Ovechkin within reach of all-time NHL goal record Gretzky: ‘Amazing what he’s doing’ Achi-News

Alex Ovechkin has manned the net through an astounding 19 NHL seasons.

From acrobatic, highlight-reel moments to his patented one-timer that every opponent knows is coming – but often can’t stop – the Washington Capitals’ colorful, bull-dozing winger with a unique style has succeeded.

And the 2024-25 campaign could see him eclipse a once-untouchable mark.

Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record.

“It’s pretty cool,” said longtime division rival Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby.

“Amazing what he does.”

Ovechkin is just 41 goals shy of the Big One’s tally of 894 going into the new schedule.

The 39-year-old Russian has nine separate 50-goal seasons – including the 65 he scored in 2007-08 – and has hit at least 40 a staggering 13 times.

His career has also included a 2012-13 lockout campaign and two pandemic-shortened seasons. If not for those suspensions, Ovechkin might already have surpassed Gretzky.

Washington defenseman John Carlson said even when his captain was filling the net at lightning speed, the record didn’t feel attainable.

“It never seemed like it would ever get that close,” Carlson said at the recent NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas. “It’s amazing that we’re even here. Certainly a huge player.

“It’s been fun to watch.”

Carolina Hurricanes blueliner Jaccob Slavin has battled Ovechkin throughout the years as another division foe. The superstar with 853 regular season goals to his name gave Slavin his welcome moment to the NHL as a rookie.

“It was 19 seconds in,” Slavin recalled of a particular exhibition game that etched in his memory. “I had a terrible gap, and it completely turned me inside out. Then as he passed me, I got my stick between his legs, and I tried to reach back, and I kind of corkscrewed him. He falls, shoots and scores.

“I’m just like, ‘Seriously?’ I saw him first hand.”

Ovechkin appeared to be possibly slowing down when he scored just 33 times in 2016-17, but he responded with 148 goals over the next three seasons.

He registered his ninth 50-goal game in 2021-22 and 42 the following season – when he eclipsed Gordie Howe’s 801 to move into second place behind Gretzky – before finding the back of the net 31 times last season.

Of course there’s a chance Ovechkin, who led Washington to its only Stanley Cup in 2018, won’t reach Gretzky’s mark in 2024-25.

But the league is ready if it happens.

“Some people have suggested that because Alex is in Russia this should somehow be sidelined,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said, referring to the ongoing war in Ukraine and Ovechkin’s past ties to the Russian President Vladimir Putin. “We couldn’t disagree more with that. He has been a great ambassador for our game for 20 years now. His enthusiasm for the game and his passion for the game is contagious.

“He has done a lot to raise the tide for the league and for all the players during his time. It’s definitely something we want to celebrate.”

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The league’s new generation grew up watching Ovechkin dominate. Now they get an in-depth look at its history.

“It’s a lot of goals,” said 19-year-old Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, who was born a few months before Ovechkin made his NHL debut in 2005. “Since I’ve been watching hockey, it’s been one of the more marquee boys. . Every year he seems to find a way to put it in the net.

“I don’t think it will be that long until he breaks it.”

Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston pointed out that Ovechkin has been making the most of an NHL goaltender since the now 21-year-old was in preschool.

“A really fun player to watch, how dynamic he is,” Johnston said. “A different level of me being star struck … dominating the league for (basically) my whole life.

“To be able to play against him and see him get close to that record is really cool.”

Ovechkin, in short, is approaching a high water mark that was never thought to be attainable.

“I feel pretty grateful to be a part of that,” Crosby said. “As a player, you want to compete at the highest level, and to be in that conversation with him over the years, I hope we’ve gotten the best out of each other.

“Hopefully we have a few strong years left here.”

And for Ovechkin, at least 42 more goals.

& copy 2024 The Canadian Press