Alex Ovechkin is just four goals away from becoming the greatest goal-scorer in NHL history, surpassing Wayne Gretzky and breaking one of his most prestigious records. Now, the Russian superstar reveals that The Great One has been in touch a lot lately—and what he told Ovi is just incredible.
When Wayne Gretzky retired, many thought his 60 NHL records would last forever. And to be fair, a lot of them still have. It’s unthinkable that anyone will ever break his points and assists records—but his record for most NHL goals won’t stand for much longer.
Ovechkin suffered a broken leg early in the 2024-25 season, but he’s still having a season for the ages. At 39 years old, he has 38 goals in 58 games and has carried the Washington Capitals to the top of the league standings.
Gretzky’s words to Alex Ovechkin
But most notably, he has been on the hunt for Gretzky’s all-time goals record, and now, with eight games left in the regular season, it seems almost inevitable that he’ll surpass The Great One. He scored career goal No. 891 on Tuesday, meaning he’s just four goals away from 895—more than anyone else has ever accomplished in the NHL.
Years ago, Ovechkin, a devoted collector of game-used sticks, received one from Gretzky himself. It was the stick The Great One used to score his 762nd NHL goal, and on it, he wrote, “To Alex. I love watching you play.”
Gretzky will likely be in attendance when Ovechkin finally breaks the record, and if we know The Great One at all, he’ll be full of encouragement. But according to Ovechkin, the two have been in regular contact, and it says a lot about Gretzky’s class and character.
“Sometimes I talk to Wayne, and he seems like a support guy for me,” Ovechkin said, per The Athletic. “Giving me advice, giving me a heads-up, (telling me to) keep it going.”
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