[02-02-2017] 550!

As of last night's 5-3 victory over the Boston Bruins, Our Hero has 550 goals in 890 games played! 

#20.....Mark Recchi..........577 G..........1652 GP

#21.....Mike Bossy...........573 G...........752 GP

#22.....Mats Sundin..........564 G..........1346 GP

#23.....Joe Nieuwendyk.......564 G..........1257 GP

#24.....Mike Modano..........561 G..........1499 GP

#25.....Guy Lafleur..........560 G..........1126 GP

#26.....John Bucyk...........556 G..........1540 GP

#27.....Alex Ovechkin........550 G...........890 GP

#28.....Ron Francis..........549 G..........1731 GP

#29.....Michel Goulet........548 G..........1089 GP

#30.....Maurice Richard......544 G...........978 GP

#31.....Stan Mikita..........541 G..........1394 GP

#32.....Keith Tkachuk........538 G..........1201 GP

With the Bucyk bio published yesterday, we'll leave it at that, but... Our Hero has also surpassed the Great One, Wayne Gretzky, with his 205th power play goal. Here's the list (S/T to QuantHockey.com):

#01.....Dave Andreychuk......274 PPG........1639 GP

#02.....Brett Hull...........265 PPG........1269 GP

#03.....Teemu Selänne........255 PPG........1451 GP

#04.....Phil Esposito........249 PPG........1282 GP

#05.....Luc Robataille.......247 PPG........1431 GP

#06.....Brendan Shanahan.....237 PPG........1524 GP

#07.....Mario Lemieux........236 PPG.........915 GP

#08.....Marcel Dionne........234 PPG........1348 GP

#09.....Dino Ciccarelli......232 PPG........1232 GP

#10.....Mike Gartner.........217 PPG........1432 GP

#11.....Joe Nieuwendyk.......215 PPG........1257 GP

#12.....Jaromir Jágr.........214 PPG........1680 GP

#13.....Keith Tkachuk........212 PPG........1201 GP

#14.....Alex Ovechkin........205 PPG.........890 GP

#14.....Joe Sakic............205 PPG........1378 GP

#16.....Wayne Gretzky........204 PPG........1487 GP

He's creeping  up on Jágr, who is the only other active player in the top 20 all time for power play goals. With his next PPG, he will surpass Joe Sakic, with whom he is now tied. Saloc, born July 7 1969 in Burnaby, British Columbia, is currently working as the Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations for the Colorado Avalanche, the team for which he played his entire career, making the move with the former Quebec Nordiques team when they became the Avalanche in the 1995-96 season. 

He began his playing career as a Nordique, in the 1988-89 season, after being drafted 15th overall in the 1987 entry draft. Sakic would miss out on the Calder Memorial Trophy his rookie season due to an ankle injury that halted a torrid first season's scoring pace. He was named sole captain of the Quebec Nordiques in the 1992-93 season, and led the team to the playoffs, a first in six seasons after several bottom of the league/division finishes. When the team relocated to Colorado, Sakic led them to their first Stanley Cup championship, in 1995-96, and was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner for that playoff run. His 18 goals fell one short of the NHL record, and his six game winning goals set the new record in that category. 

Sakic's later career would be marred by injuries. He retired from the game on July 9, 2009, at the age of 40, and his jersey number (19) was retired by the club on October 1st of that year. Sakic was the first captain of the Avalanche, and remained in that position until he retired. Two years after retirement, he returned to work for the Avalanche's front office. Off the ice, Sakic hosts a yearly charity golf tournament to benefit the Food Bank of the Rockies.