Ovechkin ties Gretzky/ Most Goals/Breaks record 4/06/2025

[jayg]

They are tied at 894 . Both were/ are in their 20th season and 1486 games for Ovechkin and 1487 for Gretzky. Thought that would be hard to top and it was.  

Edited yesterday at 06:07 PM by jayg

[SinceThe70s]

With three+ minutes left and the Caps up by one I told my son it was lining up for an empty net hat trick in front of the home crowd - which would have been epic. Sadly someone else on the Caps got the empty netter. He'll probably get it Sunday on the road in a meaningless game against my Islanders. Shame.

[Jukester]

Ovechkin actually told his coach he didn’t want to go in during the empty net time. Classy move not to break the record with an empty netter. 

 

Edited Saturday at 04:08 AM by Jukester

[SinceThe70s]

12 minutes ago, Jukester said:

Ovechkin actually told his coach he didn’t want to go in during the empty net time. Classy move not to break the record with an empty netter. 

 

 

That's classy as hell. Hope he doesn't get it against my Isles on Sunday and instead gets it front of his home crowd.

 

Early 1990's I was working in the DC area and went to an Caps game. Had a verbal spat (that I provoked) with a Caps fan a few rows down which amounted to nothing. A month or two later went to another Caps game and recognized the dude walking the concourse. True fan.  Hope he gets to see Ovi break the record live. 

[UConn James]

It’s been a while different era in the NHL since the rules changes in the mid-oughts that opened up scoring so much more than the heavily defensive tilts when Gretzky played.

[agilen]

1 hour ago, UConn James said:

It’s been a while different era in the NHL since the rules changes in the mid-oughts that opened up scoring so much more than the heavily defensive tilts when Gretzky played.

Huh? NHL goals per game were an all-time high of 4.01 in ‘81-‘82, the year Gretzky had record 92 goals. The bulk of his career was >3.5 gpg.

Ovi’s entire career has been between 2.65 and 3.14 gpg. He played in a way more defensive league than Gretzky, with better goalies and the neutral zone trap.

[Fleezoid]

10 hours ago, agilen said:

Huh? NHL goals per game were an all-time high of 4.01 in ‘81-‘82, the year Gretzky had record 92 goals. The bulk of his career was >3.5 gpg.

Ovi’s entire career has been between 2.65 and 3.14 gpg. He played in a way more defensive league than Gretzky, with better goalies and the neutral zone trap.

 

The goalie equipment is one reason. It's changed over the years.

 

[Buffalo716]

14 hours ago, UConn James said:

It’s been a while different era in the NHL since the rules changes in the mid-oughts that opened up scoring so much more than the heavily defensive tilts when Gretzky played.

Scoring is statistically down in the NHL compared to Wayne Gretzky's era 

 

When Wayne played there was guys going for 140 150 170 points a year... Like 100 is considered absolutely phenomenal now.. McDavid had a crazy 150-point season last year that doesn't really happen anymore

 

Last season there were 11 players over 100 points.. in 1993 there was 20 

 

Last year the top three point scorers.. 153, 128, 113... In 1993 , 160, 148, 143 was top 3

 

There was 13 guys with over 110 points..  last season in the NHL only 5

 

 

[ExiledInIllinois]

16 hours ago, UConn James said:

It’s been a while different era in the NHL since the rules changes in the mid-oughts that opened up scoring so much more than the heavily defensive tilts when Gretzky played.

😆 

You can't be serious!

 

Gretzky played in the easiest era.  Technology was poor. Goonery to protect him, etc...

[Buffalo716]

23 hours ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

😆

You can't be serious!

 

Gretzky played in the easiest era.  Technology was poor. Goonery to protect him, etc...

Goonery is a part of hockey that I really hope they don't completely take away 

 

One of my best friends is a major junior hockey coach in Canada 

 

For all intensive purposes it is professional hockey for kids under 20 

 

They have specific players that they pay 5000 a year just to be goons and protect the best star player 

 

That's part of the Self policing of hockey

Edited yesterday at 08:30 PM by Buffalo716

[jayg]

He broke the record at 7:26 of the second period against the Islanders.

Edited yesterday at 05:57 PM by jayg

[ExiledInIllinois]

22 minutes ago, jayg said:

He broke the record at 7:26 of the second period against the Islanders.

