Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is already 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 during the 2024-25 regular season. The Capitals standout currently has 873 career goals, so needs to rack up 22 more goals this season in order to top Gretzky’s record.
The 2023-24 campaign proved to be a mortal one for Ovechkin, who scored 31 goals last season, his lowest total in a full-length season 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 1,582 points (873 goals, 709 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 recently returned to the ice after missing over a month with a leg injury. Since his return, Ovechkin has scored five goals in five games, including a tally in Washington’s 4-1 win against the Nashville Predators on Jan. 11.
At this season’s pace, given health, Ovechkin would surpass “The Great One” before the end of the regular season. He’s already scored 20 goals this season despite missing a month due to injury.
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 22 goals separating him from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record of 894 career goals, Ovechkin’s progress is being closely monitored by fans and analysts alike.
Ovechkin, who was drafted first overall by the Capitals in 2004, has been a dominant force in the NHL 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.
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 in prime position to break Gretzky’s record in the near future.
If Ovechkin is able to maintain his scoring pace, he could potentially break Gretzky’s record as early as next season. However, injuries and other factors could impact his ability to reach this milestone.
Regardless of when Ovechkin breaks the record, it will undoubtedly be a historic moment in NHL history. Gretzky’s record has stood for over two decades, and breaking it would solidify Ovechkin’s legacy as one of the greatest goal scorers of all time.
As Ovechkin continues to chase history, fans will be eagerly watching his progress and cheering him on as he looks to etch his name into the record books.
