“I think a thousand goals is possible for him, especially after what we saw tonight,” former NHL defenseman and ESPN analyst PK Subban said this month. After Ovechkin scored a hat trick He became the third player in NHL history to reach 800 goals. “… There is no doubt in my mind that he can hit 900, but I think a thousand. Why not?”
A thousand goals may be ambitious, but the 37-year-old Ovechkin could reach 895, passing Gordy Howe for No. 2 on the all-time list.
As the Great Eight follows the Great One, here’s a look at several records from four major professional sports that are considered – or were once considered – unbreakable.
Wayne Gretzky’s 2,857 points
Take away his 894 goals and Gretzky would still have it NHL record for points Thanks to his ridiculous 1,963 assists in 1,487 games. And with 1,921 points in 246 games, Jaromir Jagr is second on the career scoring list.
“For me, it’s like number one.” Jagger said After finishing second behind Mark Messier in December 2016. “I don’t really count Wayne Gretzky. He is from another planet. I don’t think he belongs on this planet. Whatever he does is unbreakable.
Martin Brodeur’s 125 shutouts
For years after his retirement in 1970, goaltender Terry Sawchuk’s record of 445 hits seemed untouchable. Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche great Patrick Roy surpassed Savchuk’s mark in 2000, and Brodeur passed both in 2015 to finish his 23-year career with 691 wins.
It’s Brodeur’s shutout record, though, which looks pretty safe. There are currently seven goalies More hits than Sawchuk, only Brodeur surpassed his 103 shutouts. The next closest active goalie is 38-year-old Marc-Andre Fleury with 72.
Cy Young’s 749 Complete Games
Until Rob Manfred or a future commissioner shortens games to six innings or robot umpires call balls and strikes to robot pitchers, no one will challenge this century-old mark. Consider: MLB pitchers combined for 36 complete games in 2022. Young pitched at least 36 complete games in 11 of his 22 seasons, and he finished 103 more than Bud Calvin, who is second on the list.
Leader in Complete games between active pitchers St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright is 28. Even Young’s records for starts (815), wins (511) and losses (315) are untouchable.
Cal Ripken Jr.’s 2,632 consecutive games
Lou Gehrig’s unbroken streak of 2,130 games preceded Ripken by 56 years. He broke it on September 6, 1995. Iron Man went undefeated for two more seasons until the end Deciding it’s “time”. To take a day off.
“I think it will be for a generation,” then-Commissioner Bud Selig said.
Combine consecutive games played for players The third and fourth longitudinal lines (Everett Scott and Steve Garvey, respectively) and it doesn’t equal Ripken’s mark. Miguel Tejada has the longest hitting streak since Ripken ended, hitting 1,152 straight games from 2000 to 2007.
John Stockton’s 15,806 assists
Stockton led the league in hitting for nine consecutive seasons from 1987-88 to 1995-96. The Utah Jazz have 3,715 more assists than Jazz legend Jason Kidd, who retired in 2013 for second on the all-time list. Phoenix Suns 37-year-old point guard Chris Paul, the No. 3, who could average 10 assists per game over a full season for the next five years, still not surpassing Stockton. Paul is averaging 9.1 assists this season, but has been limited to 18 games by a heel injury.
“I never like to say it, but nobody catches it” Paul said In 2019.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 points
Wilt Chamberlain still holds many unbroken records, including career rebounds (23,924) and points in a game (100), before Abdul-Jabbar passed him to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer on April 5, 1984, playing five more seasons.
A knee injury during Karl Malone’s age-40 season derailed his quest to surpass Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record, leading to his retirement in 2005 with 1,459 points. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James surpassed Malone in March, averaging 27 points. In his age-38 season, he is on pace to surpass Abdul-Jabbar’s feat in February.
“To sit here and know that I’m on the verge of breaking the most sought-after record in the NBA, things that people say will never be done, I think it’s very humbling for me.” James said In September.
Emmitt Smith’s 18,355 rushing yards
Smith ran At least 1,000 yards in 11 consecutive seasons During his 13-year career with the Dallas Cowboys, he retired with 937 yards rushing as a 35-year-old in 2004 with the Arizona Cardinals.
“I don’t know how long it’s going to last,” Smith said after surpassing Chicago Bears legend Walter Payton’s record of 16,726 rushing yards in 2002. “The game is still evolving.”
Offenses have become more pass-oriented over the past 20 years, increasing the likelihood that Smith’s accomplishment will stand forever.
No one will beat this record. said LaDainian Tomlinson, who retired nearly 5,000 yards short of Smith’s mark. This year. “There aren’t enough opportunities for running backs.”
Jerry Rice’s 197 receiving touchdowns
Like Gretzky and Young, Rice’s resume includes a number of records considered unbreakable, including his 1,549 catches and 22,895 receiving yards. Even with the passing profusion in today’s NFL — 694 passing touchdowns in 2002 and 840 last season — it doesn’t look like Rice’s touchdown record will be surpassed anytime soon.
Randy Moss, who broke Rice’s single-season touchdown record with 23 in 2007, retired in 2012 41 touchdowns shy of Rice’s career record. Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams Executive Chairman with 85; Rice had 118 at the same point in his career.
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