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 861 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 1,566 points (861 goals, 705 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 eighth goal of the season in a 3-2 win against the Nashville Predators on Nov. 6. 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 55 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.
Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is on the verge of making history in the NHL as he continues to close in on Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record. Ovechkin, who currently sits at 33 goals away from tying Gretzky’s record of 894 career goals, has been a dominant force in the league for over a decade.
Ovechkin, known for his powerful shot and scoring prowess, has consistently been one of the top goal scorers in the NHL since entering the league in 2005. The Russian forward has won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, awarded to the league’s top goal scorer, a record nine times and has been named to the NHL All-Star team multiple times.
At 35 years old, Ovechkin shows no signs of slowing down as he continues to light up the scoreboard for the Capitals. In the shortened 2020-2021 season, Ovechkin scored 24 goals in just 45 games, putting him on pace to reach Gretzky’s record in the near future.
If Ovechkin is able to maintain his scoring pace and stay healthy, he could potentially break Gretzky’s record within the next few seasons. The hockey world is eagerly watching as Ovechkin inches closer to making history and solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest goal scorers of all time.
As Ovechkin continues his pursuit of Gretzky’s record, fans and analysts alike are marveling at his incredible talent and dedication to the game. Whether or not he is able to surpass Gretzky’s record remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain – Ovechkin’s progress towards tying the record is a remarkable feat that will be remembered for years to come.
