Of course I think the division these people play in matters. I'm just not naive enough to assume it's the only reason a bunch of early to mid 20's elite players are in the top ten in goal scoring. Every year people come flying out of the gates and cool off in the last half of the regular season as the wear and tear builds and teams find their defensive rhythms. Boeser's only scoring at a .5 goal per game pace, despite shooting at 20%. For a guy some thought had the tools to score 40 goals regularly because of his shot, that's not exactly a major surprise. Should his shooting luck come down a bit, he'd probably still pace over 30 goals in a full season. I think the biggest reason you're seeing the Canadian division players at the top is because they've played more games at this point than the other divisions, and the usual suspects like Pastrnak, Laine, and Kucherov have missed games due to injury, and trade quarantine. I'm not surprised to see my Jets players picking it up with Laine being traded, someone has to score and guys like Scheifele, Connor, and Ehlers are here for precisely that. People are focusing too hard on the small picture here, Ovechkin isn't going to continue to struggle on the PP and he's only shooting at half the rate of Boeser currently. Over the course of a full season these things would naturally sort themselves out. There's no point in getting bent out of shape about it when two thirds of the teams in the league haven't even played 20 games of the season yet.
Ovechkin not in the top 50 in goalscoring
- Thread starter illpucks
- Start date
Of course I think the division these people play in matters. I'm just not naive enough to assume it's the only reason a bunch of early to mid 20's elite players are in the top ten in goal scoring. Every year people come flying out of the gates and cool off in the last half of the regular season as the wear and tear builds and teams find their defensive rhythms. Boeser's only scoring at a .5 goal per game pace, despite shooting at 20%. For a guy some thought had the tools to score 40 goals regularly because of his shot, that's not exactly a major surprise. Should his shooting luck come down a bit, he'd probably still pace over 30 goals in a full season. I think the biggest reason you're seeing the Canadian division players at the top is because they've played more games at this point than the other divisions, and the usual suspects like Pastrnak, Laine, and Kucherov have missed games due to injury, and trade quarantine. I'm not surprised to see my Jets players picking it up with Laine being traded, someone has to score and guys like Scheifele, Connor, and Ehlers are here for precisely that. People are focusing too hard on the small picture here, Ovechkin isn't going to continue to struggle on the PP and he's only shooting at half the rate of Boeser currently. Over the course of a full season these things would naturally sort themselves out. There's no point in getting bent out of shape about it when two thirds of the teams in the league haven't even played 20 games of the season yet.
tenken00
Oh it's going down in Chinatown
- Jan 29, 2010
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Oh it wouldn't surprise me if Ovechkin has a down year in goals (he's actually got quite a few points). Like everyone says, he's 35 now. And honestly, I love him but he's fat Ovie right now and the Ovie gut is back this year from the weird pandemic situation + actually spending 34234923849 hours at home with his still new-ish family. And I am ok with it.
I actually don't take issue with Ovechkin not being near the top this year, was just pointing at the premise of yours' and other posters' posts about the North division's star forwards. Yes, it's the usual suspects that you would see in a normal year. But you don't expect all of them to dominate like they have been doing this year during a normal year.
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Alexander the Gr8
Registered User
Ovechkin is a game time decision on Saturday. Looks like he’s been dealing with a LBI recently.
Could explain why he’s looked awful...
Could explain why he’s looked awful...
Cursed Lemon
Registered Bruiser
Ovie's Declining 11: Electric Booga-looga-looga-looga-looga-looga-looga-looga-looga-loo
Dingo
Registered User
- Jul 13, 2018
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Ovechkin is irrelevant to how weak that division is.
There are a ton of good forwards, and a ton of weak players out there. It looks like the 80s, basically.
MapleLeafs94
So then I said...
- Nov 18, 2016
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I don't think many people ever felt that way or atleast they shouldn't have. The guy has hovered around the top 10 center range for many years with peaks even higher than that. Him and Ovi are just the perfect fit, but feeding arguably the best goal scorer of all time has certainly helped his career statistics as it would any great play maker. I'm sure Ovi appreciates all the work he's done too and the great feeds he's received over the years. When the Caps won the cup and both them 2 went for a skate together, that was a pretty awesome moment, both knowing the long road to that point and how much they've both meant to each others career.
Khomutov
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- Sep 22, 2015
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It's Ovechkin. He can score 20 goals in the next 20 games. I mean yes, he is already 35, but it's Ovechkin.
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Gold Standard
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- Sep 7, 2018
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Gurglesons
Registered User
The East is basically all low event teams and PIT trying to play defense with Mike Matheson, Kris Letang and Cody Ceci playing D with an aging core.
