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 can pass Wayne Gretzky’s mark (894) during the 2024-25 regular season. The Capitals standout currently has 855 career goals, so he would need to rack up 39 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 1,555 points (855 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 second goal of the 2024-25 season in a 6-3 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 23. The Capitals star has tallied a goal in two of his last three games to begin the year.
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 currently 39 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record of 894. Ovechkin, who has been a dominant force in the NHL for over a decade, has been steadily climbing the ranks of the all-time goals list and is now within striking distance of Gretzky’s record.
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. Known for his powerful shot and scoring ability, Ovechkin 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, leading the league in goals per game. With his scoring prowess and durability, Ovechkin has a legitimate chance of surpassing Gretzky’s record in the coming seasons.
Gretzky’s record has stood for over two decades, and many consider it to be one of the most unbreakable records in sports. However, Ovechkin’s consistent scoring ability and longevity in the league have put him in a position to challenge that record.
If Ovechkin is able to break Gretzky’s record, it would solidify his place as one of the greatest goal scorers in NHL history. It would be a remarkable achievement for a player who has already accomplished so much in his career.
As Ovechkin continues his pursuit of Gretzky’s record, hockey fans around the world will be watching closely to see if he can make history. With just 39 goals separating him from the all-time record, Ovechkin’s quest is sure to be one of the most exciting storylines in the NHL in the coming seasons.
