Can Ovechkin Break Gretzky's Career Goals Record?

[Montrealman]

If he's in his mid 30s and has over 700, that is when you start wondering. Until then, just enjoy watching a superb player in his prime.

A lot of guys we thought might have had that potential have come and gone. Lemieux, Bure, Jagr...

Gretzky's stats were front-loaded mind you. He scored well over 600 goals his first 8 years in the NHL. His last few years playing he was lucky to break 20 goals, but he remained one of the best playmakers in the league with all those assists.

Good points.

 

[Darmund]

That maybe true, but when push comes to shove which player would you rather have as far as a fans standpoint, a teammate's point of view?

a one dimensional player like gretzky was?

or a phenom like Ovie who is an all around player that plays exceptional in all facets of the game, if he indeed does go on to break gretzky's records, I for one, would certainly be elated.

Am I saying Ovie will? NO, can he do it? its yet to be seen. based on Ovie's physical play, we'll have to wait and see if injuries and durabiltiy turn out to be his undoing/downfall. :dunno:

To this day I still think and acknowledge Gordie Howe as the all-time goal scoring record holder. just like I still consider and believe Hank Aaron is still the Home Run King. :2 cents:

Wait a minute, Gretzky scored more goals then Howe did.

It's a simple fact.

The fact that Gretzky played little or no defense and was never an enforcer is beside the point and has no bearing on this. If he had played defense or tried, and failed I might add, to be an enforcer he would have gotten his ass kicked.

His body simply wasn't put together for those things, it was put together to enable him to be the greatest point scorer (goals and assists) in hockey history.

So you claim to acknowledge Howe as the alltime goal scorer. How does that work exactly?

He isn't, Gretzky is. Do you just act like an immature little brat and pretend that Gretzky never even existed? Or do you go the even lamer route of taking goals away from Gretzky for some retarded reason.

One more question, how many times have you gone into bars and gotten into a shouting match with other drunken losers such as yourself by insisting that Howe, not Gretzky has scored the most goals in NHL history?

I'm gonna say the answer is 0, which means you are a galaxy sized hypocrite.

 

[lachemo]

So. Could he do it? He is certainly on pace for it, but can he maintain that level of play? Will injuries play a factor in his career? Hmmm??? Gretzky has 894 goals btw.

absolutely not. However, I hate to gear careers by projections so I have a biased opinion. Keep in mind that the goalies are better and faster all around the league these days and the the players, especially Defenseman, are bigger,stronger and more physical. To prove my point,take a look into the Gretzky,Lemiuex and yzerman days.Those guys and others were putting up 70,80 even 90 goals in one season.

It seems like the days of 70-90 goals in a season are long and gone....

 

[Dashman]

True, the goalie pads got bigger and thanks to New Jersey winning the Cup in '95 everyone started playing that 'trap' style game.

Still though, the quality of the young players these days is the best I've ever seen (Gretzky, Messier & Co. were largely before my time.) Great time to be a hockey fan.

 

[L3ggy]

I'd say no, maybe I'm a little biased, I've never seen Ovechkin play, and Gretzky will always be my favourite player 2nd to Peter 'Foppa' Forsberg

 

[raynman68]

True Gretzky's stats were front loaded, but the tail end of his career was also hampered by the Nuetral zone trap and the ability of defenders to clutch and grab offensive players, so I believe that is a wash.

In addition, Ovie came into the league post-lockout when they put an emphasis on offense again, which has led to the increase in scoring and has made his numbers look good.

That being said, Ovie's play style is not condusive to a long playing career, so I have to vote, non

 

[Marlo Manson]

Wait a minute, Gretzky scored more goals then Howe did.

It's a simple fact.

The fact that Gretzky played little or no defense and was never an enforcer is beside the point and has no bearing on this. If he had played defense or tried, and failed I might add, to be an enforcer he would have gotten his ass kicked.

His body simply wasn't put together for those things, it was put together to enable him to be the greatest point scorer (goals and assists) in hockey history.

So you claim to acknowledge Howe as the alltime goal scorer. How does that work exactly?

He isn't, Gretzky is. Do you just act like an immature little brat and pretend that Gretzky never even existed? Or do you go the even lamer route of taking goals away from Gretzky for some retarded reason.

One more question, how many times have you gone into bars and gotten into a shouting match with other drunken losers such as yourself by insisting that Howe, not Gretzky has scored the most goals in NHL history?

I'm gonna say the answer is 0, which means you are a galaxy sized hypocrite.

