Alex Ovechkin celebrates breaking the NHL goal record with his 895th goal, surpassing Wayne Gretzky's legendary mark.
During his rookie season in 2005-06, Alex Ovechkin quickly made a name for himself by scoring 52 goals, an impressive achievement for any player. Among these, one goal stands out—the remarkable effort he displayed against the Phoenix Coyotes on January 16, 2006, known as The Goal. Ovechkin’s twisting, back-turned shot was extraordinary not only for its skill but also because it happened in front of Wayne Gretzky, then head coach of the Coyotes and widely regarded as the greatest hockey player ever. Gretzky later disclosed on the Kelce Brothers’ New Heights podcast that watching that goal made him realize Ovechkin had the potential to surpass his record.
Gretzky’s Early Recognition of Ovechkin’s Potential
Reflecting on that moment years later, Gretzky shared,
“Somebody asked me the other day, they said, ‘When did you realize Ovechkin had a chance to break your record?’”
and continued,
“And I said, ‘When I was coaching against him, I think his first year, he went through the whole team twice and scored on his rear end, on his back.’”
This acknowledgment came after Ovechkin had already scored two goals in that game, helping the Washington Capitals secure a 6-1 victory. By that point in his rookie season, Ovechkin had already netted 32 goals in 44 games, with The Goal moving him closer to Gretzky’s legendary total by 862 goals.
The Journey to Breaking the Record and Historic Celebration
Almost two decades later, on April 6, 2025, Ovechkin finally shattered Gretzky’s long-standing record by scoring his 895th career NHL goal against the New York Islanders. The milestone was celebrated with a lengthy on-ice ceremony during which Gretzky, wearing a Gordie Howe number 9 pin to honor the previous record holder, presented his congratulations. During the event, Gretzky expressed admiration for Ovechkin’s achievement, saying,
Image of: Alex Ovechkin
“They say records are made to be broken,”
followed by,
“but I’m not sure who’s gonna get more goals than that.”
Gretzky’s Respect and the Tradition of Celebrating Records
Gretzky’s graciousness extended beyond the ceremony, as he admitted it was important to him personally to be there for Ovechkin’s historic moment. He explained that having a personal relationship with Ovechkin, combined with preserving the respect and integrity of the sport, motivated his presence. Recognizing the tradition started when Gordie Howe congratulated Gretzky upon breaking his record, Gretzky wished to maintain that respectful passing of the torch.
He also reflected on the nature of sports progression, stating,
“That’s what makes sports wonderful, right?”
and added,
“You think, ‘Oh my God, can we get any better?’ Then another guy comes along and you go, ‘Wow, that guy’s phenomenal.’ Every sport’s the same…I just have so much respect for so many of these athletes that come along now. As a fan, I just love it.”
Ovechkin’s Continuing Quest Beyond the Historic Milestone
By the end of the 2024-25 NHL season, marking his 20th year in the league, Ovechkin had accumulated 897 career goals. With only a few more goals needed, he is poised to become the first player in NHL history to reach 900 goals early in the next season. Although Ovechkin still has other Gretzky-era records within his sights, surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal total represents the most significant milestone in his distinguished career.
