Expect to hear about several exploits over the coming days and weeks in the National Hockey League (NHL), of great players flirting with exceptional goals.
• Also read: Six goalkeepers who are causing quite a surprise this season
• Also read: A rather discreet return to the game for McDavid
• Also read: Ovechkin gets closer to Gretzky
Here are seven hockey players who will undoubtedly be talked about soon.
Sidney Crosby and the 600 Lanterns
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When we think of Sidney Crosby, the first thing that comes to mind isn’t necessarily his natural scoring talent. Number 87 is above all a complete player and one of the best leaders in the NHL.
As proof, Crosby has only exceeded the 50-goal mark once, which allowed him to win the Maurice-Richard trophy in 2009-2010. His consistency, however, allows him to quickly approach the plateau of 600 nets.
The captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins is only missing two, who could reach this plateau Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes or the next day against the Washington Capitals. Only twenty players have hit the target 600 times during their career.
Connor McDavid…already!?
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Connor McDavid is collecting points at a crazy speed, but it is still surprising to see him already within reach of 1000 points. With 992 on his record in 656 games, he could get there next week.
It wasn’t always easy for the Ontarian and his Edmonton Oilers, but his start to the season last year was also slow. A minor injury also forced him to miss three games.
A thousand points at 27 years old and during a 10th professional season is almost insane. He is already the ninth best active scorer in the NHL.
The Oilers will visit the Bell Center on November 18. We say that, we say nothing…
Patrick Kane does his show
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Like Crosby, Patrick Kane maintains an excellent cruising speed with age. It is now the plateau of 1300 points, which only 37 hockey players can boast of having reached, which is reaching out to him.
Things are going pretty well for “Showtime” with the Detroit Red Wings. Eight points in 11 games puts him eight points short of the goal. He will also be the second to achieve this this season after Evgeni Malkin.
Andrei Vasilevskiy, a winner
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A single victory: that’s all Andrei Vasilevskiy needs to become the 40th goalkeeper to win 300 times. Like McDavid, the Russian goaltender of the Tampa Bay Lightning is an exceptional talent and it took him few games (488+) to reach this important plateau.
Talented goalkeepers like Mike Richter, Tomas Vokoun or Billy Smith needed an entire career to amass 300 wins. This proves how dominant Vasilevskiy is. He will continue to climb the ranks and it is already easy to envisage 400 victories for him.
Frederik Andersen is just two wins away from 300, but the Carolina Hurricanes’ masked man is sidelined with an injury.
Two new club members?
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Playing 1,000 games in the NHL is a common feat in the NHL, but it is no less exceptional. Above all, it is the stories of resilience, of players who have overcome challenges, which add a special character to this board.
Erik Johnson (997 games) was the very first pick in the 2006 draft. Due to the bumps in his road, the 1000 games eluded him for a long time. The Philadelphia Flyers defenseman, a good 36-year-old veteran, has fought for every minute of play in recent years.
For Oliver Ekman-Larsson (996 matches), the situation is different. At 33, he will reach 1000 matches at a “more logical” age. Remember, however, that his contract was bought by the Vancouver Canucks in 2023. The Swede had to prove himself again by winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers before landing a nice pact with the Toronto Maple Leafs this year.
Little by little for Suzuki
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At only 25 years old, Nick Suzuki is already the second highest active scorer for the Montreal Canadiens. He is only one point away from the 300 mark, and that’s in just 386 duels.
We can see him quickly catching up with Brendan Gallagher (432) at the top in this category. Let’s say that at the rate of one point per game at which he is sailing this season, he too will quickly climb in the CH all-time rankings.
