In a moment that will go down in National Hockey League History, Alex Ovechkin finally did what once seemed impossible: he passed Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer. The crowd went wild, Ovi belly-flopped onto the ice, and the hockey world collectively lost its mind.
Prior to the fateful April 6 game, Gretzy’s record of 894 career goals stood untouched for over two decades. Most hockey fans believed it was unbeatable, that every rookie who laced up a pair of skates could only dream about one day becoming the second-best goal scorer in NHL history. But then along came Ovechkin, and he didn’t just chip away at Gretzky’s number: he chased it down with remarkable consistency. Season after season, through roster changes, rule changes, and improving goaltending, Ovi kept finding the back of the net. With each milestone goal–600, 700, 800–the record felt a little more possible.
Ovechkin was first drafted in 2005 and made his NHL debut in 2005. In his first ever game in the league, he scored two goals, immediately making a name for himself. From there, the numbers piled up: 50-goal seasons, highlight-reel goals, and eventually, leading the Capitals to a Stanley Cup victory in 2018. Through it all, Ovechkin’s innate knack for goal-scoring remained his signature. Even when teams knew exactly where he’d be–in his so-called “office” on the power play–they couldn’t stop him.
What’s made his journey even more impressive is his consistency and longevity. He’s scored 40+ goals in thirteen different seasons, even through lockouts, injuries, and pandemic-shortened seasons. He’s 39 now and still plays with the same ferocity he had at 25. This season, after breaking his leg in November, he came back strong, proving that age and injury couldn’t slow him down for long.
Beyond the statistics, Ovechkin has been the heart and soul of the Capitals for nearly two decades. He made D.C. a hockey city. When the team struggled in his early years, he gave fans something to cheer for. And when they finally lifted the Stanley Cup, nobody was happier than number 8.
So, does breaking the record make Ovechkin the greatest hockey player of all time, or simply the greatest goal scorer? The answer likely depends on what aspects of the game you value the most. Gretzky still holds the all-time points record, bolstered by an unmatched 1,963 assists, and Ovechkin’s assist total is far lower at 724. He may not dominate every part of the game in the way Gretzky did, but his sheer ability to score goals is unmatched. In an era defined by stronger defenses and better goaltending, his ability to score is unrivaled. As for whether his record will be broken, most believe it’s unlikely, at least in our lifetime. There is some talk about Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs as a potential challenger, but even he would need to sustain an extraordinary level of scoring consistency and health to come close. Right now, Ovechkin’s mark feels like a benchmark that won’t be easily surpassed, if at all.