Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The season is still young, but Alexander Ovechkin looks to be in prime form so far through the 2024-25 calendar in the NHL. He’s managed to pot 13 goals and 23 points through the first 17 games of the season, one of his best starts to an NHL calendar in years.
Most of the hockey community welcomes this renewed push in production, as the Great 8 continues his question to eclipse Wayne Gretzky’s goal record, which currently sits at 894 goals.
After a notable production dip last season, the future Hall of Famer is well on his way to achieving greatness. In a candid interview with RG, recently inducted Hockey Hall of Famer great, Jeremy Roenick was adamant that the NHL is witnessing the greatest goal-scorer in the history of the NHL finishing his story.
“He's a freak of nature,” said Roenick as he attempted to explain Ovechkin’s career longevity.
And it is true. Not only was Ovechkin able to score 50 goals or more in seasons where the average goals-per-game were the lowest in decades, but he was able to do it relatively unscathed from injury.
“He's done things that are just absolutely unmatched in terms of goal scoring,” said Roenick regarding Ovechkin’s incredible scoring run throughout his career.
It’s an interesting viewpoint from a player who had a front-row seat to watch both players ply their craft on the ice at different points in his career.
With all the respect that Gretzky deserves as the unquestioned greatest NHL player of all time, Roenick seems convinced that we’ll finally see one of the Great One’s most impressive records be broken in the near future.
“Yes, he will absolutely [break the record],” said Roenick when asked whether Ovechkin will be able the break Gretzky’s record.
The former NHLer would know a thing or two about scoring goals; he potted 513 of his own throughout his 20-year career.
This season?
So far this season, Ovechkin has already put up 10 goals and is trending toward another 40+ goal season.
Having already amassed 866 career goals so far, Ovechkin requires another 29 goals to break Gretzky’s record.
As of right now, Ovechkin is on track to break the goal record, but it will likely come down to the wire.
“This season might be tough, but I will never say Alex Ovechkin can never do that,” said Roenick of Ovechkin’s chances.
And it is true. At 38 years of age, it’ll be difficult for Ovechkin to continue scoring at this rabid pace. But, thanks to a bolstered Washington Capitals lineup and some otherworldly chemistry setting in with Dylan Strome, it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
“The guy is the best goal-scorer I've ever seen,” said Roenick. “He's the best goal-scorer in history. And if anybody can do it, he'll do it.”
All eyes will be on Ovechkin’s performances this year, but it seems everyone, including Roenick and Gretzky himself, are hoping to see it happen before the end of the season.
The watch is on!
Igor Rabiner has written for Sport-Express, the biggest Russian sports website, since 1994. He has covered seven FIFA World Cups, seven Winter Olympics, and three Summer Olympics. He is the author of 28 books with total sales of over 500,000 copies. He won an AIPS Sport Media Award for best column and interviewed exclusively Pele, Wayne Gretzky, Franz Beckenbauer, Alex Ovechkin and many other soccer, ice hockey, and tennis superstars. From 2016 to 2021, he has regularly contributed to the Russian version of NHL.com. Has contributed to The Guardian, British soccer magazine The Blizzard, and other world publications. One of the authors of the encyclopedia 'Kings of Ice," which came out in North America in 2002. From 2013 to 2021, Rabiner was a co-owner and teacher in a private sports journalism school in Russia. He has 56,500 followers on X and over 25,000 readers on Telegram, Facebook and Instagram.
