Washington Capitals left winger Alex Ovechkin now stands alone in NHL historical past.
Early within the second interval of Washington’s residence recreation in opposition to the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night time, the longer term Corridor of Famer scored the 900th objective of his 21-year profession, turning into the primary participant to hit this mark. The one different gamers to attain not less than 800 objectives of their careers are Wayne Gretzky (894 in 1,487 video games) and Gordie Howe (801 in 1,767).
Undoubtedly, it is a incredible milestone for Ovechkin. However is it his most spectacular?
What’s Alex Ovechkin’s best accomplishment?
Ovechkin’s résumé is ridiculous. Together with being the NHL’s all-time main objective scorer, the Russian has gained a Stanley Cup, is a three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner (MVP) and has made 13 All-Star Video games.
Most followers will nonetheless say scoring 900 objectives in 1,504 video games is his best accomplishment, and for good cause. However Gretzky’s whole does not embrace the 46 objectives he scored with the Edmonton Oilers and Indianapolis Racers throughout the 1978-79 WHA season. (The defunct league merged with the NHL in 1979.)
Gretzky additionally could have reached 900 objectives had he performed another season. In 20 NHL seasons, “The Nice One” averaged the identical variety of objectives (49) per season as Ovechkin. He was a shell of his former self later in his profession however scored 23-plus objectives in two of his final three seasons.
So, what could be his largest accomplishment? Maybe it will be having probably the most seasons with 40-plus objectives (14) in league historical past, forward of Gretzky (12).
Over his previous 5 seasons, Ovechkin, 40, has reached the 40-goal mark 3 times. In 65 regular-season video games final season, he scored 44 objectives, which tied Buffalo Sabres heart Tage Thompson, 28, for the third most within the league.
Not even Gretzky, broadly thought-about the best hockey participant ever, can declare this stage of longevity. He scored 41 objectives in his age-30 season throughout 1990-91 with the Los Angeles Kings. He would by no means rating 40-plus objectives once more earlier than retiring at 38 after the 1998-99 season.
Contemplating Ovechkin has sustained this stage of productiveness in a sport like hockey — the place gamers commonly battle — makes that feat much more spectacular.
Sure, Ovechkin has scored probably the most objectives in NHL historical past, however that is probably not his most spectacular achievement. It is him having the ability to stay efficient for therefore lengthy, which is one thing even Gretzky struggled to do. In some ways, the Capitals star is an ageless surprise.
