NHL Master Thread

[NTorch]

One of the best shifts I've ever seen. Love the Fox keep-in at the blue line, uses the head fake to juke 2 defenders with no space, gets open and dishes it to set up the goal. Not credited with an assist on the play but that was huge.

Tired legs always go for the head fake.

[yuneeq]

Tired legs always go for the head fake.

Tired or not, everyone falls for Fox’s head fakes. He’s not gifted athletically but relies on sleight of hand and elite hockey IQ to dominate.

[yuneeq]

Total disaster. Losing 4 in a row.

[yeshivabucher]

Total disaster. Losing 4 in a row.

choke like non other

[Barryg]

Ovechkin gets goals # 798/799/800 against the Hawks soon after Bulls fans gloat that MJ is the goat.

[CountValentine]

Ovechkin gets goals # 798/799/800 against the Hawks soon after Bulls fans gloat that MJ is the goat.

Hawks, isn't that a basketball team? 

[Barryg]

Hawks, isn't that a basketball team? 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nhl/jonathan-toews-says-his-comments-about-chicago-blackhawks-management-took-attention-away-from-kyle-beach/ar-AAQhJQt?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531

Toews said he had no knowledge of Beach’s encounter with Aldrich until the following season’s training camp and denied Beach’s account that he was bullied by teammates and subjected to homophobic slurs, at least where the Hawks were concerned.

Who you believe Toews or Beach about the homophobic slurs? They most likely are both right as they are talking about different situations. The same thing that is going on here.

[NTorch]

Ovechkin gets goals # 798/799/800 against the Hawks soon after Bulls fans gloat that MJ is the goat.

Even if Ovie passes Gretzky for career goals, he will never be the GOAT of hockey.

[yuneeq]

Even if Ovie passes Gretzky for career goals, he will never be the GOAT of hockey.

Probably not even top 10

[CountValentine]

Even if Ovie passes Gretzky for career goals, he will never be the GOAT of hockey.

Probably not even top 10

In Gretzky's era they were giving out goals like candy on Halloween, no?

[NTorch]

In Gretzky's era they were giving out goals like candy on Halloween, no?

Gretzky played 20 years in the NHL (plus one in the WHA) so its kind of hard to define his era.


Below are the league averages for goals per team in Ovie's 18 years in the league
Rk   Season   Lg   GP        G     PP   PPO   PP%   PK%   SA   SV   SV%   GAA
1   2022-23   NHL   463   3.18   0.74   3.29   22.55   77.45   31.3   28.3   .905   2.97
2   2021-22   NHL   1312   3.14   0.60   2.89   20.61   79.39   31.4   28.5   .907   2.92
3   2020-21   NHL   868   2.94   0.57   2.89   19.78   80.22   29.8   27.1   .908   2.74
4   2019-20   NHL   1082   3.02   0.60   2.97   20.03   79.97   31.3   28.4   .910   2.82
5   2018-19   NHL   1271   3.01   0.58   2.92   19.78   80.22   31.3   28.5   .910   2.81
6   2017-18   NHL   1271   2.97   0.61   3.04   20.18   79.82   31.8   29.0   .912   2.78
7   2016-17   NHL   1230   2.77   0.57   2.99   19.10   80.90   30.1   27.5   .913   2.59
8   2015-16   NHL   1230   2.71   0.58   3.11   18.66   81.34   29.6   27.1   .915   2.51
9   2014-15   NHL   1230   2.73   0.57   3.06   18.66   81.34   29.8   27.3   .915   2.52
10   2013-14   NHL   1230   2.74   0.59   3.27   17.89   82.11   30.0   27.4   .914   2.56
11   2012-13   NHL   720   2.72   0.61   3.32   18.22   81.78   29.0   26.5   .912   2.54
12   2011-12   NHL   1230   2.73   0.57   3.31   17.31   82.69   29.7   27.1   .914   2.54
13   2010-11   NHL   1230   2.79   0.64   3.54   18.02   81.98   30.3   27.7   .913   2.61
14   2009-10   NHL   1230   2.84   0.68   3.71   18.23   81.77   30.2   27.5   .911   2.66
15   2008-09   NHL   1230   2.91   0.79   4.16   18.95   81.05   30.1   27.4   .908   2.73
16   2007-08   NHL   1230   2.78   0.76   4.28   17.75   82.25   29.0   26.3   .909   2.61
17   2006-07   NHL   1230   2.95   0.85   4.85   17.58   82.42   29.5   26.7   .905   2.77
18   2005-06   NHL   1230   3.08   1.03   5.85   17.68   82.32   29.9   27.0   .901   2.9

