In Red Wings Land
Taking Flight – Powering Forward
Givani Smith has been writing a blog for NHL.com. This entry discusses his off-season. It’s a good read, and it looks like he has a good attitude for where he is in his career.
If it doesn’t happen out of camp, if I go back to Grand Rapids this season, first I want to dominate the AHL, I want to be playing the best hockey I can because I know what I’m capable of doing now in this league (AHL). I’ve got goals I want to accomplish. If I just so happen to get called up, I’ll be really excited because that’s something I’ve always wanted to do, play an NHL game, play in the NHL. It’s not a sprint for me. I’ve known since I was drafted I would have to go through my development to get to the NHL. It’s a very tough league to make it and not many guys are fortunate enough to play in the NHL. So, I’ve always known what I have to do and I knew I had to go to Grand Rapids and get better and learn a few things. Like my brother (Gemel) before, he’s been in the league and he’s told me things I have to do and things that I would need to work on to be an everyday NHL player. That’s what I want to be.
Also:
Red Wings center Dylan Larkin is getting the Funko Pop! treatment in the upcoming NHL release. pic.twitter.com/j9D34ZZSO6
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) August 9, 2019
I guess I’ll have to break out the white paint to put a C on his jersey myself…
Around the NHL
Ovechkin not ready to discuss retirement, focused on season with Capitals
Alex Ovechkin said he doesn’t want to talk about speculation he might retire when his contract with the Washington Capitals expires following the 2020-21 NHL season.
“We will talk about that after two years,” the Capitals captain told NHL.com on Thursday in a telephone interview from Beijing, where he was wrapping up a trip as an NHL ambassador promoting the growth of the game in China.
It’s going to be really interesting to see where Ovechkin ends up on the all-time goal scoring list. Right now, he’s at 658, in 13th place all-time, 10 behind Red Wings legend Luc Robitaille. If he hits 60 total for the next two seasons, he will pass Phil Esposito for 6th.
Considering his last three seasons, he scored 51 (last season), 49, and 33 goals, it’s not hard to see him hitting 80 or 90 total for the next two seasons. 80 would put him in 5th, 3 behind Brett Hull. 90 would obviously pass Hull and leave him 18 behind Jaromir Jagr for 3rd overall.
If you’re wondering if he has a chance to catch Gretzky, the answer is yes, but it’s likely a long shot. He’s currently 236 goals behind The Great One, but he’s scored at least 49 goals in 5 of the last 6 seasons. It would take a lot of things to break his way, but it’s possible, even though it’s unlikely.
I’m going to guess that he ends up passing Jagr and finishes his career in third. Where do you think he ends up?
Speaking of Gretzky…
There was no shortage of memorable moments in The Great One’s career. See how much you know about #99.