Blah, Blah, Blah... automatically you resort too confrontational moronic blabbering and other unnecessary insults, I don't waste my time with such insignificant arguments like you've started. its only my opinion, just like everybody else, I have one as well, like it or not, agree with it or not, you don't have too act like a classless moron when addressing my opinion.

but since your so angered by what I said, if all of the WHA goals Howe scored, granted they were NOT NHL goals, but it was still professional hockey nonetheless, even when you add Gretzky's WHA goals added to his total as well, Howe still had 100 + more goals than Gretzky did. therefore that's why I dismiss Gretzky's goals record. I didn't say Gretzky wasn't a great player, but he certainly was NOT the complete player Howe was in any sense of the matter. so GROW UP and learn how to argue civilly before you start attacking somebody you know NOTHING about youngin, so kindly buzz off, YA HEARD! :thefinger

 

[Dashman]

Gretzky career NHL points - 2,857 in 1,467 games
Howe career NHL points - 1,850 in 1,850 games

Thats like if Hank Aaron had hit 1,100 home runs. All due props to Gordie, I love him to death, but lets stop kidding around.

 

[Marlo Manson]

Gretzky career NHL points - 2,857 in 1,467 games
Howe career NHL points - 1,850 in 1,850 games

Thats like if Hank Aaron had hit 1,100 home runs. All due props to Gordie, I love him to death, but lets stop kidding around.

Ok I see your point. Gretzky was an offensive phenom. he scored 2pts a game, I don't if thats a type-0 or not but Howe averaged a point a game.. all I am saying is if HOWE played like Gretzky how many points would he have scored? granted gretzky averaged 2pts a game, cherry picking, not even playing defense in his own zone, never went into the corners, and NOBODY could touch gretzky as far as checking him cuz of his body guards.

I don't care about career points, if Ovie breaks the goal scoring record I would be elated. thats all folks... :2 cents::glugglug::hatsoff:

 

[D-rock]

In sports it's always much easier to fall off a historic pace than it is to maintain it or go beyond it.

 

[Dashman]

Mario Lemieux is close to what you'd get if you combined the skills of Gordie and Wayne. A great all-around player who could throw a check, put up two points a game and make everyone around him better. Almost 700 goals in just 900 games played. Had it not been for lymphoma there's little doubt he would have owned Gretzky's goal record. But c'est la vie.

 

[Marlo Manson]

Mario Lemieux is close to what you'd get if you combined the skills of Gordie and Wayne. A great all-around player who could throw a check, put up two points a game and make everyone around him better. Almost 700 goals in just 900 games played. Had it not been for lymphoma there's little doubt he would have owned Gretzky's goal record. But c'est la vie.

I agree with that. :thumbsup:

 

[feller469]

Ovie is awesome but the game today is much tighter. Ovie's knees won't let him play til he is 40. I doubt he plays past 34. Ovie is a blast to watch but the game is so different today. Heck Marty McSorley wouldn't be the toughest guy on most teams in the league today

 

[meesterperfect]

Mario Lemieux is close to what you'd get if you combined the skills of Gordie and Wayne. A great all-around player who could throw a check, put up two points a game and make everyone around him better. Almost 700 goals in just 900 games played. Had it not been for lymphoma there's little doubt he would have owned Gretzky's goal record. But c'est la vie.

i was gonna say similar.
Lemieux is actually what got me into hockey.
Handling the puck one hand while knocking guys on their asses with the other, then scoring.
He was fun to watch.
I know its off topic but who was on gretzkys like in edmundton? I know kurri but was messier the other or was he on another line?
just cant remember

 

[Dashman]

Esa Tikkanen was the other guy on Gretzky's line back in those days. While a decent enough player on both ends of the ice (made better by having Wayne pass to him) the main reason he was there was to send anyone that messed with Mr. Franchise into the boards (and then give 'em the old face wash when they're down.)

I imagine Messier, Anderson, etc. saw a good chunk of ice time with Gretzky on Power Plays and Overtime. But for the most part, Gretzky and Messier were the first and second line centers, respectively.

 

[ed259r2345]

nope

 

[BigSwede]

Heck Marty McSorley wouldn't be the toughest guy on most teams in the league today

He would be the toughest on many teams,since there isn't that many tough guys left.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

Never. The goalies are HUGE today and their pads don't help either. Look at footage from the Gretzky era and see how ditsy the goalies were, not even to mention how small their pads were. :eek:

And what happened to the talk about Crosby being the next Gretzky? The hype sure dies out quick.

 

[STDiva]

Never. The goalies are HUGE today and their pads don't help either. Look at footage from the Gretzky era and see how ditsy the goalies were, not even to mention how small their pads were. :eek:

And what happened to the talk about Crosby being the next Gretzky? The hype sure dies out quick.

It's Tavares now. :1orglaugh

 

[feller469]

ESPN's John Buccigross wrote a piece about this. it's possible. if he keeps hitting people with his knees, he won't last though. One of those iwll backfire on him and blow his out and he will finish like Pavel Bure