They will be less inclined to do it as escrow grows.Ģ. The $83-million cap projection for 2019–20 mentioned at the recent Board of Governors’ meeting includes an “inflator” from the players. That will cause unrest and jolt the negotiation process. It’s not a huge story - mainly because fans, media, even players and executives have labour fatigue - but escrow payments jumping from 11.5 per cent to 13.5 is a problem. But we’ve learned not to bet against him. It’s a huge challenge and the odds are still against him. Ovechkin passed on that one, but that might be the key. During our pre-season interview he was asked about Roger Federer, who rededicated himself as he became a father, wanting to be competitive when his children got old enough to understand. Ovechkin’s got two more years on his contract. The biggest question might be how much longer he wants to do this. Father Time is undefeated, but when does he decide to take on Ovechkin? The most goals scored by anyone from ages 33-40 is 274 by Hall of Famer Johnny Bucyk from 1968-76. He’s 33, and the most goals scored by anyone that age or older is Jaromir Jagr’s 54 from 2005–06. He started 2018-19 287 goals behind Gretzky, averaging 47 goals per season in his career. That, as much as Ovechkin’s own talents, cracks open the door to history. In the two years since he said it was impossible, the NHL has continued to crack down on obstruction and slashing. What has changed is the league around him. He still loves scoring and what helps is the Capitals know they are good enough to repeat. Maybe I should have realized it when, told there was nothing anyone could question him about anymore, Ovechkin replied with something akin to, “No, you tell me, what is the next question?” Clearly, he believed we’d think of something. Well, he’s clearly enjoying life, but there is no relaxation. How many of us saw the hilariously crazy Stanley Cup celebrations and said, “This guy is going to relax and enjoy life”? That is ahead of his own pace from 2007–08, when he scored a career-high 65. And for all the talk this season about great young scorers such as Patrik Laine, David Pastrnak, Brayden Point and Jeff Skinner, those four wake up Tuesday morning four goals behind Ovechkin for No. It put him 12th all-time, tying him with Glenn Anderson and Rick Martin. It was the 21st hat trick of his career, a record for Russian players. Tuesday night, Ovechkin torched Detroit for a hat trick, collecting a chapeau from three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, who was at the game. “In this hockey right now, in this league, I think it’s impossible,” he said.
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