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Capitals: Alex Ovechkin’s road to 700 goals

By Michael Marzzacco

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 16: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals prepares to throw a puck to a fan after the Capitals defeated the New Jersey Devils 5-2 at Capital One Arena on January 16, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 16: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals prepares to throw a puck to a fan after the Capitals defeated the New Jersey Devils 5-2 at Capital One Arena on January 16, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Washington Capitals goalie Olaf Kolzig and Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Ovechkin celebrate after defeating the Florida Panthers to clinch the Southeast Division title on April 5, 2008.
Washington Capitals goalie Olaf Kolzig and Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Ovechkin celebrate after defeating the Florida Panthers to clinch the Southeast Division title on April 5, 2008. /

Ovechkin’s best season statistically speaking was in 2007-08 when he led the NHL with 65 goals on his way to his first Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP. That season saw him sign a 13 year extension worth $124 million, a mega deal that he negotiated all by himself. Very similar to Nicklas Backstrom’s contract extension a few weeks ago.

That was a magical season that saw the Capitals go from worst to first in the Southeast Division. That season saw Ovechkin notch two four-goal games, one in Ottawa on Dec. 29 and one at home against the Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 31.

Ovechkin notched another hat trick on March 3 against the Boston Bruins for his 50th, 51st and 52nd goals on the season. He reached the 60 goal plateau with two goals on March 21 against the Atlanta Thrashers to become the first NHL player to score 60 goals since Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr in 1995-96.

Four days later Ovechkin broke Dennis Maruk’s franchise record for most goals in a season. In addition to finishing with the Hart, Ovechkin also took home the Art Ross Trophy and the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy.

June 12, 2008, Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals wins the, from left to right, Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy Awarded to the top goal scorer in the regular season, Lester B. Pearson Award Awarded to the NHL’s outstanding player as selected by the members of the NHL Players Association, Hart Memorial Trophy Awarded to the league’s most valuable player and Art Ross Trophy Awarded to the player who leads the league in total points at the end of the regular season at the 2008 NHL awards at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto. Toronto Star/Steve Russell (Photo by Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
June 12, 2008, Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals wins the, from left to right, Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy Awarded to the top goal scorer in the regular season, Lester B. Pearson Award Awarded to the NHL’s outstanding player as selected by the members of the NHL Players Association, Hart Memorial Trophy Awarded to the league’s most valuable player and Art Ross Trophy Awarded to the player who leads the league in total points at the end of the regular season at the 2008 NHL awards at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto. Toronto Star/Steve Russell (Photo by Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

Ovechkin helped the Caps get back to the playoffs and turn the city into a hockey town.

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