Washington Capitals: Don’t Take Ovechkin For Granted

Washington Capitals superstar left winger, Alex Ovechkin, and his scoring prowess are a rare commodity in the NHL. The scoring numbers should not be taken for granted because the chances of seeing a similar talent are limited.

Ovechkin, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NHL draft, broke into the league during the 2005-2006 season. In fact, in his first NHL game, he scored two goals against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Both goals tied the game less than 90 seconds after the Blue Jackets took a lead.

Even his first hit dislodged a support beam on the glass surrounding the Verizon Center rink.

Game one of Ovechkin’s NHL career was just a precursor to the things Alex would accomplish in the next few years.

In 2005-2006 Ovechkin scored 52 goals and recorded 54 assists for 106 points. He won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year.

Ovechkin’s career accomplishments are unrivaled:

• Six time First Team All-Star
• Three time Second Team All-Star
• 2006 All-Rookie Team
• Six time NHL All-Star selection
• Three time NHL All-Star Game SuperSkills competition “Breakaway Challenge” winner
• Three time Hart Memorial Trophy winner (League MVP)
• Three time Lester B. Pearson/Ted Lindsey Award winner (Most Outstanding Player)
• 2008 Art Ross Trophy winner (Scoring Leader)
• Four time Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner (Most Goals)
• 2006 Calder Trophy winner (NHL Rookie of the Year)
• Three time NHL media Player of the Year winner (The Sporting News -2008 & 2009, Sports Illustrated – 2013)
• Only player in NHL history to be named to the NHL First All-Star Team in each of his first five seasons

Since entering the NHL in 2005-2006, Alex Ovechkin has scored the most goals (472) of anyone in that span. The next closest player is Jerome Iginla of the Colorado Avalanche who trails Ovechkin by 136 goals. In fact, one would have to go back to Iginla from 2000-2001 to find a player that has scored more goals (495) than Ovechkin since he’s entered the NHL.

“Maybe it’s his own greatness at what he does,” Capitals Head Coach Barry Trotz said. “Maybe you are seeing something you take for granted but when it gets to the next level, defensively, you are seeing it this year. The numbers are down for a lot of guys and his aren’t.”

Ovechkin’s 50th goal of the 2014-2015 season ties him with Peter Bondra for the most goals in Capitals franchise history.

“He gets 50 goals and they go in and in and in,” Capitals center Brooks Laich said following Ovechkin’s historic night on March 31 versus the Carolina Hurricanes. “I just think, ‘why can’t I do that? Why can’t more go in for me?’”

Ovechkin currently holds the franchise record in points (890), power-play goals (173) game-winning goals (80), overtime goals (15) and multi-goal games (99). He also moved into second on the franchise’s assist leaders by getting his 419th career assist against the Hurricanes. Ovechkin trails teammate Nicklas Backstrom by three assists.

Ovechkin scored 472 goals in 755 games while Bondra scored that amount in 961 career games with Washington… 206 games less than it took Bondra reach the feat.

The marquee goal also means that Ovechkin becomes just the sixth player in NHL history to score six 50-goal seasons. He joins the likes of Mike Bossy (nine seasons), Wayne Gretzky (nine), Marcel Dionne (six), Guy Lafleur (six) and Mario Lemieux (six). Ovechkin is also only the fourth player to reach the milestone in his first 10 seasons in the NHL and before the age of 30.

Trotz also mentioned that Wayne Gretzky reached out to Ovechkin following his historic goal against the Hurricanes, adding, “That’s greatness recognizing greatness.”

“It’s something I will remember for a long time,” Caps right winger Joel Ward remarked about Ovechkin’s historic night. “It’s something that, for me, was a pretty cool experience,” remarked on March 31st.

Given the physical nature of Ovechkin’s game, it would also be important to note that in his 10 seasons in the NHL; only 13 players have played more games than he has (755).

“You go back to names like Mark Messier,” Trotz said before Washington’s March 28 matchup versus the Nashville Predators. “[Alex] has the ability to play any game you want.”