Is Ovechkin the greatest LW ever?

[Dutchess]

http://twopadstack.net/alex-ovechkin-greatest-left-winger-time/

With his recent milestone, Ovechkin has entered rarefied air. But where does AO fall on the list of the greatest to play the position in NHL history? He's closer to the summit than you think.

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[jigglysquishy]

He's easily behind Hull and arguably behind Lindsay as well.

Maybe Ovi beats out Hull by the time of retirement, but he would need a few more elite seasons and longevity to do so.

 

[Plural]

He's easily behind Hull and arguably behind Lindsay as well.

Maybe Ovi beats out Hull by the time of retirement, but he would need a few more elite seasons and longevity to do so.

It's almost a pipe dream that Ovechkin beats Hull. He will beat Lindsay for sure. But Hull will likely be ahead when Ovechkin hangs them up.

 

[Melkor]

He's easily behind Hull and arguably behind Lindsay as well.

Maybe Ovi beats out Hull by the time of retirement, but he would need a few more elite seasons and longevity to do so.

I wonder how people can compare players from different eras with that kind of ease. When Lindsay was playing? Was that an era of the dinosaurs or earlier?

 

[StronGeer]

According to PHWA he's also the best RW of all time too!

 

[drganon]

It's almost a pipe dream that Ovechkin beats Hull. He will beat Lindsay for sure. But Hull will likely be ahead when Ovechkin hangs them up.

I agree. That said, going down as the second best LW ain't too shabby.

 

[Bee Sheriff]

Can't forget Robitaille either

 

[Fantomas]

It's almost a pipe dream that Ovechkin beats Hull. He will beat Lindsay for sure. But Hull will likely be ahead when Ovechkin hangs them up.

Hull had tremendous longevity, which Ovechkin might need to match. But Ovechkin already has a more impressive trophy collection (three Harts to Hull's two).

 

[Fantomas]

Can't forget Robitaille either

No, you can.

 

[chi777]

He's got a shot at it. Another Hart or two with a few more Richards, break 700 in goals and 1200 in points, and he could claim that title of greatest ever at his position.

 

[Cassano]

Yes he is.

 

[kaiser matias]

Hull had tremendous longevity, which Ovechkin might need to match. But Ovechkin already has a more impressive trophy collection (three Harts to Hull's two).

While he didn't win an award for it, Hull led the NHL in scoring seven times in his career, and a few more in the WHA (while that doesn't hold much weight, I'd argue it shows Hull could have competed for more titles in the NHL those years). Ovechkin may have the advantage in Hart Trophies, but he still needs a few more goal titles to catch Hull. Plus playing at a rather high level for nearly two decades. Both are possible though so we'll see where he ends up. Definitely top-2 in the end, I'd argue.

 

[Sensinitis]

He will be.

 

[Jakk123]

I wonder how people can compare players from different eras with that kind of ease. When Lindsay was playing? Was that an era of the dinosaurs or earlier?

It always gives me a laugh

 

[EagleBelfour]

I really don't see him surpass Bobby Hull.

 

[jpchabby]

I hate to make predictions like that, but IMO he will.

After this season, Oveckin will already be close to 500 goals scored in his career, and he won't even be 30 years old at that moment.

He may not be as insane as in 2009 or 2010, but he's still incredibly effective in terms of goal scoring. In all probability, he'll break the 700 goal mark in his career, and that is simply incredible in the low scoring era we are in (compared, for example, to the 80s).

 

[Frank the Tank]

Recently the HF History board (who debates these things seriously) rated Ovechkin the 9th best winger of all-time. I am sure he has the chance to move up a bit as his career progresses.

 

[FRUSTRATEDPENFAN*]

He will be.

As a winger he isn't even as good as Bure so no he will never be the best.Especially if you say best winger

 

[ted2019]

Can't forget Robitaille either

Yes you can.

 

[ted2019]

It always gives me a laugh

I find it funny as well. IF ( and that's a big if) Ovechkin ages well, He could maybe challenge Hull as the best LW ever. If Ovechkin plays well enough, he should pass Lindsay.

 

[drganon]

As a winger he isn't even as good as Bure so no he will never be the best.Especially if you say best winger

Bure was a RW. Ovechkin is a LW. The thread is will ovechkin go down as the best LW. Also, Ovechkin>Bure.

 

[EichHart]

With the way scoring is now adays compared to in the past, I would say yep.

 

[MarkGio]

Ovi had a few shady seasons defensively, but earlier in his career he was a league leader in hits, as well as goals. He was the most dominate player at one time. I'd say it's too early to tell, but he very well could be the greatest LW of all time

 

[Plural]

Can't forget Robitaille either

In this discussion, you can forget him. You could do it a long time a go. Ovechkin passed Robitaille long time a go.

Hull had tremendous longevity, which Ovechkin might need to match. But Ovechkin already has a more impressive trophy collection (three Harts to Hull's two).

Well, trophy counting alone is not a really good way to evaluate players.

Ovechkin plays in a league with more parity, but if we do a straight up comparison between them:

Hart Trophies:

Hull: 2
Ovechkin: 3

Art Ross trophies:

Hull: 3
Ovechkin: 1

Rocket (or retro Rocket)

Hull: 7
Ovechkin: 4 and counting

All-Star selections:

Hull: 10X 1st team, 2X 2nd team
Ovechkin: 6X 1st team, 2X 2nd team

Point finishes:

Hull: 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th
Ovechkin: 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 7th, 8th

Goal finishes:

Hull: 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
Ovechkin: 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 5th

So, Ovechkin is on his way to getting close. But it will take a big effort to match Hull and even bigger to get past him. Bobby Hull is arguably (not in my mind, but arguably) 5th greatest player to ever play the game. Being behind him is not shame at all.

 

[Reds4Life]

Barring serious injury, he will be. He's not far behind Bobby Hull by now.