Alex Ovechkin stands alone on top of one hockey mountain after passing Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer. With just over a year until his retirement, Ovi will have a chance to add to his total — one that should stand for a long, long time.
With the scoring record in hand it’s now time to begin discussing Ovechkin’s legacy. Is truly one of the best players to ever step on the ice, or merely the most prolific scorer?
It’s safe to say that even the most die-hard Ovechkin lover would have to concede that Gretzky is still the GOAT, in spite of his scoring record being passed. The Great One still has over a 1,200 point lead — and it’s unlikely his 2,857 career points will ever be passed by anyone. It’s one of sports’ most unreal figures, standing 936 points above second place.
Is Ovi in the Top 3 though?
The case of Alex Ovechkin as a Top 3 player all time
The obvious is that he’s scored 895 goals. When you dig just a tiny bit deeper his consistency is even more preposterous than the total number, hough. For two decades Alex Ovechkin has averaged 49 goals a season in an era where hockey defenses have become more athletic, nuanced, and overall better than any point in history.
To put that 49 goal average in context: This season the NHL leading goal scorer is Leon Draisaitl with 52. In nine different season Ovi was the No. 1 scorer in the league, and this didn’t always involve having a top-tier center to set him up for easy looks.
Auston Matthews is the only other player in the modern era to finish 3 seasons as the NHL’s leader goal scorer. Ovechkin has NINE.
The case against Alex Ovechkin as a Top 3 player all time
There’s no question that Ovechkin is the best goal scorer, but what has that functionally meant? One Stanley Cup in 20 years. Only two Eastern Conference titles. Personal glory is great, but this is a player who was fantastic at being on an island and getting big numbers, but ultimately didn’t help his team win a lot.
Sure, that could change in the Caps can win the cup this year — but if they don’t, it’s the story of their last two decades. Huge numbers from Ovi, nothing to show for it in the end as a team.
Ovechkin is 11th in points overall. He lags behind not just behemoths like Gretzky and Jaromir Jagr, but Ron Francis, Joe Sakic and even Sidney Crosby. Those guys all have multiple Stanley Cup wins to their name as well as greater point totals.
It’s impossible to say Ovi is a Top 3 player all time when he doesn’t have the championships to show for it, or the total points overall. Ovechkin might as well be the Kevin Durant of the NHL. An amazing scorer, a guaranteed Hall of Fame player — but he doesn’t touch the likes of Gretzky, Jagr, or Mark Messier in the Top 3.
What do you think? Let’s discuss in the comments.