Yes, I do think a lot of Hull's goals would go in today. He shot from the same place as OV likes, but had a heavier shot and got it away quicker. Not saying he'd score 86 goals today, but I think 55-60 would be reasonable (is that "a lot?").

The thing about Bure was that you just couldn't catch him. When he came in, he was instantly the quickest player in the game and had the finish as well.

What Ovechkin brings that those guys didn't was the physical element. Hull was big enough, but didn't use his size and was an average skater. Bure was quick as a flash, but was a nonexistent physical entity. OV kind of takes a little of both of their games and adds some physicality. As a player, I'd take him over Bure or Hull or almost anyone ever. But as a pure goal scorer, having the ability to get the shot off quickly and have it go in, I'm probably taking Bossy or Bure. But I think OV is a surefire top-5. When you get to saying "best of all-time" the difference between 1 and 5 is marginal in most cases.
- jmatchett383

I dunno if I agree with Hull having a heavier shot than Ovi.. quicker release, yeah probably, but heavier shot I think Ovi's is better.

Reminds me of the time I saw Prince Fielder in the SI body issue.

Good times.
- DeflatedPucks

Prince Fielder was the only guy in todays game I thought Ruth might resemble.

Somehow, I don't think Prince (or Cecil) Fielder's diet consisted mainly of hot dogs and beer.
- jmatchett383

Don't know about Cecil but it was well documented that Prince Fielder either was a vegan or converted to veganism while he was playing, can't recall off hand the exact story. I think it's safe to say that PF took better care of himself and was healthier than most of the posters on this site.

I dunno if I agree with Hull having a heavier shot than Ovi.. quicker release, yeah probably, but heavier shot I think Ovi's is better.
- j.boyd919

Don't know anyone personally that faced a Hull shot but I do know a goalie that was in Caps camp 2-3 years ago and faced Ovechkin's shot on a daily basis while he was there, he used to text me the bruises he had after every practice. He sent me 1 where Ovechkin caught him right in the center of the shoulder with a slapshot and he had a black/blue mark that engulfed his entire shoulder and even came across into his chest. He said in all his years playing that without a doubt Ovechkin had the heaviest shot he had even faced.

Don't know anyone personally that faced a Hull shot but I do know a goalie that was in Caps camp 2-3 years ago and faced Ovechkin's shot on a daily basis while he was there, he used to text me the bruises he had after every practice. He sent me 1 where Ovechkin caught him right in the center of the shoulder with a slapshot and he had a black/blue mark that engulfed his entire shoulder and even came across into his chest. He said in all his years playing that without a doubt Ovechkin had the heaviest shot he had even faced.
- jaydogg1974

So without today's training techniques and medical advances, is it safe to say that Ovi's shot would have ripped the arm right off of Roberto Romano?

I think you are grasping there saying it was as hard to score in the 80s. It's much harder now, goalies are so well trained now with angles and positioning compared to then and they are all huge. Teams used to play midgets like Greg Stefan, Glen Hanlon, Alan Bester, Grant Fuhr etc. These guys barely came up to the top of the net. 6'4" is an average height now it seems.

Agreed Martox, F the potato!!!

I think you are grasping there saying it was as hard to score in the 80s. It's much harder now, goalies are so well trained now with angles and positioning compared to then and they are all huge. Teams used to play midgets like Greg Stefan, Glen Hanlon, Alan Bester, Grant Fuhr etc. These guys barely came up to the top of the net. 6'4" is an average height now it seems.
- Dcoms

I never said it was hard. I'm just noting that the rules/equipment changes today help to offset things like bigger goalies and tighter defensive schemes. That's why I said there's no way Brett Hull would score 86 goals in today's game and would only score 55-60 tops (and why I said OV's numbers would be higher in the 80s), because it was easier to score goals back in the 80s/early 90s. I just don't think you can exactly correlate what they would be, and I don't think it's as drastic as some people it to be.

