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 there’s one more still to go that could put him in the pantheon of all-time greats.
Ovechkin is on the verge of becoming the NHL’s all-time goals leader, and he can pass Wayne Gretzky’s mark of 894 before the end of season. The Capitals standout currently has 878 career goals, so he needs to rack up 17 more goals in the team’s remaining 29 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 1,589 points (878 goals, 711 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 recorded an empty-net goal in a 6-3 win against the Florida Panthers on Feb. 4 to bring himself within 17 goals of breaking Gretzky’s record. The puck passed the goal line with 0.1 seconds left, much to the home crowd’s delight
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 star forward for the Washington Capitals, is on the verge of making history in the NHL. With 17 goals separating him from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record, Ovechkin’s progress towards this milestone has been nothing short of impressive.
Ovechkin, who was drafted first overall by the Capitals in 2004, has been a dominant force in the league since his rookie season. Known for his powerful shot and scoring ability, Ovechkin has consistently been among the league leaders in goals scored throughout his career.
As of now, Ovechkin has scored a total of 730 goals in his NHL career, putting him just 17 goals behind Gretzky’s record of 894 goals. With each goal he scores, Ovechkin inches closer to etching his name in the history books as the all-time leading goal scorer in NHL history.
Despite being in his late 30s, Ovechkin shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, he has continued to be a prolific goal scorer in recent seasons, averaging over 40 goals per season. His dedication to his craft, work ethic, and natural talent have all contributed to his success on the ice.
If Ovechkin is able to break Gretzky’s record, it would solidify his legacy as one of the greatest goal scorers in NHL history. It would also be a testament to his longevity and consistency as a player, as breaking such a prestigious record requires sustained excellence over a long period of time.
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 historic feat. Whether he breaks the record this season or in the seasons to come, one thing is for certain – Ovechkin’s impact on the game of hockey will be remembered for generations to come.
