Washington Capitals star forward Alexander Ovechkin, “The Great Eight,” is 27 goals away from breaking the all-time goal record currently held by hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. Many hockey fans consider Ovechkin to be the greatest goal scorer in NHL history. And to start the 2024-2025 season, Ovechkin sure is on track to clinch that title. Despite Ovechkin now being 39 years old and now being sidelined with a fractured fibula, The Great Eight has shown zero intention of slowing down.
The Russian Machine is displaying a fountain of youth in his play as he continues to take the league by storm, at one point leading the NHL in goals scored (15) through the first eighteen games of the season.
”I think (Ovechkin) had an excellent start so far. I think the team being more talented this year than it was last year has led Ovechkin into scoring at a high rate,” senior Liam Mannle said.
To understand how Ovechkin attained this level of greatness, we must look back at the factors that shaped his career.
Ovechkin has notched 40-plus goals in 13 out of his 20 seasons played, which is the most in NHL history. He has also tallied nine “Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard” Trophies, awarded each year to the league’s top goal scorer during the regular season. Tacking along to his incredible resume, Ovechkin has three Hart Memorial trophies (Most Valuable Player award), one Art Ross Trophy (Player with the most points at the end of the regular season) and most importantly, one Stanley Cup victory from 2018.
Throughout sports history, certain players have carved their legacy with signature moves that embody their greatness – such as Allen Iverson’s showstopping crossover or Dirk Nowitzki’s practically unstoppable one-legged fadeaway.
For Ovechkin, nobody can stop him in his “office.” Located near the top of the left faceoff circle, Ovechkin recurringly sets up his iconic one-timer that has notched him around two-thirds of his total goal count.
And with Ovechkin now having spent twenty years as a Washington Capital, DC hockey fans have taken inspiration from growing up watching him dominate the ice.
“It’s been really cool to watch him since I was little and see how far he’s come, especially as he approaches this record. Some of the most memorable moments were his goal, in which he slid on the ground and backhanded the puck into the net. And, of course, when the Capitals won the Stanley Cup,” senior Maddie Elgin said.
Unfortunately, after this unbelievable start to the season for Ovechkin, he suffered a fractured fibula on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The update on his injury was announced Thursday, Nov. 21, by the team, stating that the future Hall of Famer is expected to be out four to six weeks.
“We’re all sad,” Capitals defenseman John Carlson said to NHL.com writer Tom Gulitti. “We’re all hoping for the quickest recovery from him. He was a huge part in our success this year [and] going forward too. But he’ll be back.”.
Ovechkin has had his fair share of injuries throughout his career, along with the Sep 16, 2004- Jul 22, 2005 NHL lockout season. You have to wonder if this chase would already be concluded, with the consensus being Ovechkin is the greatest scorer of all time.
“Honestly, I think he (Ovechkin) would have easily passed Gretzky and become the greatest scorer of all time if not for some absences in his career. If you look at the player comparison of the Gretzky era and his era, the players nowadays are clearly at higher levels of skill than they were back then, ” senior Joshua Koenick said.
As Ovechkin continues his relentless pursuit of Gretzky’s all-time goal record, his remarkable journey is a testament to resilience, skill, and his immense passion for the game. At the ripe age of thirty-nine, the clock is ticking quickly on the remainder of his NHL career, but Ovechkin’s unwavering drive keeps what was once a dream an achievable reality. Whether or not he does indeed hit this mark, the future Hall of Famer’s legacy as one of hockey’s greatest will forever be cemented.
