Just wanted to share results of a recent players poll because I think the linked question is interesting.



Largely, players do want Ovi to break Gretzky’s all time goals record. I know that wasn’t the question - I took that to be moreso asking about fans. But I think fans are largely feeling the same as the players, except for maybe older Oilers fans, people who are really into the Canada/Russia hockey rivalry, or people who take offense at Ovi’s outspoken support of Putin.

The comments on the player poll largely indicate that players think it would be cool for Ovi to break the record. Gretzky still has and may always have the all-time points record and Ovi breaking the goal record does nothing to diminish Gretzky’s standing as a greater player than Ovi and according to most the greatest player ever.

Ovi has generally been popular his whole career, perhaps with Pittsburgh being the lone exception. He came into the league with tons of energy, just a kid who liked to race around the ice throwing big body checks and scoring highlight goals, with some great enthusiastic celebrations. It helps that he went a long time with no playoff success, so his Caps don’t have the hatred that the Penguins or Blackhawks of the same era had. When they won the Cup he was a sympathetic figure, the Old Guy Without A Cup that everyone was cheering for.