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Wayne Gretzky vs. Alex Ovechkin: A generational battle of NHL legends

Wayne Gretzky vs. Alex Ovechkin: A generational battle of NHL legends

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 22, 2025, 20:04 IST

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Alex Ovechkin has surpassed Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL career goal mark, sparking a significant debate in hockey. However, the two players' overall statistical profiles reveal a more complex story. Gretzky has the most points achieved by the NHL's top scorer, with 2,967 points, while Ovechkin has 1,623 points. Despite Ovechkin's goal-scoring milestone, Gretzky's overall scoring, playmaking dominance, and consistent dominance over his generation still rank him at the top.

Wayne Gretzky vs. Alex Ovechkin: A generational battle of NHL legends

Wayne Gretzky and Alex Ovechkin (via Getty Images)

With Alex Ovechkin having recently gone past Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL career goal mark, fans and analysts have once again brought on one of the greatest debates in hockey: who is the NHL's greatest all-time forward? Alex Ovechkin, with 897 career tallies in 1,491 games, has now officially moved past Wayne Gretzky's formerly believed-to-be-impossible mark of 894. But if you look past goals and have a glance at their overall statistical profiles, things get much more complicated—and much less about mere numbers.

Alex Ovechkin passes Wayne Gretzky in goals, but statistics tell a tale of two careers marked by two distinct periods

Wayne Gretzky Congratulates Alex Ovechkin for Becoming NHL's All-Time Leading Goal Scorer

Wayne Gretzky has the most points achieved by the NHL's top scorer, with 2,967 points (940 goals, 2,027 assists) in 1,567 games, while Alex Ovechkin has 1,623 points (897 goals, 726 assists) in 1,491 games.
The per-game statistics say it all:

Wayne Gretzky posted 1.29 assists and 1.89 points per game.
Alex Ovechkin, being more reliant on his goal-scoring, posted 0.49 assists and 1.09 points per game.
These numbers confirm Gretzky's one-in-a-lifetime playmaking vision and production.
Even era-adjusted, Gretzky's offensive point shares (OPS: 223.9) and career point shares (PS: 251.0) are narrowly ahead of Ovechkin's OPS (180.2) and PS (213.8).

Awards and accolades: Gretzky's trophy case unmatched

Where Gretzky stands out is in the awards department:

9 Hart Trophies (MVP),
10 Art Ross Trophies (scoring title),
4 Championships
and a place in the Hall of Fame.

Ovechkin, though richly decorated, has:

3 Hart Trophies,
1 Art Ross Trophy,
1 Championship
and 9 Maurice Richard Trophies

Though Ovechkin has obviously dominated as a scorer, Gretzky's impact on the game was more comprehensive and enduring across several categories. Final verdict: greatness measured in more than goals.
Alex Ovechkin's goal-scoring milestone is historic and solidifies his position among the NHL's all-time greats. Yet, Wayne Gretzky's overall scoring, playmaking dominance, and consistent dominance over his generation arguably still rank him at the top of the NHL pantheon.
Also read: Alex Ovechkin isn’t ready to pass the torch, shuts down retirement talk - “I’m not retiring”
Ultimately, this comparison is not about declaring a victor. It's a tribute to two generational stars who redefined hockey in very different ways—Gretzky with grace and precision, Ovechkin with force and determination. One holds the points record, the other the goals record. Both are the embodiment of the entire range of offensive greatness in NHL history.

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About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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