Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is closing in on being one of the most accomplished players in NHL history. The legendary forward already has a ton of records on the NHL history books, but there’s one more still to go that could put him in the pantheon of all-time greats.
With the 2024-25 season now in progress, Ovechkin is on the verge of becoming the NHL’s all-time goals leader. Ovechkin can pass Wayne Gretzky’s mark (894) during the 2024-25 regular season. The Capitals standout currently has 860 career goals, so he would need to rack up just 34 more goals this season in order to top Gretzky’s league record.
The 2023-24 campaign proved to be a mortal one for Ovechkin, who scored 31 goals last season. Ovechkin’s 31 goals was his lowest goal-scoring total since he netted 32 goals in the 2012-13 season. Ovechkin did have just 24 goals in 2020-21, but that season was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ovechkin scored 42 goals during the 2022-23 season, and has tallied at least 41 goals in 13 of his 19 NHL seasons.
Ovechkin currently has tallied 1,564 points (860 goals, 704 assists) in his professional career. He did make even more history in 2023-24 when he registered an NHL record 18th 30-goal season as he passed Mike Gartner (17) for the honor.
Ovechkin scored his seventh goal of the season in a 4-2 loss against the Carolina Hurricanes on Nov. 3. That helped Ovechkin keep the pace he needs to catch Gretzky by the end of the regular season. Right now, Ovechkin is on pace for 52 goals, which would be enough to surpass “The Great One.”
Ovechkin will likely continue to be an established force on the Capitals’ top power-play unit, so there will be plenty of goal-scoring opportunities. He will look to get off to a hotter start than he did in 2023-24 when he recorded just five goals over the first two months of the season.
CBS Sports will keep track of Ovechkin’s goals throughout the 2024-25 season and keep tabs on how close he is to eclipsing Gretzky’s all-time record.
Alex Ovechkin, the star forward for the Washington Capitals, is making waves in the NHL as he continues his quest to tie Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record. Ovechkin currently sits just 34 goals away from reaching Gretzky’s impressive mark of 894 career goals.
Ovechkin, known for his incredible scoring ability and powerful shot, has been a dominant force in the NHL since he entered the league in 2005. The Russian-born winger has consistently been among the league leaders in goals scored and has won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goal scorer a record nine times.
At 35 years old, Ovechkin shows no signs of slowing down. In the shortened 2020-2021 season, he scored 24 goals in just 45 games, putting him on pace to reach Gretzky’s record in the near future. Ovechkin’s scoring prowess and durability have been key factors in his success, as he has remained relatively injury-free throughout his career.
If Ovechkin is able to maintain his current level of play and stay healthy, there is a good chance he will eventually surpass Gretzky’s record. However, it will not be an easy feat, as Gretzky’s mark has stood for over 20 years and is widely considered one of the most unbreakable records in sports.
Despite the challenges ahead, Ovechkin remains focused on his goal and is determined to etch his name in NHL history alongside “The Great One.” Fans and analysts alike will be eagerly watching as Ovechkin continues his pursuit of greatness, with each goal bringing him one step closer to tying Gretzky’s legendary record.
