“I feel a thousand objectives is feasible for him, particularly after what we’ve seen tonight,” former NHL defenseman and ESPN analyst P.Okay. Subban stated this month after Ovechkin recorded a hat trick to change into simply the third participant in NHL historical past to achieve 800 objectives. “ … There’s little doubt in my thoughts that he can hit 900, however I feel a thousand is there. Why not?”
One thousand objectives is likely to be bold, however 895 is attainable for the 37-year-old Ovechkin, who handed Gordie Howe for No. 2 on the all-time listing .
Because the Nice Eight continues his pursuit of the Nice One, right here’s a have a look at a number of different data from the 4 main skilled sports activities which are thought of — or had been as soon as thought of — unbreakable.
Wayne Gretzky’s 2,857 factors
Take away his 894 objectives and Gretzky would nonetheless maintain the NHL file for factors due to his ludicrous 1,963 assists in 1,487 video games. With 1,921 factors in 246 extra video games, Jaromir Jagr is a distant second on the profession listing.
“For me, it’s like primary,” Jagr stated after passing Mark Messier for second place in December 2016. “I don’t actually matter Wayne Gretzky. He was from one other planet. I don’t assume he was from this planet. No matter he did, it’s unbreakable.”
Martin Brodeur’s 125 shutouts
For years after he retired in 1970, goaltender Terry Sawchuk’s file of 445 wins appeared untouchable. Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche nice Patrick Roy eclipsed Sawchuk’s mark in 2000, and Brodeur blew previous each of them, ending his 23-year profession in 2015 with 691 wins.
It’s Brodeur’s shutout file, although, that appears essentially the most safe. Whereas seven goalies now have extra wins than Sawchuk, Brodeur is the one one who surpassed his 103 shutouts. The following-closest energetic goalie is 38-year-old Marc-Andre Fleury with 72.
Cy Younger’s 749 full video games
Except Rob Manfred or a future commissioner shortens video games to 6 innings or robotic umpires are ultimately calling balls and strikes for robotic pitchers, nobody will problem this century-old mark. Take into account: MLB pitchers mixed for 36 full video games in 2022. Younger pitched at the very least 36 full video games in 11 of his 22 seasons, and he completed with 103 extra full video games than Pud Galvin, who’s second on the listing.
The chief in full video games amongst energetic pitchers is St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright with 28. Younger’s data for begins (815), wins (511) and losses (315) are in all probability untouchable, too.
Cal Ripken Jr.’s 2,632 consecutive video games
Lou Gehrig’s unbreakable streak of two,130 consecutive video games performed stood for 56 years earlier than Ripken broke it Sept. 6, 1995. The Iron Man performed two extra seasons with out lacking a recreation till lastly deciding it “was time” to take a day without work.
“That’s one file I do assume shall be round for a era,” then-Commissioner Bud Selig stated.
Mix the consecutive video games performed for the gamers with the third- and fourth-longest streaks (Everett Scott and Steve Garvey, respectively) and it doesn’t equal Ripken’s mark. The longest streak since Ripken’s ended belongs to Miguel Tejada, who performed in 1,152 straight video games from 2000 to 2007.
John Stockton’s 15,806 assists
Stockton led the league in assists in 9 consecutive seasons from 1987-88 to 1995-96. The Utah Jazz legend has 3,715 extra assists than Jason Kidd, who retired in 2013 second on the all-time listing. Phoenix Suns 37-year-old level guard Chris Paul, who’s No. 3, might common 10 assists per recreation over a full season for the following 5 years and nonetheless not cross Stockton. Paul is averaging 9.1 assists this season however has been restricted to 18 video games by a heel damage.
“I don’t like saying by no means, however ain’t no person catching that,” Paul stated in 2019.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 factors
Wilt Chamberlain nonetheless owns a number of unbreakable data, together with profession rebounds (23,924) and factors in a recreation (100), however Abdul-Jabbar handed him to change into the NBA’s all-time main scorer April 5, 1984, and performed 5 extra seasons.
A knee damage in Karl Malone’s age-40 season derailed his quest to interrupt Abdul-Jabbar’s file, main him to retire 1,459 factors shy of the mark in 2005. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who handed Malone in March and is averaging 27 factors in his age-38 season, is on tempo to interrupt Abdul-Jabbar’s file in February.
“To take a seat right here and to know that I’m on the verge of breaking in all probability essentially the most sought-after file within the NBA, issues that individuals say will in all probability by no means be performed, I feel it’s simply tremendous humbling for myself,” James stated in September.
Emmitt Smith’s 18,355 dashing yards
Smith ran for at the very least 1,000 yards in 11 consecutive seasons throughout his 13-year profession with the Dallas Cowboys and retired after dashing for 937 yards as a 35-year-old with the Arizona Cardinals in 2004.
“I don’t understand how lengthy it’s going to final,” Smith stated after breaking Chicago Bears legend Walter Payton’s file of 16,726 dashing yards in 2002. “The sport remains to be evolving.”
Offenses have change into rather more passing-oriented within the 20 years since, growing the chance that Smith’s file will stand for eternity.
“Nobody will ever break this file,” LaDainian Tomlinson, who retired almost 5,000 yards shy of Smith’s mark, stated this yr. “There’s not sufficient alternatives that operating backs will get.”
Jerry Rice’s 197 receiving touchdowns
As with Gretzky and Younger, Rice’s résumé consists of a number of data that may very well be thought of unbreakable, together with his 1,549 catches and 22,895 receiving yards. Even with the proliferation of passing in at present’s NFL — groups mixed for 694 passing touchdowns in 2002 and 840 final season — Rice’s landing file doesn’t determine to be surpassed anytime quickly, if ever.
Randy Moss, who broke Rice’s single-season landing file with 23 in 2007, retired 41 touchdowns shy of Rice’s profession file in 2012. Las Vegas Raiders broad receiver Davante Adams is the energetic chief with 85; Rice had 118 by the identical level in his profession.