Alex Ovechkin is a different breed of hockey player. Not only does he seem destined to go down as the greatest goal-scorer in NHL history, Ovechkin is also the unprecedented star that successfully combines high-octane offense with consistent physicality.
Rarely thought of as a power forward, Ovechkin might be the definition of what a successful power forward looks like in his era. And he’s done so while rarely missing time due to injury.
According to Big Head Hockey, Ovechkin is the only NHL player to score 40 goals and have 150 hits more than once during the last 15 years.
Ovechkin’s completed the feat 10 time while only two other forwards have done it once: Jamie Benn (2015-16) and Timo Meier (2022-23).
Everyone in the last 15 years to have 150+ hits and 40+ goals in a season:
— Alex Ovechkin (10 times)
— Jamie Benn
— Timo Meier (this year) pic.twitter.com/N3j3u0Bs8Y— Big Head Hockey (@BigHeadHcky) August 31, 2023
Somewhat incredibly, Ovechkin has hit the 40-goal, 150-hit plateau in four of the his last five seasons as he’s aged and gone into his mid and upper 30s.
Here’s the full list of years Ovechkin’s done it.
| Season | Goals | Hits |
|---|---|---|
| 2007-08 | 65 | 220 |
| 2008-09 | 56 | 243 |
| 2009-10 | 50 | 181 |
| 2013-14 | 51 | 204 |
| 2014-15 | 53 | 259 |
| 2015-16 | 50 | 225 |
| 2018-19 | 51 | 223 |
| 2019-20 | 48 | 184 |
| 2021-22 | 50 | 156 |
| 2022-23 | 42 | 188 |
Hits were first tracked in the NHL during the 2007-08, so it’s likely Ovechkin’s completed the feat in 12 of his 18 seasons pro thus far.
Ovechkin, who has 822 goals and sits 72 behind Wayne Gretzky for the NHL goals crown, already owns the record for most hits in NHL playoff history (629) and sits fourth in career hits (3,471), trailing only Cal Clutterbuck, Matt Martin, and Dustin Brown.
Headline photo: Ian Oland/RMNB
