The rest of the world used to say American sport was insular, neither looking nor looked at from outside the nation’s borders. OK so we’d still argue the point about the World Series being something of a misnomer, but in general, how times have changed. We’ve got NFL games being played at Wembley Stadium and as for the hockey – well a guy from the Czech Republic is in the process of rewriting the NHL record books.
The Capitals’ victory over Calgary on 9 March hit the headlines not for the overall result but for Alex Ovechkin’s second goal of the game, which saw him draw level with Jaromir Jagr to become the joint third-highest goal scorer in NHL history. But Jagr himself is certain that the Ovechkin steamroller will keep on rolling until the top spot is secured.
An unstoppable force
There are all sorts of NHL betting options available to punters these days, and Ovechkin beating the great Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 is one that’s getting more and more attention. Jagr believes it is money in the bank and told NHL.com this week that the record is there for the taking, saying “he cannot be stopped if he wants it.”
Jagr accumulated his 766 goals in a remarkable 24-year NHL career, and still plays professional hockey for HC Kladno, despite recently celebrating his 50th birthday. Ovechkin is remarkable for having reached the same tally in just his 17th season, and at 36, he clearly has plenty more in the tank. Indeed, when he signed a five year contract extension last year, he acknowledged that overhauling Gretzky’s record was part of his thinking.
Constantly improving
Jagr and Ovechkin have more than Czech heritage in common. They are also both players who are constantly looking to improve, and for whom years mean only experience. Jagr made his NHL debut in 1990, when Ovechkin was just four years old, so has transformed from childhood hero to role model and mentor over the years.
Ovechkin describes Jagr as a man who was “great for the game” and says he admired the way he “always tried to figure out how he can be better.” Ovechkin took inspiration from that when he had a lean spell on the goal scoring front in the 2016-17 season, scooring just 33 after three 50-goal seasons on the spin. An off season dedicated to improving speed and personal fitness saw his goal scoring return to its peak and he’s never looked back.
Toppling a legend
Ovechkin’s next target will be Gordie Howe, who scored 801 goals and is second from top, but it is Gretzky’s record that everyone will have half an eye on. His is a record that has stood since the 1990s, but barring injury or some other disaster, it is hard to argue with Jagr’s view. The real question is just how far into the 900s Ovechkin will be able to take his goal tally before he decides enough is enough.
