2024-25 NHL regular season thread

[Cosmo]

List of guys who are roughly 10 years (or more) younger than Ovechkin on the active goals list.

10. Leon Draisaitl, born 1995 (399)
12. Auston Matthews, 1997 (398)
13. David Pastrnak, 1996 (388)
16. Nathan McKinnon, 1995 (367)
18. Connor McDavid, 1997 (361)
29. Brayden Point, 1996 (303)
36. Mikko Rantanen, 1996 (293)
37. Sam Reinhart, 1995 (292)

Someone like Matthews is going to have to average over 40 goals a season for the next 12 to even get into the ballpark. Ovechkin plans on playing another year, though I think if the Caps win the Cup (big if, yes), he may just ride off into the sunset early. Assuming he plays next year, he probably retires somewhere around 930 goals. Just going to be an insanely tough number to catch just because of his ability to continue to have huge seasons when most players are in physical decline.

 

[BurnsWhenIPee]

Have a co-worker who is a huge hockey fan, but too young to have watched Gretzky play.

Tried to impart on him how ridiculous it is for anyone to have topped Gretzky's record, and just how ridiculously dominant Gretzky was throughout the majority of his career. Not sure it landed.

Made me feel very old, and I'm sure it's the way my father felt when telling me about Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Gale Sayers and those athletes from his generation.

 

[da man]

Awesome moment, but it's got to be weird on some level for the Islanders. Like, you recognize the greateness of the achievement but you're still stopping the game in your home arena, shaking hands, and cheering and hugging a guy who just beat you.

Would have been worse if he'd actually beaten them.

 

[Cosmo]

Yeah, there was no chance in heck the Caps were winning that game. Just finished a stretch of five games in eight days, and they were leaking oil at the end of it. Glad the pursuit ended early enough that the team can sort of mentally reset now and get ready for the postseason. Leonsis said as much during the game yesterday. The race had pretty much consumed everyone on the team. Need to get Thompson and Protas healthy. Get back to some defensive basics. This four-day break couldn't have come at a better time.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

List of guys who are roughly 10 years (or more) younger than Ovechkin on the active goals list.

10. Leon Draisaitl, born 1995 (399)
12. Auston Matthews, 1997 (398)
13. David Pastrnak, 1996 (388)
16. Nathan McKinnon, 1995 (367)
18. Connor McDavid, 1997 (361)
29. Brayden Point, 1996 (303)
36. Mikko Rantanen, 1996 (293)
37. Sam Reinhart, 1995 (292)

Someone like Matthews is going to have to average over 40 goals a season for the next 12 to even get into the ballpark. Ovechkin plans on playing another year, though I think if the Caps win the Cup (big if, yes), he may just ride off into the sunset early. Assuming he plays next year, he probably retires somewhere around 930 goals. Just going to be an insanely tough number to catch just because of his ability to continue to have huge seasons when most players are in physical decline.

You would know better than I would, but doesn't Ovechkin seem like the type to keep playing until the wheels are completely off? I can't imagine he'll maintain this pace next year, but why wouldn't he keep going, especially now that the Caps have threaded the needle and remained competitive around their all-time iconic player (Penguins are like "Give us some advice please"). I don't think he'll get anywhere near Gretzky's overall mark of 1,072 goals, but I wouldnt be completely shocked if he flirted with 1,000.

 

[Cosmo]

He's made it clear that he wants to finish his career in the KHL, so I think the idea of finishing this contract in Washington next year before moving back to Russia is pretty well set.

 

[ChrisLong]

He's made it clear that he wants to finish his career in the KHL, so I think the idea of finishing this contract in Washington next year before moving back to Russia is pretty well set.

I heard that, too. One more year in Washington, then back to Moscow.

 

[HanSenSE]

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

I heard that, too. One more year in Washington, then back to Moscow.

If only that was true for someone else, too.

 

[ChrisLong]

If only that was true for someone else, too.

True. Agree. Wrong thread for that.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

True. Agree. Wrong thread for that.

How do you know I didn't meant Spencer Carbery?

 

[ChrisLong]

How do you know I didn't meant Spencer Carbery?

My mistake, since we don't have an NHL Coaches thread.