CanadaIsIrrelevant
Registered User
Crosby and Ovi have the same amount of points with Crosby playing 18 games vs Ovechkin’s 15.
So is Crosby slowing down too?
Think it’s too early to say really.
Come back when we have passed the halfway point of the season.
So is Crosby slowing down too?
Think it’s too early to say really.
Come back when we have passed the halfway point of the season.
sr edler
gold is not reality
- Mar 20, 2010
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Ovechkin fell off of his dynamic 2007–2010 peak pretty steeply and reinvented himself as a designated sniper.
When Ovechkin and Crosby fans say "in history" what they really say is "since 2005–06" because that's all they know.
Could very well be so. Age happens. It's a crazy concept I know.
Rude and uncalled for, and also incorrect. On both counts, I meant in history history, and Ovechkin's goal scoring didn't fall off much at all from his peak seasons. Only the 65 year really stands out. The rest of his game game has nothing to do with this thread (although I will remind you that Oates reinvented him for reasons unrelated to aging).
Ovechkin's lack of falloff in goal production after his mid-20s is very rare, and his essentially flat curve into his mid-30s is unheard of. Not even Howe held his production that well. Naming a few seasons where others did well later in life isn't the point because it's about the overall trend and consistency, and Ovechkin has defied age totally in that view. He has pretty much hovered a little over 0.6 g/gp for what, 13 of 15 years? People have crunched the numbers and shown this many times.
Again, check the over 30 scoring records. Most goals, most rockets, most <number> goal seasons, etc. Ovi is only 35 and has already stomped a hole in most of them.
Neil Racki
Registered User
Ovie is fighting the puck a bit, like he has cement hands right now with the puck just bouncing around on him but he’s fine.
Hes looking like 35 year old Ovie not 30 year old Ovie .... bc hes 35 year old Ovie. He’s right where he naturally should be in the circle of life. He’s got a few good years left in him.
Hes looking like 35 year old Ovie not 30 year old Ovie .... bc hes 35 year old Ovie. He’s right where he naturally should be in the circle of life. He’s got a few good years left in him.
TheDawnOfANewTage
Dahlin, it’ll all be fine
- Dec 17, 2018
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He’s put two off the posts in the last few games and I’m only half watching, so he could have a couple more. Not playing his best, but he’s still dangerous.
Hatfield
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- Jan 27, 2007
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He isn’t getting nearly as many chances on the PP. They don’t draw many penalties to start with, and so far this season the opposing PKers have worked hard to cut off the passing lane from Carlson. As a result, he’s been getting MAYBE one one-timer off per game? Considering that’s been his bread and butter, it’s unsurprising he’s in a bit of a slump.
TheStatican
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- Mar 14, 2012
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I hate Ovechkin as much as the next Pens fan but its obvious to anyone not hiding under a rock that his numbers are suffering just as much as from the new division alinement as it is due to aging.
Likewise I expected Mcdavid and Matthew's to put up carrer years but their numbers would be no where near as impressive if they weren't playing against North division opponents all year round. Must be nice playing the worst defensive team assembled in decades - the Ottawa Senators, 10 times a year
I'm glad this season is only 56 games as it'll limit the overall impact of this years final numbers on a players career in hindsight. Because whatever stats they put will not be an accurate or legitimate measure of their talent.
Likewise I expected Mcdavid and Matthew's to put up carrer years but their numbers would be no where near as impressive if they weren't playing against North division opponents all year round. Must be nice playing the worst defensive team assembled in decades - the Ottawa Senators, 10 times a year
I'm glad this season is only 56 games as it'll limit the overall impact of this years final numbers on a players career in hindsight. Because whatever stats they put will not be an accurate or legitimate measure of their talent.
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DrewGl
Registered User
It's a strange season...he had the covid ban and now learning a new system. He's done his thing with his career. Anything else now is a cherry on top. Same with Crosby.
Coldplay619
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- Oct 17, 2010
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Senor Catface
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- Jul 25, 2006
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This is so overblown.
Out of the top 15 teams in the NHL for goals per game, the North make up for 4 of those teams.
mattef
consider the following...
for the entirety of his career he couldn't get a break from people.
the guy has eight 50 goals seasons. two very likely ones cut short by lockout/pandemic, a 49 and a 46 goal season. he's currently 7th all time with 712 goals. he's also currently over a PPG.
but even now, at 35, after a "slow" start people feel the need to post things like that... like "ah see! he's not THAT good.. I was right all along"
the guy has eight 50 goals seasons. two very likely ones cut short by lockout/pandemic, a 49 and a 46 goal season. he's currently 7th all time with 712 goals. he's also currently over a PPG.
but even now, at 35, after a "slow" start people feel the need to post things like that... like "ah see! he's not THAT good.. I was right all along"
