Alexander Ovechkin v. The World

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

If Austin Matthews stays healthy and continues on his career pace Ovechkin won't hold it in the long term anyhow.

But he won’t keep up his career pace. Nobody in history has ever come close to doing it for the number of games he’d have to keep that pace.

Ovechkin had a higher G/GP over his first 8 seasons than Matthews did. I could see Matthews doing it, maybe, but who knows what things look like 10 years from now.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by Junglist

Its too bad Ovechkin missed 1.5 years due to lockouts. Likely would have passed the record by now.

He also essentially missed his rookie season due to the lockout. Hard to say if that extra year in Russia helped him develop but 2 lockouts and Covid really hurts

[Mathgod]

He's already hit 60 goals twice; Ovi only did it once.

If he can average 44 goals/season for 10 seasons, it will get him to 808 goals at age 37. From there he would have a real shot at getting to 900 (or whatever the record is at that time).

Not saying it'll definitely happen, but he has a good shot.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

He's already hit 60 goals twice; Ovi only did it once.

If he can average 44 goals/season for 10 seasons, it will get him to 808 goals at age 37. From there he would have a real shot at getting to 900 (or whatever the record is at that time).

Not saying it'll definitely happen, but he has a good shot.

I think you have an honest chance when you hit 700 with lots of runway left.

[browna]

I just find it hard for the longevity of current top athletes to have the desire to play long enough when they are making $10+M a year as Matthews will for a while.

Earlier generations, the money wasn't there so guys played longer.

Ovechkin always was an ultra competitor and then whispers (and an incident) with things back home where he needed to continue to make money for various reasons (add Jagr to the mix in that situation).
Then of course he wanted to play for Russia in the Olympics, so he always had some sort of goal and motivation for playing and being in shape etc even after winning the Cup. Then it became Gretzky's record these last 3-4 years.

I just don't see the same drive with Matthews to carry on for another decade, and then another 3 seasons more to maybe break the scoring record in 2037-38.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by browna

and then whispers (and an incident) with things back home where he needed to continue to make money for various reasons (add Jagr to the mix in that situation).

You just gonna drop that like it's common knowledge? First I've heard of Ovechkin having an incident that required millions of dollars.

[CroFlames]

So many things had to go right for Ovechkin to even have a shot at the record. Being built like a brick ####house was a big contributing factor.

Mathews will need the same things to go right, and it's just impossible to see that happening twice in a generation like that. Plus, Mathews is nowhere near as tough and durable as Ovi, and to be clear, many more things need to continue going right for Ovi to break the record. It's not a guarantee.

[Canada 02]

1 closer as he gets his 5th of the season

[Samonadreau]

Yup 36 to go. On pace for 46 goals, which would be 41 more this season.

There's a chance he breaks it this season.

[Goriders]

Pretty crazy to be doing what he is doing at his age. Bet it’s not just him that’s motivated. The whole organization is probably using it as fuel.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Pretty crazy to be doing what he is doing at his age. Bet it’s not just him that’s motivated. The whole organization is probably using it as fuel.

It helps that the Caps are playing exceptionally well this season, I'm sure.

[OutOfTheCube]

I don't think he'll get it this season personally, but it'll be the talk of the league next season.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

I don't think he'll get it this season personally, but it'll be the talk of the league next season.

It's already the talk of the league. Every network makes mention of it after every single goal of his.

He's 36 away from tying the record with 73 games to go. If anyone can do it, he can.

If he gets to 894 this season, next season he'll get 900 and every subsequent goal will be historic until he retires.

I just hate that he's a putin lover.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

It's already the talk of the league. Every network makes mention of it after every single goal of his.

He's 36 away from tying the record with 73 games to go. If anyone can do it, he can.

If he gets to 894 this season, next season he'll get 900 and every subsequent goal will be historic until he retires.

I just hate that he's a putin lover.

Putin decides when he is your friend. And when that ends, stay away from any open high storey windows (same applies for your family).

Take any enthusiasm that any famous Russian shows for Putin with a grain of salt. Not impossible that he sincerely likes Putin, but IMO unlikely if for no other reason than the implied risk/threats.

[Mr.Coffee]

Ovechkin is a POS because he’s a Putin lover and quite frankly he shouldn’t even be in the NHL. Thousands of guys pouring their hearts out working their balls off to have the hope / opportunity to play in the NHL but nope let’s continue to employ this total POS because we want him to pass a record. Once a guy’s gone public with love of one of the world’s most evil people should be auto eject from the league. I’m confident NHL contracts will have a morality clause or something roughly equivalent- maybe within bylaws or the CBA.

Having this guy paraded around like a superstar hero because the NHL wants him to be is a very bad look. Similar with say a guy like Evander Kane. These are not people you should want your product associated with and the NHL should care more about who its employees are. There’s a pretty simple right/ wrong situation here.

[TheIronMaiden]

I do not put any stock in the political leanings of any athlete, whether I agree with them or not. I know that they are people and have feelings and all that, but in the end I only care what happens on the ice or as it relates to the game of hockey. Hell I don't even care if they are a huge ###### so long as they are not breaking any laws. Most "elite" hockey players I have met are intolerable losers and that doesn't matter, they play hockey, I like hockey, its fun to watch them play, if I see them in any other context I will ignore them like I would any stranger.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I do not put any stock in the political leanings of any athlete, whether I agree with them or not. I know that they are people and have feelings and all that, but in the end I only care what happens on the ice or as it relates to the game of hockey. Hell I don't even care if they are a huge ###### so long as they are not breaking any laws. Most "elite" hockey players I have met are intolerable losers and that doesn't matter, they play hockey, I like hockey, its fun to watch them play, if I see them in any other context I will ignore them like I would any stranger.

I agree for the most part. Don't really care about athletes' politics, until it comes to war.

All the death and destruction in E Europe right now is caused by ONE evil man. And Ovechkin has him as his profile picture.

Zadorov openly spoke out against the war and Putin, and he seems to be doing just fine.

[dino7c]

Yeah supporting the modern Hitler is beyond political beleifs and opinion. "Political leanings" lol

I mean if want to support rapists and murderers you deserve some push back

[BoLevi]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Yeah supporting the modern Hitler is beyond political beleifs and opinion. "Political leanings" lol

I mean if want to support rapists and murderers you deserve some push back

Wait I thought Trump was the "actual Hitler".

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I agree for the most part. Don't really care about athletes' politics, until it comes to war.

All the death and destruction in E Europe right now is caused by ONE evil man. And Ovechkin has him as his profile picture.

Zadorov openly spoke out against the war and Putin, and he seems to be doing just fine.

I think there is a huge gulf between the pressure on a 5/6 D man and the best Russian Born Hockey player of all time.