As the 2025-26 NHL season approaches, two of hockey’s greatest talents, Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, prepare to once again lead their teams while chasing personal milestones that position them against one of the sport’s most legendary figures. Known for his unparalleled records and dubbed “The Great One,” Wayne Gretzky’s legacy remains the ultimate benchmark in hockey history. The focus this season turns to whether Ovechkin and Crosby can ascend the ranks and challenge Gretzky’s towering achievements in points and career longevity.
Both players carry not only the weight of their teams’ Stanley Cup aspirations but also the relentless pursuit of individual greatness. Their chase for historic career points totals has captured the attention of fans and analysts alike, as they inch closer to the elite company that Gretzky has defined.
Career Points Battle: Where Crosby and Ovechkin Stand
The NHL has highlighted the growing anticipation around Crosby and Ovechkin’s progress toward reaching significant career point milestones. Currently, Wayne Gretzky tops the NHL all-time points leaderboard with an astonishing 2,857 points amassed over 1,487 games in 21 seasons. That record continues to stand as a monumental achievement within professional hockey.
Sidney Crosby ranks ninth in career points with 1,687, positioning him as the highest active player inside the top ten. At 37 years old, Crosby faces a considerable gap exceeding 1,000 points to reach Gretzky’s total. While he is likely to improve his standing, closing the margin to the legend’s peak remains a formidable challenge.
Alex Ovechkin, at 39, holds eleventh place on the all-time points list with 1,623 points. His ambition extends beyond individual scoring, aiming to elevate the Washington Capitals to Stanley Cup contention once again. Although Gretzky’s records seem out of reach, the drive to push limits and solidify their legacies remains a shared motivation for both players.
“Looking Ahead to 2025-26 It could be another milestone year for Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. Both players are on the path to 1,700 points while tracking down legends on the all-time list.” — NHL Public Relations
Recent Performance and Ongoing Challenges in the Pursuit
In the previous 2024-25 season, Ovechkin accumulated 79 points while Crosby totaled 91, both maintaining averages slightly above a point per game. Although these numbers commendably continue their high-level play, the pace required to surpass Gretzky’s 2,857 points involves maintaining or increasing scoring productivity over the coming years.
Despite focusing on setting new personal markers, both athletes emphasize team success as paramount. Crosby has notably remarked that individual records hold little significance if team championships are not achieved, while Ovechkin remains driven to add to his 2018 Stanley Cup title.
Their commitment to hockey’s highest standards has already placed them in elite company. Both players have managed to eclipse some of Gretzky’s records, pointing to their place among the sport’s all-time greats. Yet, Gretzky’s stature as the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) remains a point of reflection and motivation.
Records Surpassed and the Complex Legacy of Greatness
While Gretzky’s dominance in NHL statistics is well-known, several of his records have been challenged or overtaken by Ovechkin and Crosby in recent years, highlighting the evolving nature of the sport’s competitive history. Among these achievements is Ovechkin surpassing Gretzky’s regular-season goal tally of 894 in April 2025, setting a new NHL record with 897 goals and counting. This milestone marks a significant moment in NHL history, with Ovechkin potentially becoming the first player to reach 1,000 regular-season goals.
Sidney Crosby, meanwhile, broke Gretzky’s record for the most seasons averaging over one point per game. Gretzky accomplished this feat for 19 seasons, but Crosby reached his twentieth such season in March 2025, demonstrating remarkable consistency in offensive production throughout his career.
Despite these personal triumphs, Gretzky remains untouchable in many categories, such as career assists (1,963) and Art Ross trophies, awarded to the NHL’s highest point scorer each season. Gretzky holds nine Art Ross trophies, a record that remains unmatched and serves as a testament to his enduring excellence.
The Challenge of Breaking Gretzky’s Records and Its Broader Impact
While Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin continue to approach remarkable career milestones, the sheer magnitude of Wayne Gretzky’s accomplishments emphasizes how difficult it is to surpass such legendary feats. Crosby’s and Ovechkin’s pursuit of the great records encapsulates both admiration and competitive tension that often defines the careers of all-time great athletes. Their achievements are being closely watched as they will set new benchmarks for future generations of hockey players.
Both athletes carry the pressure of embodying the legacies of their teams and the sport itself, knowing that their places in hockey history will be defined by more than stats alone. As Ovechkin focuses on team championships and Crosby on continued elite performance, the significance of their rivalry and shared quest lies in how they inspire fans and players alike.
As the 2025-26 NHL season unfolds, the ongoing chase for Wayne Gretzky’s records will remain a powerful narrative, highlighting the challenge of crafting greatness in a sport where history is continuously made and rewritten.