Alexander Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky’s NHL targets report

“What a day, huh?” Ovechkin mentioned at heart ice. “Like I at all times say, it’s a workforce sport. With out my boys, the followers, the trainers, coaches, I’d by no means stand there and I’d by no means cross the Nice One. Fellas, thanks a lot. I like you a lot.” 

The No. 1 total choose within the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Ovechkin has been one of many NHL’s most feared offensive gamers since his rookie season, wherein he scored 52 targets. Since then, he has scored not less than 30 targets yearly, excluding solely the Covid-shortened 2020-21 season.

Ovechkin’s skilled profession started in Russia in 2001 with Dynamo Moscow. He was such a extremely touted NHL prospect, the Florida Panthers even concocted a scheme to draft him in 2003, one 12 months earlier than he was formally eligible to be chosen. (On the time, the Panthers argued Ovechkin was sufficiently old to fulfill the league’s cutoff if his age had been to incorporate leap years.) 

A tall, bruising ahead with an extremely sturdy shot, Ovechkin has since gone on to set a number of scoring data, together with most energy play targets, most additional time targets and most targets with a single workforce. He’s additionally tied with Gretzky and Mike Bossy for many 50-goal seasons.

Oveckin has additionally received a report 9 Maurice “Rocket” Richard trophies, given yearly to the NHL’s prime objective getter. He has received three MVPs, and led the Capitals to a Stanley Cup win in 2018, successful the Conn Smythe Trophy that 12 months for being probably the most precious participant within the playoffs. 

Ovechkin broke Gretzky’s report regardless of a number of obstacles that deflated no matter his ultimate objective depend finally ends up being. The 2004-05 NHL season, which might have been Ovechkin’s first, was canceled attributable to a lockout. The 2012-13 season was shortened due to one other lockout, and each the 2020 and 2021 seasons had been shortened due to the pandemic.