could just turn around and do the same thing to your team and then no one has any talented offensive players.

[Mike in STL]

cause there's a gentleman's agreement in hockey that you don't go after players that aren't going after you. So if an older player that can't handle the physical banging isn't drilling your guys or playing dirty, you don't hit him, or at least you pull your checks. It's kind of understood the older the players get the less you go after them.

For years this is exactly why Enforcers had jobs. You also didn't go after star offensive players. So if you had a gripe with someone over there, you took it out on their enforcer. It's changed a bit over the past 20 years, more widespread physicality, but there are still unwritten rules about going after older and star players.

That's why when you hear people getting REALLY bent out of shape over something or a dirty hit, it's usually cause they hit someone they weren't supposed to. Physical guys, 4th liners, they know their lot, it's part of the game, but you don't go hitting and trying to maim a top line guy, cause they could just turn around and do the same thing to your team and then no one has any talented offensive players.

I get all that. But Ovi I feel like bangs around with the best of em. He not Tom Wilson, he’s got guys do his fighting for him. But he dishes out hits, and takes some.

[JeremyStrain]

I get all that. But Ovi I feel like bangs around with the best of em. He not Tom Wilson, he’s got guys do his fighting for him. But he dishes out hits, and takes some.

Yeah that's another layer that makes him even more special. He's not one of those guys that shies away from contact or guys avoid. I was talking more about guys like Crosby, Jagr, Moginly, Selanne, Kovalchuck.

 

Ovi is more like Tkachuck, where he's a power forward that mixes it up, so for him to go this strong with all the bumps and bruises he takes is something else. I don't know that he'll make it past 40, at least over here...but it's amazing the pace he's on right now.

[BSLChrisStoner]

ESPN: Is Alex Ovechkin the NHL's greatest goal scorer ever?
https://www.espn.com...oal-scorer-ever

[BSLChrisStoner]

RMNB: Where art thou, offense?: Coyotes beat Caps 3-1
 

[You Play to Win the Game]

Ovi scored in the 1st, #699. It's 2-2 against Montreal heading into the 3rd. My girls best friend who lost her husband in a car accident last year is there with her 2 sons who are huge Caps fans. Really want this for them.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Lost again. Sheesh

[You Play to Win the Game]

Damn. Rough stretch. At least they etched out a point (something I didn't envision myself saying about this team this year). But I'm not worried yet. Dillon is a great addition. Every Cup team goes through a stretch like this.

Maybe Ovi can get #700 vs. Pittsburgh, that'd be great.

[You Play to Win the Game]

There it is, #700 to tie the game at 2 in New Jersey.

[BSLChrisStoner]

https://twitter.com/...309912325656577

[You Play to Win the Game]

Caps looked in midseason form today in a great win vs. Pittsburgh at home to reclaim 1st place in the Metro. Holt by looked great. Overcame goals from Crosby and Malkin. Damn I hate those dbags.

[ChaosLex]

Caps acquired Kovalchuk for a 3rd round pick. Even if he is "washed up," I love it.

 

Any chance the Caps could finagle a deal for Thornton as well? He's another guy I'd love to see with the opportunity to raise Sir Stanley.