Will Ovechkin pass Gretzky’s Goal Total?

[Atomic Wedgy]

I think he's still got a 50 goal season in him.

[hockeyrobot]

I think he's still got a 50 goal season in him.

Returning to 82 game seasons, I expect 40 + the next two seasons. After that.... Who knows.

[hockeyrobot]

And just like that we're back. Two for Ovie tonight as he passes Dionne.

10 more to pass Brett Hull.

[Eli26]

The argument can be made who was the greatest goal scorer in their 20's... people say the purest goal scorer in the NHL is between Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy, and that may stand true given their shot numbers and shooting percentages. Converting goals from shots. And then one can't argue what Wayne Gretzky did in his 20's... Still is the highest goal scorer between the ages of 20-29. Mario had the record for goals per game in 1997 when he originally retired, but due to his short-lived come back where he played parts of 01 to 05, Mike Bossy now holds that record. But there is nobody who has scored at the clip that Alexander Ovechkin has into their 30's. He is the very definition of durability and consistency. He's the Ron Francis of goal scorers. Instead he may not end up retiring on the list, second overall behind 99, like Ronnie Franchise did in the assists category with 1,249. With how he's still going, it's realistic. Guy has a drive to score goals more than anyone. I think nobody loves to score goals as much as he does. You see it in his celebrations still at age 36. As long as he has passers like Nicklas Backstrom and John Carlson setting him up and he feels good, minus an injury or stoppage in play, I can't see anything stopping the Gr8 8 from passing the Great One.

[dejeanneret]

The argument can be made who was the greatest goal scorer in their 20's... people say the purest goal scorer in the NHL is between Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy, and that may stand true given their shot numbers and shooting percentages. Converting goals from shots. And then one can't argue what Wayne Gretzky did in his 20's... Still is the highest goal scorer between the ages of 20-29. Mario had the record for goals per game in 1997 when he originally retired, but due to his short-lived come back where he played parts of 01 to 05, Mike Bossy now holds that record. But there is nobody who has scored at the clip that Alexander Ovechkin has into their 30's. He is the very definition of durability and consistency. He's the Ron Francis of goal scorers. Instead he may not end up retiring on the list, second overall behind 99, like Ronnie Franchise did in the assists category with 1,249. With how he's still going, it's realistic. Guy has a drive to score goals more than anyone. I think nobody loves to score goals as much as he does. You see it in his celebrations still at age 36. As long as he has passers like Nicklas Backstrom and John Carlson setting him up and he feels good, minus an injury or stoppage in play, I can't see anything stopping the Gr8 8 from passing the Great One.

Whether he ends up passing Gretzky or not, Gretzky called Ovechkin the best goal scorer we've ever seen during last night's pre-game broadcast. While notoriously modest, I think it says something that Gretzky himself is of that opinion given his own record, his love of Gordie Howe and his having played during the same era (and therefore being personally facility with) guys like Lemeiux and Bossy.

[Eli26]

Whether he ends up passing Gretzky or not, Gretzky called Ovechkin the best goal scorer we've ever seen during last night's pre-game broadcast. While notoriously modest, I think it says something that Gretzky himself is of that opinion given his own record, his love of Gordie Howe and his having played during the same era (and therefore being personally facility with) guys like Lemeiux and Bossy.

Absolutely, Ovechkin maybe a shot volume guy and never hold a single season record, but he's been the most consistent goal scorer of all-time, even superseding a guy like Bossy's smaller sample size, and Mike Gartner's larger one... and he did it in a time when goals are down compared to when those players played. Goaltending and defensive systems are far superior compared to then. The argument is on point why he could be considered the best, all-time record or not.

[blayze]

Ovie is the best goal scorer of all time in my books.

His longevity and consistency are unmatched and as pointed out above he did it during a much MUCH tougher era.

[Wonko]

Wow. Ovi went from game time decision to full beast mode last night in the blink of an eye.

He fell hard in many drafts this season. Hell, he fell to me at 36th off the board in one draft. And this is a league that counts hits, shots, power play points and double value for goals over assists.

People keep saying, "Ovi is done", but Ovi keeps saying, 'hold my beer".

[Invictus]

It's exciting to watch Ovi go for most goals all time.

I'm still currently in the boat that Gretzky is the better goal scorer though.

[Canucks_fan18]

I came on here to make an Ovi post. All hail the great 8! Those goals were not just tap ins either. I know people will knock him saying he's one dimensional, or his two way game isn't great. However, the sport of hockey is a team sport, he's not playing one on one with anyone and you can't win a game if you don't score goals. So in my books he's top 10 all time already based on his accolades.

If he passes Gretzky for most goals all time than he needs to knock someone out of the top 5 and be on the mount Rushmore of hockey. How could he not? You win games by having more goals, that in essence is what hockey is, and if he does that better than anyone else than how can you not put him there?

[tweetdrivr]

Empty net goals...

Gretzky - 56
Ovechkin - 39

Hmmm...

[SeaDawg]

Ovie is the best goal scorer of all time in my books.

His longevity and consistency are unmatched and as pointed out above he did it during a much MUCH tougher era.

As a fellow Oilers (and Wayne) fan, I must agree with you, Blayze. Ovechkin is the greatest goal scorer of all-time, whether he breaks the record or not. I really hope he does, though. It's only fitting and something at one point I thought would never happen. Hard to believe in some ways that Ovechkin has a chance, given that was one of Gretzky's records I thought may never be broken.

[hockeyrobot]

Empty net goals...

Gretzky - 56
Ovechkin - 39

Hmmm...

Looks like he can pass him in that too.

[Invictus]

If he passes Gretzky for most goals all time than he needs to knock someone out of the top 5 and be on the mount Rushmore of hockey. How could he not? You win games by having more goals, that in essence is what hockey is, and if he does that better than anyone else than how can you not put him there?

Ovi is definitely not top 5 all time player.

[tweetdrivr]

Ovi is definitely not top 5 all time player.

Yes well...not sure if this a ham fisted troll attempt or what. We are not discussing all time greatest players. We are discussing Ovechkin's goal scoring ability and the chance that he might catch Gretzky. Which you know because you've posted to this thread recently. So maybe stick to that.