Who was the poor goalie! 😆 

[Johnny Hammersticks]

1 minute ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

Who was the poor goalie! 😆 

Sorokin.  Strome and Wilson got the assists.

[BillsPride12]

Congratulations Ovie!  What an incredible accomplishment.  As a kid that's one of those records you don't expect to ever see broken in your lifetime

[BillsFan4]

23 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

Scoring is statistically down in the NHL compared to Wayne Gretzky's era 

 

When Wayne played there was guys going for 140 150 170 points a year... Like 100 is considered absolutely phenomenal now.. McDavid had a crazy 150-point season last year that doesn't really happen anymore

 

Last season there were 11 players over 100 points.. in 1993 there was 20 

 

Last year the top three point scorers.. 153, 128, 113... In 1993 , 160, 148, 143 was top 3

 

There was 13 guys with over 110 points..  last season in the NHL only 5

 

 

I feel like this is under-selling Gretzky a bit.

 

He was the true definition of a phenom. 

 

When he scored 212 points in 81/82, the next closest guy was Mike Bossy.

1981/82:

 

1.W. Gretzky*212

2.M. Bossy*147

3.P. Šťastný*139

4.D. Maruk136

5.B. Trottier*129

6.D. Savard*119

7.M. Dionne*117

8.B. Smith114

9.D. Ciccarelli*106

D. Taylor 106

 

1982/83:

 

1.W. Gretzky*196

2.P. Šťastný*124

3.D. Savard*121

4.M. Bossy*118

5.M. Dionne*107

B. Pederson107

7.M. Messier*106

8.M. Goulet*105

9.G. Anderson*104

J. Kurri*104

K. Nilsson 104

 

1983/84:

 

1.W. Gretzky*205

2.P. Coffey*126

3.M. Goulet*122

4.P. Šťastný*119

5.M. Bossy*118

6.B. Pederson116

7.J. Kurri*113

8.B. Trottier*111

9.B. Federko*107

10.R. Middleton 105

 

1984/85:

 

1.W. Gretzky*208

2.J. Kurri*135

3.D. Hawerchuk*130

4.M. Dionne*126

5.P. Coffey*121

6.M. Bossy*117

7.J. Ogrodnick105

D. Savard*105

9.B. Federko*103

10.M. Gartner*102

B. Sutter 102

 

1985/86:

 

1.W. Gretzky*215

2.M. Lemieux*141

3.P. Coffey*138

4.J. Kurri*131

5.M. Bossy*123

6.P. Šťastný*122

7.D. Savard*116

8.M. Näslund110

9.N. Broten105

10 D. Hawerchuk*105

 

1986/87:

 

1.W. Gretzky*183

2.J. Kurri*108

3.M. Lemieux*107

M. Messier*107

5.D. Gilmour*105

6.D. Ciccarelli*103

7.D. Hawerchuk*100

8.M. Goulet*96

9.R. Bourque*95

T. Kerr95

 

Gretzky’s peak years will probably never be matched. His peak was insane. He had a 92 goal season. Just crazy. lol 

 

Ovechkin has been super consistent year in and year out scoring goals. Most consistent goal scorer in NHL history now.
 

https://www.hockey-reference.com/leaders/points_top_10.html

[Buffalo716]

2 minutes ago, BillsFan4 said:

I feel like this is under-selling Gretzky a bit.

 

He was the true definition of a phenom. 

 

When he scored 212 points in 81/82, the next closest guy was Mike Bossy.

1981/82:

 

1.W. Gretzky*212

2.M. Bossy*147

3.P. Šťastný*139

4.D. Maruk136

5.B. Trottier*129

6.D. Savard*119

7.M. Dionne*117

8.B. Smith114

9.D. Ciccarelli*106

D. Taylor 106

 

1982/83:

 

1.W. Gretzky*196

2.P. Šťastný*124

3.D. Savard*121

4.M. Bossy*118

5.M. Dionne*107

B. Pederson107

7.M. Messier*106

8.M. Goulet*105

9.G. Anderson*104

J. Kurri*104

K. Nilsson 104

 

1983/84:

 

