Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is closing in on being one of the most accomplished players in NHL history.
As the 2024-25 season gets underway, Ovechkin is on the verge of becoming the NHL’s all-time goals leader. Ovechkin comes into the year with a chance to surpass Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record (894) during the 2024-25 regular season. The Capitals standout currently has 854 career goals, so he would need to rack up 41 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 1,554 points (854 goals, 700 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 first goal of the 2024-25 season in a 6-5 overtime win against the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 19. The Capitals star has tallied at least one point in three of the team’s first four games of the season.
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 Russian-born superstar of the Washington Capitals, is inching closer to one of the most prestigious records in all of hockey. With 40 goals separating him from tying Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record of 894, Ovechkin’s pursuit of this milestone has captivated fans and analysts alike.
Ovechkin, known for his lethal shot and physical style of play, has been a dominant force in the NHL since he entered the league in 2005. He has consistently been one of the league’s top goal scorers, winning 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 durability and consistency have been key factors in his success, as he has played in over 1,100 games in his career without any major injuries.
If Ovechkin does indeed break Gretzky’s record, it would solidify his legacy as one of the greatest goal scorers in NHL history. Gretzky’s record has stood for over two decades, and many believed it would never be surpassed. However, Ovechkin’s relentless scoring ability and longevity have put him in a position to make history.
As Ovechkin continues his pursuit of Gretzky’s record, hockey fans around the world will be watching closely to see if he can achieve this monumental feat. Whether or not he reaches this milestone, Ovechkin’s impact on the game of hockey is undeniable, and his place among the all-time greats is already secure.
