The Gr8 Chase Is Back On. Ovechkin Is Now Just 290 Hits Away From Being The NHL's All-Time Hit Leader
Wayne Gretzky will always be the greatest hockey player to ever live. There's no question about that. If you want to talk about the most complete player ever in regards to offensive skill, defensive awareness, leadership qualities, and just overall ability to win? I'd give the nod to Sidney Crosby on that one.
But there has never been a more entertaining hockey player than Alexander Ovechkin. The two major reasons why most people tune in to a hockey game is for the big time goals, and the big time hits. Ovi has already scored more goals than anybody else in NHL history, and now he has his eyes set on the hits record.
He now has 3,739 hits in his career. Cal Clutterbuck currently holds the record for most hits in a career with 4,029, so Ovi is just 290 shy. He's averaged somewhere close to 200 hits per season throughout his career so far. It would be hilarious to see him go after this record the same way he went after the goals record. Now that he already has the goals record, he doesn't even have to worry about the puck any time he touches the ice now. He can just hop over the boards, try to throw his body around a few times every shift, and try to lock up the record by the end of next season.
Hockey is a beautiful blend of grace and gore; of violence and finesse. Nobody has managed to combine those two together quite like Ovi. He's not some pretty boy who is afraid to throw his body around out there, but he's also not some mutant who plays the game like he has cinderblocks for hands and two left feet. He'll put a bunch of goals up on the scoreboard and then plant you firmly on your ass so you can look up and see them up there for yourself.
So let the countdown blog begin. 290 to go, baby. Cal Clutterbuck better be the first guy to shake Ovi's hand once he gets to 4,030.