After breaking Wayne Gretzky’s career goal record of 894 last season, Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin ended the 2024-25 campaign with 897. The chance to reach 900 and continue to pad his NHL goal record was on the horizon.
Ovechkin started this season quietly, with just two goals in his first 12 games. However, his 900th goal finally came on Nov. 5 against the St. Louis Blues, as he buried a spinning backhand off a rebound from the end boards past Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington.
Since then, Ovechkin has been piling up the goals again. In his past 13 games, he has nine goals and is on pace for 38 on the season.
Now in his 21st NHL season with 1,517 regular-season games under his belt as well as 161 postseason contents, Ovechkin’s list of accomplishments is one of the most impressive in NHL history.
He already holds the record for most 30-goal seasons (18) and most 40-goal seasons (14) and is tied with Gretzky and Mike Bossy for most 50-goal seasons (nine). Other than the COVID-shortened season in 2020-21, when he scored 24 goals in 45 games, Ovechkin has not had fewer than 31 goals in a full NHL season.
His current career totals are 909 goals and 739 assists for 1,648 points with 77 goals and 147 points in the playoffs.
His trophy case is also packed, with three Hart Trophies, three Lester B. Pearson/Ted Lindsay Awards, nine Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophies, one Calder Trophy and one Conn Smythe Trophy.
Ovechkin also led the Capitals to the franchise’s first-ever Stanley Cup title in 2018.
However, one of the looming questions surrounding Ovechkin is how long he will continue to play.
He is one of three 40-year-olds (alongside Colorado’s Brent Burns and Los Angeles’ Corey Perry) skating in the NHL this season and continues to produce at a high level. But Ovechkin’s contract expires at the end of the 2025-26 season.
Ovechkin said in an interview with ESPN’s Emily Kaplan at the end of October that he remains undecided about his playing future beyond this season.
“I still love the game,” Ovechkin said. “I still have passion. You just enjoy it because you never know when you’re going to get hurt or when you’re going to be retired.”
Ovechkin has seemingly been enjoying the moment this season. On the ice, the Capitals are currently third in the Metropolitan Division and have won four straight games.
After games, he has been swapping jerseys with other stars around the league. He’s exchanged sweaters with Connor McDavid, Brad Marchand, fellow countryman Evgeni Malkin and Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar, who confirmed the 2025-26 season will be his last.
One of the biggest hallmarks of Ovechkin’s career has been his ability to stay on the ice. Excluding lockouts and the COVID-19 pandemic, Ovechkin has rarely missed games throughout his NHL career. He missed 16 games last season with a broken leg, the longest he’s been out of the lineup.
Ovechkin cites his health and family as important barometers for how long he’ll continue to play.
“Most important thing is health,” said Ovechkin. “I don’t want to play hockey and then when I’m retired, I don’t want – like, I can play soccer with my kids, or I can skate with them. Right now, I’m just want to take as much energy from a crowd. You have to enjoy the moment.”
