Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is one of the most heralded players in NHL history. The legendary forward already has a ton of records on the NHL history books, but he’s still chasing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record.
Ovechkin is on the verge of becoming the NHL’s all-time goals leader, and he can pass Gretzky’s mark of 894 before the end of season. The Capitals standout currently has 879 career goals, so he needs to rack up 16 more goals in the team’s remaining 27 games in order to top Gretzky’s record this season.
The 2023-24 campaign proved to be a mortal one for Ovechkin where scored 31 goals, his lowest total in a full-length season since he netted 32 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 1,593 points (879 goals, 714 assists) in his professional career. He made even more history in 2023-24 when he registered an NHL record 18th 30-goal season, passing Mike Gartner’s 17 for the honor.
Ovechkin found the back of the net against the Philadelphia Flyers on Feb. 6 to bring himself within 16 goals of passing Gretzky’s all-time goals record.
At this season’s pace, given health, Ovechkin would surpass “The Great One” before the end of the regular season.
Ovechkin will likely continue to be an established force on the Capitals’ top power-play unit, so there figures to be plenty of goal-scoring opportunities. He, obviously, has gotten off to a much hotter start than he did a year ago 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 season and keep tabs on how close he is to eclipsing Gretzky’s all-time record.
Alex Ovechkin, the Russian-born superstar of the Washington Capitals, has been making waves in the NHL with his incredible goal-scoring abilities. With each passing season, Ovechkin inches closer and closer to breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goal record of 894 goals.
Ovechkin, who was drafted first overall by the Capitals in 2004, has consistently been one of the league’s top goal scorers throughout his career. He has won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goal scorer a record nine times and has surpassed the 50-goal mark eight times in his career.
As of the 2021-2022 NHL season, Ovechkin has scored over 730 goals, putting him in striking distance of Gretzky’s record. At 36 years old, Ovechkin shows no signs of slowing down and continues to be a dominant force on the ice.
Many hockey fans and analysts believe that Ovechkin has a legitimate shot at breaking Gretzky’s record. His scoring prowess, durability, and consistency make him a strong candidate to surpass the Great One’s milestone.
However, there are also factors working against Ovechkin. As he gets older, injuries and wear and tear on his body could potentially slow him down. Additionally, the NHL has become a more competitive league over the years, making it harder for players to maintain high goal-scoring numbers.
Despite these challenges, Ovechkin remains focused on his goal of breaking Gretzky’s record. He continues to train hard, stay in top physical condition, and work on his craft to ensure that he remains a dominant force on the ice.
If Ovechkin does break Gretzky’s record, it would solidify his legacy as one of the greatest goal scorers in NHL history. It would be a remarkable achievement and a testament to Ovechkin’s skill, dedication, and passion for the game of hockey.
Only time will tell if Ovechkin can surpass Gretzky’s record, but one thing is for certain – he will continue to give it his all and leave everything on the ice in pursuit of hockey greatness.
