Wayne Gretzky once predicted Alex Ovechkin could break his all-time NHL goal record, and it's closer than ever

Wayne Gretzky, widely regarded as the greatest hockey player of all time, holds the NHL's all-time goal record with 894 career goals. However, one man has been closing in on that historic milestone—Alex Ovechkin. With 889 goals to his name, Ovechkin is now just six goals away from making history.


Back in 2016, when Alex Ovechkin had 505 career goals, Wayne Gretzky acknowledged the possibility of him surpassing the 894-goal mark. In an interview with NHL.com, Gretzky discussed how difficult the second half of a player’s goal total can be due to the physical toll of the game:
"I don't mean this to sound egotistical, but the first 500 are the easy ones; it's the next 500, when you're getting a little bit older and your body is a little bit worn down, the travel and physical part of the game catches up to you," Wayne Gretzky said.
At that time, many questioned whether Ovechkin could sustain his goal-scoring prowess into his late 30s. However, Gretzky noted that Ovechkin possessed one critical factor necessary for breaking the record—his relentless passion for scoring goals.
"He's got the one thing that you've got to have to get to 894—you've got to have a passion for scoring goals. He has that passion for scoring goals. People don't realize, even as good as you are, you've got to get to those dirty areas, and that's how you're going to score goals, and he does that."

Now, in March 2025, Wayne Gretzky’s prediction looks closer than ever to becoming reality. Ovechkin scored his 889th career goal on March 25, 2025, in a matchup against the Winnipeg Jets. Late in the third period, he received a pass from Aliaksei Protas and delivered a swift wrist shot past Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck to tie the game 2-2. Although the Capitals eventually lost in overtime, Ovechkin's goal added another chapter to his historic chase.

Despite being 39 years old, Ovechkin continues to find the back of the net with remarkable consistency. With 36 goals already this season, including two hat tricks, his elite scoring ability remains intact. As Gretzky had predicted years ago, Ovechkin’s sustained pace is the key to his record-breaking potential:
"If he can sustain his pace, there's no question in my mind that he has the ability and the talent and the work ethic to be able to do it. And if he does it, I'll be the first guy there to shake his hand. If there is one guy out there that can do it, there's no question it's him. Records are made to be broken."
With only six goals separating Ovechkin from tying Gretzky’s record, every game he plays now carries monumental significance. The anticipation among fans and analysts has reached an all-time high, as Ovechkin inches closer to rewriting NHL history.
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Once thought unbreakable, Gretzky’s record is now within reach. Whether it happens in the next few weeks or later this season, the hockey world is on the edge of its seat, waiting for the moment Alex Ovechkin cements his legacy as the NHL’s greatest goal scorer.