EXCLUSIVE: Wayne Gretzky rooting for Alex Ovechkin to break his goals record | NBC Sports Washington

[@OsmosisMiller]

Wayne is an absolute class act. Hopefully Ovi can break the record sooner than later. Pleasant surprise to see him today.

[@bobothehobo420]

Of course he is, he is one of the classiest people period. He knows his records are meant to be broken and wants to see it elevate the game first and foremost and everyone to thrive doing what they love.

[@windwalker5765]

He got permission to travel with the team when Ovi gets close

[@rabbitgundam4420]

What a classy guy.

[@peteincanada8412]

I met him when I was a kid and he treated me (10 years old ) like I was the most important person in the room. Always a gentleman Wayne.

[@dvon1097]

Wayne not only is the hockey goat. He's the sports goat. On and off the ice he's the best athlete ever & he's a genuine class act

[@farhodhakimov6428]

What a person!!! Love his attitude! The Great!!!!

[@sergeant_salty]

God bless Wayne. Truly the great one on and off the ice!!!

[@Hazxrrd]

just 2 🐐

[@C.Rig21]

The great one will always be the greatest. Not taking anything away from Ovy I wish him success and its good for hockey that these things happen. That being said, let's keep in mind that Gretzky started his professional career in 1979. This was the era of the 2 line pass, neutral zone trap, goalies being able to handle the puck more freely and you could pretty much hook and grab puck carriers without consequences. There were other aspects that made scoring difficult. He still managed to score at least 40 goals a season with Edmonton. LA was a different story. The point is he was a prolific scorer and player for many years until the nhl changed the game in 2005 to increase goal scoring to attract more people to hockey. In 2005 they did away with the 2 line pass making the neutral zone trap ineffective. Now you could pass from your defensive zone passed the redline increasing the chances of break aways and opening up the game. They also tightened up the physical play calling more penalties for hooking, holding and slashing to the stick. They made the goalies pads smaller, increased the area behind the net to promote puck handling and put the trapezoid behind the net restricting goalies from handling the puck outside that area behind the net. A la Blueline (Rob Stabuer LA Kings). Enter Alexander Ovechkin in 2005 benefiting from the rules changes at the age of 20. Gretzky ended his career in 1999 never being able to benefit from the rule changes. I hope Ovechkin catches Gretzky. Still what 99 did was pretty amazing given the time period.

[@jacoballen4189]

You typed that entire paragraph and didn't even mention that goal scoring per game during Gretzkys era was almost 2 goals more per game than Ovechkins era.

[@whereschavo3953]

theres no comparison, look at the net space in gretzkys era to ovis. ovi is the better goal scorer

[@wassmikesreviewsreactions2053]

@@whereschavo3953wrong. The 80’s had a 2 line offside, they had clutching and grabbing they had equipment that wasn’t even comparable to todays era. The players and coaches got better over that period of time, but if Gretzky had of been in that same era as today he would still dominate. I didn’t even like him when he played.. but that’s just a fact

[@wassmikesreviewsreactions2053]

@@jacoballen4189and they had 2 line offsides and clutching and grabbing and terrible equipment by comparison.. fact is Gretzky is the goat. That’s just what it is

[@whereschavo3953]

@wassmikesreviewsreactions2053 that's nice. Gretzky is the greatest hockey player. But ovi is the greatest goal scorer

[@wassmikesreviewsreactions2053]

Look at these chuckle heads looking back the camera to try to wrap up what Gretzky is saying. Don’t cut him short… what he’s saying is more important then the first puck drop of the period. You should be honoured he gave you the time. He’s a class act tho for sure and the greatest to ever play.

[@luckyea7]

