Alex Ovechkin appeared to see some age-related regression last season as he scored 31 goals — a career-low in a full 82-game campaign — at age 38. Yet, Ovechkin remains extremely special compared to the rest of his contemporaries in terms of his shot.
The NHL released its EDGE tracking data for the 2023-24 season and Ovechkin had the most 90-plus MPH shots among forwards last season. The Capitals’ captain had 22 more than the second-place forward, 26-year-old Tage Thompson.
The full list is as follows:
Most 90-plus MPH shots (forwards)
1. Alex Ovechkin, Washington – 68 shots
2. Tage Thompson, Buffalo – 46
3. Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay – 36
4. Mika Zibanejad, Rangers – 31
5. Frank Vatrano, Anaheim – 30
6. Yegor Chinakhov, Columbus – 29
7. JT Miller, Vancouver – 20
8. Filip Forsberg, Nashville – 16
9. Elias Pettersson, Vancouver – 15
10. Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles – 14
Per the NHL, these tracked shots include goals, shots that were saved, shots that missed the net (including posts and crossbars), and shots that were blocked. That means, after some quick math, 11.2 percent of all of Ovechkin’s shot attempts last season (605) were 90 MPH or more.
If you include all skaters, only Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard had more 90-plus MPH shots than Ovechkin with 112. Victor Hedman (67), Roman Josi (55), and Ryan Pulock (52) — all defensemen — completed the top 5.
The NHL EDGE data also says that Ovechkin had the 12th most 80-90 MPH shots among forwards with 108. His hardest shot last season was 98.40 MPH and all of his attempts averaged out to 61.93 MPH.
In an Instagram post, the NHL added that Ovechkin is tied with Hedman for the most 90-plus MPH shots since 2021-22 with 240.
While Ovechkin’s shot is elite, his top skating speed (21.69 MPH) and total speed bursts over 20 MPH (14) were below the 50th percentile in the NHL. Last season, he also only spent 38.7 percent of his time at even strength in the offensive zone, putting him below the 50th percentile there as well.
But, Ovechkin’s durability remains high; he skated 225.50 miles last season, putting him in the NHL’s 76th percentile.
