Welcome to 2021.
The Caps just re-signed our hero Alex Ovechkin to a five year deal!
At the end of the 2020-21 season, Ovi had scored a career total of 730 goals in 1,197 games. Nobody can say that 2019-20 or 2020-21 were normal seasons.
So, where do we stand?
Player GP G
Wayne Gretzky 1487 894 +164
Gordie Howe 1767 801 + 71
Jaromir Jagr 1733 766 + 36
Brett Hull 1269 741 + 11
Marcel Dionne 1348 731 + 1
Alex Ovechkin 1197 730
I think it is completely safe to say that Ovi will catch Marcel Dionne this season. If he plays all 82 games, I also believe Jagr's #3 position is in reach. Ovi's career average is .61 goals per game (OK, .609857); over an 82-game season, that amounts to 50 goals... Last season, he was a big chunk off that average, with 24 goals across 45 games, putting him at .533 goals/game. Over an 82-game season, that amounts to 43 goals. So, splitting the difference in a completely unscientific fashion, 46 goals still puts Ovi above Jagr at the end of the year.
I believe if Ovi stays healthy this season, he can do it.
With 165 goals to beat Gretzky and 5 years to score them, Ovi needs 33 goals per year.
It's still within reach, but he'll have to work for it. And maybe in the process, we can win another cup or two. :-)