1.W. Gretzky*205

2.P. Coffey*126

3.M. Goulet*122

4.P. Šťastný*119

5.M. Bossy*118

6.B. Pederson116

7.J. Kurri*113

8.B. Trottier*111

9.B. Federko*107

10.R. Middleton 105

 

1984/85:

 

1.W. Gretzky*208

2.J. Kurri*135

3.D. Hawerchuk*130

4.M. Dionne*126

5.P. Coffey*121

6.M. Bossy*117

7.J. Ogrodnick105

D. Savard*105

9.B. Federko*103

10.M. Gartner*102

B. Sutter 102

 

1985/86:

 

1.W. Gretzky*215

2.M. Lemieux*141

3.P. Coffey*138

4.J. Kurri*131

5.M. Bossy*123

6.P. Šťastný*122

7.D. Savard*116

8.M. Näslund110

9.N. Broten105

10 D. Hawerchuk*105

 

1986/87:

 

1.W. Gretzky*183

2.J. Kurri*108

3.M. Lemieux*107

M. Messier*107

5.D. Gilmour*105

6.D. Ciccarelli*103

7.D. Hawerchuk*100

8.M. Goulet*96

9.R. Bourque*95

T. Kerr95

 

Gretzky’s peak years will probably never be matched. His peak was insane. He had a 92 goal season. Just crazy. lol 

 

Ovechkin has been super consistent year in and year out scoring goals. Most consistent goal scorer in NHL history now.
 

https://www.hockey-reference.com/leaders/points_top_10.html

I'm not under selling Gretzky's greatness 

 

He was always in a class of his own 

 

But I'm saying that there were other high point scores in his time frame all the time 

 

Sure Gretzky went for 200.. but there were lots of guys going for a 120 130-140 in his period 

 

There's not a lot of guys going for 120 today besides Connor

[US Egg]

22 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

They have specific players that they pay $50,000 a year just to be goons and protect the best star player 

They do not receive a salary. It is amateur hockey and allows them to play NCAA hockey. They receive stipends for living expenses.

 

Edited yesterday at 08:12 PM by US Egg

[Buffalo716]

55 minutes ago, US Egg said:

They do not receive an actual salary as it is amateur hockey and allows them to play NCAA hockey They receive stipends for living expenses.

 

For the last 25 years major junior hockey players in Canada.. aka the OHL, qmjhl, and whl we're all not allowed to play in NCAA hockey 

 

Because they were considered professionals getting paid by ncaa

 

Connor McDavid could not go from the Erie otters to Minnesota Golden gophers because he was getting paid and was considered a professional by ncaa 

 

 It is technically a stipend but that's for legal purposes.. and the kids do get cash which they can spend on anything 

 

They used to get a lot more money 10 years ago than they do now

Edited yesterday at 09:04 PM by Buffalo716

[Buffalo716]

43 minutes ago, US Egg said:

They do not receive a salary. It is amateur hockey and allows them to play NCAA hockey. They receive stipends for living expenses.

 

They are allowed to play amateur hockey now.. after nil in America... The last 25 years they were deemed ineligible by the NCAA tho

 

Any hockey player in this thread would back me up that for the last 25 years major junior hockey players were not allowed to play in the NCAA because they deemed them professionals getting paid ... You could call it a salary or a stipend

 

The brand new Nils have just put a little bit of a loophole into it...

 

But from 1999 to 2024 if you played in Major Junior hockey in Canada.. the three leagues I listed 

 

You were not eligible to play NCAA hockey because the NCAA deemed you a professional 

 

Connor McDavid who played for the Erie otters of the OHL was not legally allowed to go and play NCAA hockey because the NCAA deemed him a professional at 17...

 

You are right they're not technically getting a salary they get stipends and allowances with cash 

 

But they can use that on anything And they get cash... Which is why the NCAA had them ineligible for the last 30 years before the nil happened 

 

NIL basically opened up the possibility of major Junior players keeping their eligibility to play in the NCAA which used to be automatically stripped 

 

Edited yesterday at 08:52 PM by Buffalo716

[US Egg]

3 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

You are right they're not technically getting a salary they get stipends and allowances with cash

Yeah, I know. That’s what I said. No one’s getting paid $50,000 to goon it up like you claimed.