Yes, if Ovie hops into his time machine with his composite sticks, current training regimen, lightweight skates, and doesn't ever anticipate a pass across 2 lines, he could probably put up 80-90 goals consistently. But if OV grew up in the 60s/70s, used a 1-piece stick, used 80s equipment, and had the same training (or lack thereof) as 80s players, he's probably putting up 65-75 consistently, which is still pretty amazing even by 80s standards.

Beau Bennett has 8 pts in 33 games this year. Last year he had 12 in 35 games total....Fancy stats say he's a good player.

It will be fun to see A.O. reach 1000 points tonight. It will also be depressing.

So conflicted.

It will be fun to see A.O. reach 1000 points tonight. It will also be depressing.

So conflicted.
- coohill

Worst case scenario for AO and caps fans: Ovechkin goes pointless in the next couple of games and Crosby reaches 1000 first [and does a 'hot stick' impression]

Beau Bennett has 8 pts in 33 games this year. Last year he had 12 in 35 games total....Fancy stats say he's a good player.
- sammy87

What I find surprising is that he's played 33 games so far this year. Good for him.

Weren't there more fights back then. Pretty simple, as OV is a man that can handle himself (although I think he does cheap shot a lot), the opposing team would just send their 'enforcer' ( ) out to punch him in the face & voila, OV is pissed & fighting rather than scoring!

And just to clarify, Jero (la Jabroni ), is still lurking.............HB wouldn't be the same without him!

What I find surprising is that he's played 33 games so far this year. Good for him.
- Victoro311

I was thinking the exact same thing.

I was thinking the exact same thing.
- madmike71

And I looked it up and it seems like he missed the games he did due to being scratched, not an injury. Obviously being scratched is no fun, but glad he's having a healthy year. Injuries may have completely derailed his career, but if he can stay healthy, maybe he can keep finding paychecks in the NHL.

And I looked it up and it seems like he missed the games he did due to being scratched, not an injury. Obviously being scratched is no fun, but glad he's having a healthy year. Injuries may have completely derailed his career, but if he can stay healthy, maybe he can keep finding paychecks in the NHL.
- Victoro311

Cordell did a little piece on Bennett. Basically said he's not a points magnet, but his line is usually respectable. It seems he's never going to amount to much. Probably get a couple more years as fringe NHL'r before ending up in the AHL or another league. Maybe out of hockey all together.

Cordell did a little piece on Bennett. Basically said he's not a points magnet, but his line is usually respectable. It seems he's never going to amount to much. Probably get a couple more years as fringe NHL'r before ending up in the AHL or another league. Maybe out of hockey all together.
- madmike71

Hey, that'd be good enough for me if I were him.

Feel bad for the guy. Seemed like he could be good the first few years and injuries always hit him. By 2015 it was over for him, though. Completely zapped and never got a chance to develop. Some guys just don't have the body. Greg Oden could have been a Hall of Famer...

F 8 pm startz

Hey, that'd be good enough for me if I were him.

Feel bad for the guy. Seemed like he could be good the first few years and injuries always hit him. By 2015 it was over for him, though. Completely zapped and never got a chance to develop. Some guys just don't have the body. Greg Oden could have been a Hall of Famer...
- Victoro311

He seems like a really good guy too. Good teammate. Ruth says he was rushed....which I agree with. You have to wonder if he were given more time for his body to mature if that would have made a difference.

He seems like a really good guy too. Good teammate. Ruth says he was rushed....which I agree with. You have to wonder if he were given more time for his body to mature if that would have made a difference.
- madmike71

I don't know about rushed. I think by the time he got his call up, he was ready for the show from a talent level. He's had injury problems his entire career. His body was never gonna hold up.

I don't know about rushed. I think by the time he got his call up, he was ready for the show from a talent level. He's had injury problems his entire career. His body was never gonna hold up.
- Victoro311

I'm not saying he didn't have the talent to be an NHL player, I'm saying he wasn't in a man's body when he first got here. I don't think his body was ready for the abuse that you get playing in the NHL.

I remember reading he had a pretty slight build. Yohe made a comment that he finally looked like he finally put on serious muscle last year.

Cullen and Cole score.. 5 bucks

Well that didn't take long

well that didn't take long