Do you think Ovechkin can break Gretzky's goal record?

Question

I mean he averages .665 goals a game in his career, I really think he can maintain +50 goals and even reach 70.

If he plays like 1400 games 1400 X .665= 931 goals.

What do you think?

Answer 1

No, Gretzky is the greatest player of all time, i dont think anyone will break his all time goal record. At least not for a long time.

Answer 2

If anyone can do it, he can!!!

Answer 3

Hate to burst your bubble, but Gretzky averaged .91 goals per game in his first three NHL seasons.

Besides, unless Ovechkin spends the next 20 years without aging he is not going to continue scoring that much.

Answer 4

Maybe if the Caps bring Dave Semenko out of retirement.

Answer 5

No, he won't. Gretzky was a lot younger when he first got into the NHL, which leads you to believe Ovie will not be around as long as Gretzky was. At Ovie's age Gretzky was scoring 70+ goals a season regularly and peaked over 90. Gretzky was not as physical as Ovie, so fewer injuries for Gretz, meaning longer career. If he ever got close, I'd cheer him on though. He's a good kid.

Answer 6

absolutely no. his "career" that you are using to average, is very short, and not even one fifth of the # of games that you want to extrapolate to.

most statisticians would call that a very foolish prediction.

not to mention the game has changed.

Answer 7

And NEVER get injured and NEVER get into slumps?He's also not playing with Messier,Anderson,Kurri and Coffey.

The answer is NO

Answer 8

like Pens said. all time is a possibility barring injury but single season is pretty much set in stone right now

Answer 9

no way.. Gretzky played in a different time... it was much slower in the 80s plus he had a cast of all star and hall of fame support...

but Ovechkin is the best all around player in the game right now... imo... Crosby can't hit (no that he needs to), Thornton is on the decline, while Ovechkin is on the rise.

Answer 10

no

Answer 11

i don't want anyone to break the great one's record!

Answer 12

he can definitely reach 70 goals once or twice, maybe 80 once depending on the team, but i doubt he can keep that up enough to break the record.  He'll definitely be up in the top 5 all-time though.

The league is much different now, though.  Goalies are better on average and have bigger pads.  The game is faster, with less time to think through a play.  The Capitals team is a joke compared to the 80's Oilers, and almost can never be that good now that the salary cap is in place.

The only thing that may change my mind is the fact that Gary Bettman wants scoring to increase.  The NHL has already set rules into place next year to shrink goalie pads.  More of this stuff will definitely help Ovie.

Answer 13

No way!!! He will be lucky if he reaches 70! Gretzky scored 92

Your saying that  he will keep that pace his whole career? I want some of what you are smoking!

Answer 14

I don't think so.  I don't see the league returning to the free-wheeling days of routine 7-5 Oiler victories.  

During Gretzky's first ten years, all with Edmonton, he scored 626 goals in 768 games, a GPG % of .815.

Injuries slowed him down later on, and he was never the most physical guy. The way Ovechkin plays the game, injuries are certainty.

Answer 15

He will. he already has 160 goals in just 3 years. Lets hope no injuries, no lockouts, and plays on good teams.

Answer 16

you can do that math like anybody will ever score at that rate and so consistently.  he cant score 50 goals a season for 17 seasons.  nobody will break gretzky's record for a long time.  it's 2008 and to this point nobody has even come close.

If you look at the team wayne gretzky had during his prime, you would have to sign Ovechkin under the Wings' current cap, for a modest 3 or 4 million and put him on a line with Nicklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski, and some combination of Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Marian Hossa.  Look at the numbers that Saku Koivu and Mark Messier put up while playing with Gretzky.  You would also need 2 or 3 enforcers willing to keep Ovechkin, who is physical but by no means unbreakable, healthy.  Then you would need to eliminate modern talent, conditioning, goaltending and defense.  Then you would need to name him Wayne Gretzky.  Seeing as none of these things will happen, he won't ever break, or really come close to breaking Gretzky's all-time records.

Answer 17

He has a good career in front of him. If he keeps playing like he has then i could see him getting close to Gretzky's record. I don't know if he will ever break the record, i think he will need some really great players on his side.

Answer 18

Never...........ever! And I don't even like Gretzky!

Answer 19

Possibly records were set to be broken, and with the arrival of a capable center in Nick Backstrom Ovechkin scored 65 goals.  Now Backstrom will no longer be a rookie but an experienced NHL center, and it's looking like he'll also have Fedorov to help him out.  If anyone who is currently playing in the NHL can, it's Ovechkin.

Answer 20

he's got backstrom and semin he can do it

Answer 21

No.

Different type of game now.

Does he have the potential to?

Yes.

It would be nice to see a Ovechkin/Kovalchuk duke out kind of like the year of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa... only it would be without the whole 'roids predicament.

Answer 22

There is a possibility.

Answer 23

Hi

1400 games is equal to 17+ more seasons. Born Sept 17 85, that would make him how old entering the 17 season. 39years old... I would say that even if he goes up to .8gpg for a couple season, still going to have to deal with injuries, work stoppages, and well old age.

I am fond of saying anything is possible, but in this case please be realistic. I would say single season my be more probable.

Thank You

ps And that in no way means I think he will do that either.

Answer 24

yes I do. he is a great hockey player & if he realy try's he could !