Players

Milestones Alex Ovechkin Will Get in 2018-19

Alex Ovechkin honored for his 1000th game. (Caps Outsider)

Already the owner of a bunch of Washington Capitals records, Alex Ovechkin likely won’t be getting any new ones. The remaining milestones on the Caps aren’t realistic ones for him to pass, like Nicklas Backstrom’s assist record, Dennis Maruk’s points-in-a-season record, or Peter Bondra’s shorthanded scoring records. That’s okay, though, because Ovechkin now has NHL records in his sights. Though he won’t be getting any this coming season (perhaps with the exception of an 8th goal-scoring title – he’s tied with Bobby Hull with seven), he’s projected to keep climbing the ladder, even if he has an average 2018-19 season.

First, let’s predict what he’ll get next season. He had an ‘up’ year in 2017-18, with 87 points – his highest total since 2009-10. If he has another 70 point season (which would be on the low-end of his production), and scores 34 goals (again, on the low end), he’ll still make a splash on the all-time list and with plenty of time left in his career to climb higher and even own some league records.

  • With 607 career goals, so long as he scores 34 goals, he’ll pass Dino Ciccarelli (608), Bobby Hull (610), Jerome Iginla (625), Joe Sakic (625), and Dave Andreychuk (640) for 14th place on the all-time goals list. Brendan Shanahan has 656 so if Ovechkin can score 50 again, he’ll be in 13th place.
  • So long as he gets 300 shots, which he typically does, he’ll pass Brendan Shanahan (5086), Wayne Gretzky (5088), Mike Gartner (5090), Al MacInnis (5157), Phil Esposito (5166), for 4th place on the all-time shots on goal list. He currently has 4896.
  • Ovechkin has scored at worst, 3 game-winning goals in a season, and at best, 11. With 102 career game-winning goals, Patrick Marleau is ahead of him with 103, Brendan Shanahan with 109, and both Teemu Selanne and Brett Hull with 110. In the next year or so, Ovechkin will pass these guys for fourth all-time, sitting only behind Phil Esposito (118), Gordie Howe (121) and Jaromir Jagr (135).
  • With 229, Ovechkin is in 10th place on the all-time power play goals list. Next season, he’ll almost certainly pass Dino Ciccarelli (232), Marcel Dionne (234), Mario Lemieux (236), Brendan Shanahan (237), and perhaps Phil Esposito (246) and Luc Robitaille (247) soon after.

Ovechkin does own these NHL records:

  • Leading the NHL in goals – seven times (tied for 1st with Bobby Hull)
  • Leading the NHL in power play goals – six times
  • Leading the NHL in shots – 11 times

A few other things that are notable:

  • Ovechkin is 40th on the all-time power play points list and will likely end the season, at best, in 33rd place.
  • Ovechkin is 59th on the all-time points list. If he gets 70 this coming year, he’ll end the season in 48th place, right behind Dino Ciccarelli (1200).

Alex Ovechkin All-Time Goals Countdown

Alex Ovechkin (Caps Outsider)

Ben Sumner

Ben Sumner is the editor of Capitals Outsider. He also works for The Washington Post and contributes there when he gets a scoop.

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