Here are the stats for Gretzky's 20 years
24   1998-99   NHL   1107   2.63   0.69   4.38   15.81   84.19   27.8   25.2   .908   2.56
25   1997-98   NHL   1066   2.64   0.70   4.64   15.08   84.92   27.3   24.7   .906   2.53
26   1996-97   NHL   1066   2.92   0.67   4.10   16.27   83.73   29.7   26.9   .905   2.80
27   1995-96   NHL   1066   3.14   0.90   5.04   17.93   82.07   30.2   27.1   .898   3.04
28   1994-95   NHL   624   2.99   0.77   4.36   17.73   82.27   29.3   26.4   .901   2.89
29   1993-94   NHL   1092   3.24   0.90   4.85   18.64   81.36   30.2   27.1   .895   3.14
30   1992-93   NHL   1008   3.63   1.03   5.28   19.57   80.43   30.9   27.4   .885   3.53
31   1991-92   NHL   880   3.48   0.97   5.02   19.24   80.76   30.4   27.0   .888   3.37
32   1990-91   NHL   840   3.46   0.89   4.57   19.44   80.56   29.7   26.4   .886   3.35
33   1989-90   NHL   840   3.68   0.95   4.58   20.77   79.23   30.2   26.6   .881   3.56
34   1988-89   NHL   840   3.74   1.06   5.04   20.99   79.01   30.3   26.6   .879   3.63
35   1987-88   NHL   840   3.71   1.11   5.46   20.29   79.71   30.4   26.8   .880   3.62
36   1986-87   NHL   840   3.67   0.90   4.30   20.99   79.01   29.9   26.3   .880   3.56
37   1985-86   NHL   840   3.97   1.02   4.62   22.10   77.90   31.0   27.1   .874   3.87
38   1984-85   NHL   840   3.89   0.89   4.01   22.20   77.80   30.5   26.7   .875   3.79
39   1983-84   NHL   840   3.94   0.92   4.20   21.98   78.02   30.5   26.7   .873   3.84
40   1982-83   NHL   840   3.86   0.89   3.87   22.94   77.06   30.5   26.7   .875   3.80
41   1981-82   NHL   840   4.01   0.92   4.00   22.89   77.11   31.1   27.1   .873   3.95
42   1980-81   NHL   840   3.84   0.96   4.25   22.54   77.46   30.4   26.7   .876   3.78
43   1979-80   NHL   840   3.51   0.76   3.50   21.83   78.17   29.3   25.9   .882   3.46

Also, keep in mind that Gretzky had 1963 assists, which is more than 700 above Ron Francis who is second overall.

[CountValentine]

Gretzky played 20 years in the NHL (plus one in the WHA) so its kind of hard to define his era.

So when Gretzky played more goals per game and goalies were not as good?

[yuneeq]

In Gretzky's era they were giving out goals like candy on Halloween, no?

It was the highest scoring era, but looking at Gretz's numbers compared to his generation there was no one getting close to him. Easily the most undisputed GOAT in major American sports. That being said, Ovi is the greatest goal scorer of all time, whether adjusting for era or not.

[yuneeq]

So when Gretzky played more goals per game and goalies were not as good?

The end of Gretzs career coincided with the low scoring dead-puck era, and yet an old and broken Gretz was still putting up elite numbers.

[CountValentine]

It was the highest scoring era, but looking at Gretz's numbers compared to his generation there was no one getting close to him. Easily the most undisputed GOAT in major American sports. That being said, Ovi is the greatest goal scorer of all time, whether adjusting for era or not.

I am not making a case for the GOAT but a case for top ten.

[NTorch]

I am not making a case for the GOAT but a case for top ten.

If he passes Gretzky for goals then he is in the conversation for top 10.

But keep in mind that right now he has 1,444 points, good for 18th overall (Gretzky is 1st with a career 2,857 points).

And considering that you need to include goalies and defensemen in the rankings, it still would be hard for him to crack that top ten list without being #1 in goals.

[yuneeq]

I am not making a case for the GOAT but a case for top ten.

If he passes Gretzky for goals then he is in the conversation for top 10.

But keep in mind that right now he has 1,444 points, good for 18th overall (Gretzky is 1st with a career 2,857 points).

And considering that you need to include goalies and defensemen in the rankings, it still would be hard for him to crack that top ten list without being #1 in goals.

I can hear a case for borderline top 10 when he hangs it up, and that would be if we included defenseman but not goalies. But certainly not close to the GOAT convo.

Here’s a couple top 10 rankings for context of who he would have to pass.
https://blog.betway.com/nhl/ranking-the-top-10-nhl-players-of-all-time/
https://www.rookieroad.com/ice-hockey/top-10-best-hockey-players-all-time-9480389/

[yuneeq]

The consistency and lack of a drop off at his age is insane

https://twitter.com/SNstats/status/1602878700273311744

[CountValentine]

The consistency and lack of a drop off at his age is insane

The guy is like a fine wine!

[yuneeq]

The guy is like a fine wine!

It makes no sense, but then again Russian Machine Never Breaks. I’ve been following his trajectory to break the record for maybe 4-5 years now, everyone assumed that he would decline to 30 goals by this point but if he played until 41-42 he’ll definitely break the record. Now it’s likely he can break it shortly after he turns 39.

https://theathletic.com/898208/2019/04/01/analyzing-the-likelihood-that-alex-ovechkin-breaks-wayne-gretzkys-all-time-goals-record/?amp=1