Ovechkin breaks the NHL all-time goal record

Photo courtesy of All-Pro Reels / Wikimedia Commons

Washington Capitals left-wing Alex Ovechkin has officially passed Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, capping off a legendary moment with a signature one-timer.

A record once hailed as “one of the most unbreakable in sports” has been surpassed by none other than legendary Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin. In a game this past Sunday, Apr. 4, against the New York Islanders, Ovechkin received a cross-ice pass from long-time teammate and right-wing Tom Wilson, and with a signature one-timer, he sealed his name in the history books. 

The National Hockey League (NHL) all-time goals record was one that many thought to be untouchable after center Wayne Gretzky took the crown from right-wing Gordie Howe in 1994. No player in recent history has even come close to touching Gretzky’s number, except for Ovechkin. He has spent the past couple of seasons just within reach of it, compiling 115 goals in his last three seasons to achieve it— an insane number. 

To put this feat into perspective, it took Ovechkin 1,487 games to score 895 career goals, while Gretzky scored 894 goals in 1,487 games. Another noteworthy accomplishment is that Ovechkin broke the record despite a broken leg in mid-November, which led to him missing a month of gameplay.

Drawing comparisons between these two athletes and their careers feels unfair; both have achieved greatness in their own right. Although Ovechkin, in my opinion, has had one hell of a career and is still going. By the end of Gretzky’s career, his goal production had a significant drop-off; he fell short of the 30-goal mark in each of his final five NHL seasons. On the other hand, Ovechkin has surpassed that milestone in every professional season, with the lone exception being the COVID-19-shortened 2020–21 campaign. 

Additionally, Gretzky recorded just nine goals in his final professional season in 1998–99. Even at 39 years old, Ovechkin remains one of the NHL’s most dangerous goal scorers, notching his fourteenth 40-goal season during the 2024–25 campaign.

It is important to note, however, that the game of hockey has substantially changed in the years since Gretzky played in the league. The style of play, pace, physicality, and how teams approach offense and defense have all undergone major shifts. Also, advances in training and analytics have transformed how players prepare and perform. So, is the comparison of Gretzky and Ovechkin completely fair? No, but their achievements are remarkable within the context of their respective eras.

After Ovechkin’s goal, the game stopped for an on-ice ceremony. Gary Bettman, the NHL Commissioner, presented Ovechkin with a commemorative painting by artist Tony Harris. The painting features an image of Ovechkin lifting the Stanley Cup after the Capitals won it in 2018 in the background, with another image of Ovechkin in the foreground taking one of his signature slapshots, which just so happened to be the type of shot he took to break the record.

During the ceremony, Gretzky said, “They say records are meant to be broken, but I'm not sure who's going to get more goals than that… Alex, I said I'd be the first guy to shake your hand when you broke the record.” Gretzky’s wife, Janet Jones, presented a gift to Ovechkin’s wife, Anastasia “Nastya” Shubskaya, just as Colleen Howe did when Gretzky surpassed her husband’s record.

Ovechkin took Gretzky's microphone and thanked his teammates, his wife, his two sons, and his mother. He said, “Like I always said all the time, it's a team sport. And without my boys, the whole organization, the fans, the trainers, coaches… I would never stand there and obviously, I would never pass The Great One. So, fellas, thank you so much. I love you so much… We did it, boys. We did it.”

 In an era where the game continues to evolve and younger stars rise through the ranks, Ovechkin remains a force to be reckoned with. One thing is clear: whether you call him “Ovi,” “The Great Eight,” or now, the greatest goal scorer of all time, Alex Ovechkin has forever changed the game of hockey!