The letter “G” was prominent in the recent feel-good drama surrounding Alexander Ovechkin’s chase for the all-time NHL goals record.
>G for Gretzky.
>G for Great One.
>G for the Good of the Game.
>And “G” for “Gracious.”
It’s the way Wayne Gretzky so graciously congratulated Ovechkin on his 895th goal which is what captivated the hearts of hockey fans across North America and around the world.
And although it’s a much lesser known record, former Flyer left wing Brian Propp is still quite proud of being the all-time leader for points by a left wing in Stanley Cup play.
Just like Gretzky, Propp is ready to move over for someone who has been so committed to the game of hockey.
Propp’s mark of 148 points in 160 postseason games with the Flyers, Boston and Minnesota has stood up for more than 30 years.
But that distinction might be coming to a rapid close.
Ovechkin will lead the Eastern Conference champion Washington Capitals into the playoffs with 141 career postseason points (in 151 games) and the 39-year-old superstar can probably catch Propp with just a half-decent first round.
“I love Ovechkin, it (breaking the left wing point record) would be great for the game,” Propp said in a telephone interview. Then he added with a chuckle: “But I don’t know how many people really know that record.”
Propp stands 32nd on the all-time points list for all players and accumulated more combined goals and assists than such immortals as Bobby Hull, Guy Lafleur and Phil Esposito.
In addition, Propp was voted the MasterCard All-Time Greatest Left-Winger in Canadian junior hockey history in 1999, joining Mario Lemieux and Lafleur up front along with Bobby Orr and Denis Potvin on defense and former Flyer Bernie Parent in goal.
“I’ll be honored for Ovechkin to break my record, he’s one of the greatest players of all time,” Propp said.
The Saskatchewan, Canada native did go to the Stanley Cup Finals five times (three with the Flyers, one each with Boston and Minnesota) and while he never won the ultimate prize, he showed he was a clutch player in those quests.
In fact, his 28 points in the Flyers’ road to the 1987 Finals stood up as the team’s record until Danny Briere finally surpassed that mark with 30 in the Flyers’ run to the 2010 Finals.
Propp recently wrote his memoir “Angel on My Wing” (Triumph Books, 2024) about his battle to recover from a life-threatening stroke in 2015. He’s made it all the way back to the point where he can play sports such as hockey and golf proficiently once again.
Propp said he gets quite a bit of feedback about Angel on My Wing, especially from people who are involved in the stroke survivor community.
In his playing career with the Flyers, Propp competed alongside many of the scoring greats, including Bob Clarke, Bill Barber, Reggie Leach, Tim Kerr and Rick Tocchet.
“We were consistent,” Propp pointed out. “We were in the playoffs every year. I was playing with great players, there was good coaching.”
When Propp’s former Flyers teammate, Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Mark Howe, was informed of the impending record-breaker, he knew Propp would be gracious about the change in the record books.
“He’s definitely one of the best players I ever played with in my career,” Howe said. “As a defenseman, often times you get the puck and you don’t even have time to think. You need someone to be in a 10-foot area. Because that’s your only out.
“When you only have a split-second to make that play, you can tell the really good players because they would be in that hole. Brian was always there for me.”
As for the willingness to congratulate someone on breaking a personal record, Howe believes it comes natural for players such as Gretzky and Propp.
Keep in mind, Mark’s dad, Gordie (considered the greatest player of all time before Gretzky came along), once held the record at 801 goals. When Gretzky scored No. 802, Gordie was quite the gentleman about seeing his mark fall.
“Wayne always spoke highly of Dad,” Howe said. “I was texting with Wayne after the Ovechkin goal (last Sunday vs. the Islanders) and I thanked him for having Gordie’s (No. 9) lapel pin on and remembering my mom, Colleen.”
It was an emotional moment, probably similar to the one Propp will experience when Ovechkin takes his record.
“You don’t ever want to lose a record,” Howe said. “But it didn’t bother my dad one iota.”
At the end of the day, it’s all about what’s good for the game. And if two all-time elites like Gretzky and Ovechkin draw millions of eyes to TV sets, then it can only be payback for what got those players to superstardom in the first place.
Propp sees it that way and so does Howe.
Howe said: “Wayne even said in one interview that when (Ovechkin scored No. 895) the excitement level was so high, ‘I felt like I scored the goal, it was so great.’+”
Propp likely will feel that way, too, when his record is broken, even if slightly fewer fans will really appreciate that incredible accomplishment.