Which of the modern hockey players can become the best sniper of the NHL regular seasons and beat Gretzky's record? To get into the TOP of the best NHL snipers, you need to score a lot and play a lot of matches. List of top NHL scorers by career-ending goals per game average: 1. Mike Bossy - 0.762 2. Mario Lemieux - 0.754 3. Sea Denneny - 0.751 4. Babe Dye - 0.746 5. Pavel Bure - 0.623 6. Wayne Gretzky - 0.601 7. Brett Hull - 0.584 8. Bobby Hull - 0.574 9. Tim Kerr - 0.565 10. Rick Martin - 0.561 11. Phil Esposito - 0.559 12. Maurice Richard - 0.556 13. Cam Neely - 0.544 14. Marcel Dionne - 0.542 15. Pat Lafontaine - 0.541 16. Michel Goulet - 0.503 17. Rick Wave - 0.503 18. Nels Stewart - 0.498 19. Guy Lafleur - 0.497 20. Mike Gartner - 0.494 21. Dino Sissarelli - 0.494 22. Jari Kurri - 0.480 23. Ilya Kovalchuk - 0.478 24. Alexander Mogilny - 0.478 25. Joe Mullen - 0.473 26. Teemu Selanne - 0.471 Wayne Gretzky played 1487 matches. In terms of the number of games played, Wayne Gretzky ranked 24th, Ovechkin entered the TOP 60, and the number of players who played 1000 or more games is only 378. All players from the above list played fewer games than Gretzky. And the first five hockey players, although they bypassed Gretzky in terms of the average number of goals per game, did not even play 1000 games. Average number of goals per game: 1. Auston Matthews - 0.626 2. Alexander Ovechkin - 0.612 3. Connor McDavid - 0.521 4. Steven Stamkos - 0.521 5. David Pastrnak - 0.496 6. Leon Draisaitl - 0.47 7. Sidney Crosby - 0.468 8. Mikko Rantanen - 0.44 9. Patrick Laine - 0.43 10. Sebastian Aho - 0.42 11. Nathan McKinnon - 0.38 12. Jack Eichel - 0.38 13. Corey Perry - 0.338 14. Mitch Marner - 0.33 15. Andrey Svechnikov - 0.32 16. Jack Hughes - 0.31 17. Matt Barzal - 0.25 Over time, due to age, this indicator only worsens. For example, at the age at which Ovechkin is now McDavid, Matthews and Pastrnak, the average number of goals per game was 0.634. Here all three lost to Ovechkin. The more often a hockey player misses games, the less he will play in his career. Percentage of matches played in recent seasons: 1. Connor McDavid - 97% (seasons 2016/2017-2021/2022) 2. Alexander Ovechkin - 96% (seasons 2014/2015-2021/2022) 3. Auston Matthews - 90% (seasons 2016/2017-2021/2022) 4. David Pastrnak - 87% (seasons 2015/2016-2021/2022) Multiplying the average number of goals per game by the percentage of games played, we get the following indicators: 1. Alexander Ovechkin - 0.59 2. Auston Matthews - 0.561 3. Connor McDavid - 0.508 4. David Pastrnak - 0.429 Ovechkin at the age at which McDavid, Matthews and Pastrnak are now, this figure would be 0.61. Here again, all three lost to Ovechkin. Let's compare Ovechkin and his closest competitor Matthews in the same conditions, namely in those seasons in which they turned 20-24 years old. For Matthews, these are the 2017/2018-2021/2022 seasons. Ovechkin has 2005/2006-2009/2010. In these seasons, Ovechkin scored 269 goals in 396 games, Matthews 219 goals in 325 games. Average number of goals per game: Ovechkin - 0.679, Matthews - 0.674. Percentage of matches played: Ovechkin - 96.59%, Matthews - 87.37%. The product of these indicators: Ovechkin - 0.656, Matthews - 0.589. Of today's hockey players, Ovechkin has the best chance of becoming the NHL's top scorer in the regular season and breaking Gretzky's record. His closest competitor, Matthews, at the same age, has a lower average number of goals per game, and also missed more games.

[@ryananthony2614]

Ovechkin greatest goals scorer Wayne Gretzky said respects

[@GreekboyyD]

73 more to go!

[@MrRazorblade999]

46

[@pena380]

42 more to go I think he does next season if he is healthy. He had year before 42 in 68 games and now 31 in 79 games but 23 were in 36 games pace for 50. Something clearly bothered him early season and he had terrible luck. He did come bit out of shape to the season. I would not be surpriced if he hits 50 again. But I say he gets 45 in 80 games.

[@GreekboyyD]

@@pena380 I would be shocked if he scored that many next season. 30-35 is more realistic. At his age he needs to be training properly as well in the off season.

[@pena380]

@@GreekboyyD this season he got 31 having his worst year, being out of shape and worst luck. He can only do better and I think caps will try to get more empty nets for him. He had 9 and 6 seasons before but now only 3. Caps will also try to get elite center for him this summer too if that happens his goal scoring will increase lot. This season he would hit 40+ if he had bit of luck and that without anyone elite player helping him. So even if he declines which I doubt he should still score more if other things go right.

[@GreekboyyD]

@@pena380 Hope you're right!

[@CanadianBongRipper]

Ovi has always lowkey been Gretzky's protege. Crosby had Lemieux and Ovi had Gretzky.

[@CourtyardPigeon]

Wayne holds just about every other record in the NHL and many of those will never be touched

[@RaineriHakkarainen]

In 1980s NHL 8 goals per game! Today only 6 goals per game! Auston Matthews have scored 54 in 63 games this season! If Matthews had played In 1982 he would had scored over 100 goals easily beating Gretzky's 92 goal record! Ovechkin ERA only 5,3-6 goals per game! If Ovechkin had played high scoring 1980s he would had scored over 1200 goals easily! Canada have 650000 hockey players! USA have 500000 hockey players! Ovechkin's Russia only 80000 hockey players! Canada and USA should have 15 guys who have scored over 800 goals like Ovechkin today!!

[@wassmikesreviewsreactions2053]

@@RaineriHakkarainenwhat’s your point? The systems they have now. the equipment 1000% better, the 2 line offsides they had, the clutching and grabbing and the evolution of the game.. if Gretzky had of started today he’d still dominate. He’s over 1400 points better then the next closest guy with a +520!! I don’t care what era you think was easier… a +520! And over 2800 points… ya it’s cuz it was easy then😂😂

[@zajoking]

❤❤❤❤ Nothing else

[@Peterborough_Guy_Slots]

Only 37 more to go

[@ryananthony2614]

Oveckkin

[@wassmikesreviewsreactions2053]

He’s probably a top 40 player all time

[@donald3290]

Wayne’s points record won’t be broken

[@austism1]

wow you never see him at all... he live off the grid or what? lol

[@eetuhannukainen1399]

I see posers everywhere. Tf do you expect? If he sais against it he will get shit on so hard... people nowadays dont make those mistakes in front of media, except for maybe rappers who promote themselves by being loud mouths. I have news for yall, they have teach them how to handle PR in Gretzkys era already. But surely he doesnt give a fk about it he knows its breakable and matter of time before people pass by him.

[@ryanmillar6572]

It's too bad Ovechkin is a Putin supporter though

[@robford3211]

Gretz is a class act but I couldn’t care about the rogue state of Putistan