Ovechkin’s best match

[Isaak16]

Who would have improved Ovechkin’s goal totals the most if they’d played together their whole career? No disrespect to Backstrom at all.

Tried to keep it semi-modern.

I actually think a physical force like Messier or Lindros might have been an interesting fit. The intimidation factor might have been an overwhelming considering he’s a freight train himself.

Edit: not sure why I forgot Mcdavid and Draisaitl

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[Nadal On Clay]

The guy that has more assists than anyone else has points.

 

[Isaak16]

The guy that has more assists than anyone else has points.

I was still quite young when I watched Wayne. I was 6 the first time I remember watching hockey. It was the 93 cup final. I don’t think he ever played with a power forward type sniper did he? I really wonder if he would have been the best fit. Mario did play well with power players though. Stevens, Jagr...

 

[Hockeyholic]

Mario and Ovi's styles seem to be similar.

 

[nowhereman]

Ovi has surpassed Mario. But their styles seemed to be similar.

Woah, woah, woah... what? No, not at all.

Anyway, it has to be Gretzky. Who else but the greatest playmaker of all time to set-up one of the greatest goalscorers of all time?

 

[Hockeyholic]

Woah, woah, woah... what? No, not at all.

Anyway, it has to be Gretzky. Who else but the greatest playermaker of all time to set-up one of the greatest goalscorers of all time?

Agreed.

 

[nowhereman]

More goals than Mario. More physical. It's a slight, yet clear advantage for Ovi.

Create a poll and see how that goes.

 

[bobholly39]

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

I saw thread title and i thought it was about his best individual game.
Than I saw poll options and thought it was who he matches up to best as a player in terms of skillset/ability.

Good job OP. Fooled me twice as to what i thought poll was about.

The easy answer is Gretzky. Best playermaker with one of the best goal-scorers.

 

[tony d]

Gretzky.

 

[Stealth JD]

I was deciding between a couple of pure play-makers in Oates and Francis. Lemieux and Gretzky were great goal-scorers in their own right. Went with Oates due to the magic he had with Hull and Neely.

 

[Connor McConnor]

Imagine Forsberg and Ovi on the same line.

 

[BeastoftheEast85]

Woah, woah, woah... what? No, not at all.

Anyway, it has to be Gretzky. Who else but the greatest playermaker of all time to set-up one of the greatest goalscorers of all time?

Corrected

 

[dukeofjive]

My bad should have read the question not just the title.

 

[Rebels57]

Wayne has to be the pick here but Oates is a close 2nd.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Has to be Gretzky.

 

[danpantz]

99 is the easy answer but I went with Adam Oates.

He's the first thing that comes to my mind when i think of a pass first forward.

 

[nowhereman]

Corrected

Not to take anything away from OV's accomplishments but Gretzky and Lemieux were undoubtably better goalscorers, considering they were pass-first players who still managed to put up historic goal totals. If they focused their game on scoring goals as much as OV does, at the expense of their playmaking, this wouldn't be much of a debate. This is especially true since OV's style morphed from his balls-to-the-walls, all-around offensive style into more of a trigger man. I think OV has surpassed history's other snipers (Bossy/Richard/Hull, etc.) but, in my books, he'll never better Gretz/Lemieux because of their style of play.

 

[valet]

How could anyone not choose Gretzky? Come on now

 

[Khomutov]

Gretzky. Imagine peak Gretzky and peak Ovechkin together, lol.

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

Not to take anything away from OV's accomplishments but Gretzky and Lemieux were undoubtably better goalscorers, considering they were pass-first players who still managed to put up historic goal totals. If they focused their game on scoring goals as much as OV does, at the expense of their playmaking, this wouldn't be much of a debate. This is especially true since OV's style morphed from his balls-to-the-walls, all-around offensive style into more of a trigger man. I think OV has surpassed history's other snipers (Bossy/Richard/Hull, etc.) but, in my books, he'll never better Gretz/Lemieux because of their style of play.

There's a difference between "best" and "greatest". OV might not be the best goal scorer ever (he does have a great argument though), but he's the greatest. Definitely ahead of Gretzky and especially Lemieux. His only real competition for greatest is Bobby Hull and Howe.