Alex Ovechkin is known as one of the best goal scorers in NHL history. But players from the past and present also agree on something else: his physical game is just as intimidating as his scoring ability.

While his scoring records grab headlines, his 3,877 career hits prove his influence goes far beyond the puck. Former teammates and opponents often recount his hits as strong, unexpected, and hard to take.

Brooks Laich, Ovie’s old teammate, remembers facing the winger in the 2013 World Championships, saying he felt his full strength in a hit and was surprised by his power.

"I remember running into him and that game and being like, 'D***, is he solid,'" Laich recalled on the latest episode of The Hockey News' That's DC Hockey podcast.

His current teammate, winger Tom Wilson, also recalled his hard-hitting style. He insists Ovechkin plays every game with rare, intense physical effort.

"He hits hard; he hits heavy. Most guys that have had the longevity and the success in their careers, they don’t play that way," he stated. "He plays every shift extremely hard.”

Ovechkin is the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, and his durability certainly plays a role in his longstanding success.

Wilson added that the 40-year-old veteran could score, pass, hit, defend himself, and handle physical play effectively on his own.

“He’d score, pass, run over guys, defend himself," he recalled. "I’ve never had to pull a fly off Ovi’s back. He can do it himself."

Another current teammate from the Capitals, winger Brandon Duhaime, hailed Ovechkin's strength and compared his physical build and hits to a train. 

"Ovi's built like a train.”

Ovechkin's style is indeed complimented by his imposing physical profile. He combines size, strength, and aggressive play to dictate games.

What Makes Alex Ovechkin So Unique in Terms of Physical Game

At 6-foot-3 and over 230 pounds, Alex Ovechkin uses his physicality to hit defenders hard and pushes them off the puck. His contact-based offense ensures opponents feel his presence on the ice, even when he is not directly involved.

"He's got 20 pounds on some of the biggest defensemen in the NHL, and he's just a bear," Laich said. "I just saw of him dispose of some of the biggest defenders in the game at will for years."

He also mixes scoring with physical contact. He does not avoid hits and often delivers body checks along the boards and in open ice. This makes him unpredictable, because opponents never know if he will shoot, pass, or hit.

Alex Ovechkin stands third in all-time hits, with only Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin having more than him. No active player boasts more hits than the Russian. 

The one-time Stanley Cup winner will become a free agent on July 1. He is in Russia and will decide whether to return to the Capitals. If he plays again, we will continue to see him brush opponents aside with his strength and tenacity.

Read more at the NHL Fan Central!

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Sijo Paul