Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin has reached an NHL record with his 929 goals and has announced he plans to retire after the 2026-27 season. The 41-year-old winger has 82 games remaining this season, beginning with a home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Sidney Crosby on Wednesday, October 7, to add to his goal total.
Ovechkin surpassed the legendary Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 goals during the 2024-25 season and became the first NHL player to hit the 900-goal mark in the following season. He has potential to break or tie additional records this year and achieve new milestones. Here’s a summary of his current records and those he continues to chase:
Records Still Pursued by Ovechkin:
- 20-goal seasons: With 21, he is just one behind Gordie Howe.
- Combined regular-season and playoff goals: At 1,006, he’s 10 goals shy of Gretzky.
- Goals at even strength: At 593, he’s 24 behind Gretzky.
- Ovechkin also needs four more assists to surpass Nicklas Backstrom’s team record of 762 helpers.
Ovechkin’s Career Achievements:
- Tied for most 50-goal seasons in NHL history with nine.
Upcoming Milestones:
- He is 12 points away from reaching 1,700 career points.
- He is 25 games from reaching 1,600 career games played.
- Needs 36 points to overtake Mario Lemieux as the ninth-highest scorer in NHL history.
- Requires 33 games to surpass Patrick Marleau’s record of 1,607 games played with a single franchise.
This information was originally reported by USA TODAY.
Fan Take: Ovechkin’s pursuit of historic records not only cements his legacy but also keeps fans on the edge of their seats as he continues to chase greatness. His career achievements serve as an inspiring reminder of consistency and excellence, elevating the sport’s profile and inspiring upcoming generations of players and fans alike.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
