<<< Gretzky vs. Ovechkin >>>

[brandrea]

Probably not an if but a ... when will Alex be crowned the all time NHL Goal scoring leader?

A record that seemed unbreakable back in the day.


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[AzPaul]

What's so crazy about 99, was that goal scoring wasn't his best skill.

[V25V]

Ovi is getting old and even at 50 goals again this season, he would still need a strong 2024 season. I believe he has not recorded a single SOG yet this season after 3 games, first time in his career. I hope he gets there but still a bit to go and again, he isn't young.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by AzPaul

What's so crazy about 99, was that goal scoring wasn't his best skill.

Exactly, he was a passer. A set up guy.

Personally as someone who had season tickets to the Edmonton Oilers back in the Gretzky era I feel privileged to have seen him. I moved to LA the year before he did, so I got to see him here as well.

I was never an Ovechkin fan. I always thought he was a selfish player and his hits were dirty. They could have all been called for boarding as he always launched himself into players and left his feet to do it. He only won the cup when the coach Barry Trotz tried to teach him to play a team game.

Besides he's a Russkie so I don't want him to surpass Gretzky anyways. Now he's just hanging around to beat the record.

[Krash]

Originally Posted by V25V

Ovi is getting old and even at 50 goals again this season, he would still need a strong 2024 season. I believe he has not recorded a single SOG yet this season after 3 games, first time in his career. I hope he gets there but still a bit to go and again, he isn't young.

Yeah, I’m not sure he’s going to make it. Either way, Gretzky is still the greatest of all time.


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[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Exactly, he was a passer. A set up guy.

Personally as someone who had season tickets to the Edmonton Oilers back in the Gretzky era I feel privileged to have seen him. I moved to LA the year before he did, so I got to see him here as well.

I was never an Ovechkin fan. I always thought he was a selfish player and his hits were dirty. They could have all been called for boarding as he always launched himself into players and left his feet to do it. He only won the cup when the coach Barry Trotz tried to teach him to play a team game.

Besides he's a Russkie so I don't want him to surpass Gretzky anyways. Now he's just hanging around to beat the record.

First let me say I’m a Gretzky fan through and through and I hear you and agree with you in a lot of ways

That said, I don’t see Ove as hanging around … he’s still an elite goal scorer even at his age. What did he put up last year 42 or something … not bad for an old guy.

Surely Gretzky’s assists record will remain forever as will his total points … right?

[SMD]

This whole thread is blasphemous. 99 forever.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by SMD

This whole thread is blasphemous. 99 forever.

I don’t think anyone will catch his totals or his single season

It would take a few rule changes in the game … smaller pads, bigger net

[rolexgiants]

Sorry. It’s not even close! 99 was ridiculous! Game over. Lol.

[eman1200]

99 > 8

[Kingsking]

Both incredible players. Gretzky played in an era with almost double the amount of goals per game. If Ovechkin played in that era he would have 1200 goals in his career. Goalies are so much better now as are defensemen. Slow start for Ovechkin is nothing new and he has been counted out time and time again,baring injury he will have close to 40 goals again this season and its only a matter of time before he passes him.

[1st amg]

Most hockey analysts are amazed how Ovi has taken like three steps back in his game. I am going with no. And hope not. 99 is the best especially what he had to play through.


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[hambone1983]

Gretzky has 940 goals. His rookie year was in the WHA just prior to the merger with the NHL, and he had 46 goals that year.

[avidflyer]

Originally Posted by smd

this whole thread is blasphemous. 99 forever.

ban him….

[Kingsking]

Originally Posted by hambone1983

Gretzky has 940 goals. His rookie year was in the WHA just prior to the merger with the NHL, and he had 46 goals that year.

Wha doesn’t count and if it did then Howe is the all time nhl scoring leader with 975 total. But again it doesn’t count.

[JP.]

Ovechkin is amazing and the eras are so different.

But Gretzky is equal to likes of Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Lionel Messi.

[Spartacus]

In the time Ovie has played for the Caps rival Pens made it to 4 Stanley cups, winning 3. Players like Crosby and Mallon owned Ovie and the caps.

Ovie, great player, yes, should he be in the conversation of GOAT? No, only one cup and countless playoff letdowns.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by JP.

Ovechkin is amazing and the eras are so different.

But Gretzky is equal to likes of Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Lionel Messi.

That kind of puts it into perspective

[Krash]

Originally Posted by Spartacus

In the time Ovie has played for the Caps rival Pens made it to 4 Stanley cups, winning 3. Players like Crosby and Mallon owned Ovie and the caps.

Ovie, great player, yes, should he be in the conversation of GOAT? No, only one cup and countless playoff letdowns.

Yeah, even the Flyers have shut down Ovechkin in the playoffs. And this was when he was in the prime of his career.


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[Blansky]

The joy of playing hockey with great playmakers like Gretzky is the whole team is involved and making plays.

Playing with great talents and selfish players like Ovechkin is never fun. They keep calling for the puck and every play and system is about them. You’re not encouraged to be creative and advance your own talents, you’re just there to feed his numbers and ego.

Washington Capitals lack of cups is a direct result of that. Once the playoffs come all you really have to do is shut him down and the team is not successful. It’s a direct result of the whole team system designed around one guy.

[JP.]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Washington Capitals lack of cups is a direct result of that. Once the playoffs come all you really have to do is shut him down and the team is not successful. It’s a direct result of the whole team system designed around one guy.

But they DID win the Cup. 2018.

Won Vegas 4-1 in the SC Finals. Barry Trotz was the coach.

[brandrea]

It’s kind of hard to compare the two, and really that’s not what I was attempting to do.

Gretzky played on a dynasty a team with superstar hall of famers, the likes of which I don’t think we will ever see again.

I was simply pointing out that a record thought by many to be untouchable is now very much in reach.

[PT_91]

2 years ago I would have totally agreed with you. Considering the way he started this season I don't think he'll make it. Would love for him to do so though, as I always think that records are meant to be broken. It wouldn't take anything away from Gretzky's untouchable legacy.

[Kinnakeet]

Gretzky for me. Intangibles and the assists. Was hard to get a good hit on Wayne.

I met his father several times in Brantford Ontario when my Son was paying against Brantford. He was a very nice man and very giving as well.

[Krash]

Originally Posted by brandrea

It’s kind of hard to compare the two, and really that’s not what I was attempting to do.

Gretzky played on a dynasty a team with superstar hall of famers, the likes of which I don’t think we will ever see again.

I was simply pointing out that a record thought by many to be untouchable is now very much in reach.

That’s a good point. In all fairness to Ovechkin, some of those teams he played on weren’t that great. They just weren’t built for the playoffs.


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[Normunds]

Putin's pet vs legend.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by JP.

But they DID win the Cup. 2018.

Won Vegas 4-1 in the SC Finals. Barry Trotz was the coach.

Yup they did.

But one would imagine that a player of his caliber would win more than one and since he played his entire career for them and is chasing Gretzky in goals, that one cup seems pretty underachieving.

[Ferdelious]

I think it's harder to score goals in today's NHL. What Ovechkin has done in his career is very impressive.

[SMD]

Originally Posted by Ferdelious

I think it's harder to score goals in today's NHL. What Ovechkin has done in his career is very impressive.

Not so sure about this. Expansion has definitely diluted the talent pool.

[Ferdelious]

Originally Posted by SMD

Not so sure about this. Expansion has definitely diluted the talent pool.

I just think the size and agility of goalies now a days is way different than in the 70's and 80's.