Alex Ovechkin has been eyeing that NHL all-time goals record for quite some time now. The Washington Capitals star seeks to continue putting up impressive games for the team this season, and he is now also moving closer to that career-defining record that would give him a better look by the end of his career.

Ovechkin just dropped two more goals in their 8-1 win against the St. Louis Blues. Thast means he now adds to his total of 863 goals for his career. And wouldn’t you know it, the star is now just 31 goals away from tying NHL legend Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 goals. At this point, many are talking about how he can actually find a way to reach it faster, and also how more can he add to it all the way to season’s end.

The debate over who is the greatest hockey player of all time often comes down to two names: Wayne Gretzky and Alex Ovechkin. Gretzky’s status as the "Great One" has remained virtually unquestioned for decades, largely thanks to his dominance on the ice and the seemingly unbreakable records he set. But as Ovechkin continues his pursuit of Gretzky’s all-time goals record, the question has become more pressing: Could Alex Ovechkin actually break Gretzky’s scoring record?

The Record: Wayne Gretzky's 894 Goals

Wayne Gretzky’s career is the stuff of legend. He retired in 1999 after 20 seasons in the NHL, with a staggering 894 career goals. To put that into perspective, his closest competitor, Jaromír Jágr, is still more than 200 goals behind.

Gretzky's scoring record wasn’t just the result of being a great goal-scorer; it was about his ability to change the game’s dynamic and create opportunities from anywhere on the ice. He played with exceptional vision and an innate understanding of the game, which allowed him to rack up goals even into his late 30s.

For years, this mark was thought to be untouchable. After all, breaking a record like that requires not only consistency and longevity but also the ability to defy the aging process in a sport that demands peak physical performance. Enter Alex Ovechkin, the next star in pursuit of setting his own foot in the history books.

Ovechkin's Quest: 800 and Counting

Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals’ captain, is arguably the most lethal goal-scorer of his generation. As of the 2023-24 season, Ovechkin has scored over 800 goals, putting him in rare company (only Gretzky and Gordie Howe have scored more). Ovechkin’s power, shooting accuracy, and relentless drive have made him a constant threat on the ice, year after year.

But what really makes his pursuit of Gretzky’s record interesting is his longevity. At 39 years old, Ovechkin is still scoring goals at a high rate, and he doesn’t appear to be slowing down. While many players start to see a decline in their 30s, Ovechkin’s scoring has remained remarkably steady. The Great One himself has said that Ovechkin could break his record if he stays healthy, and the numbers back that up.

If Ovechkin stays healthy and continues to score at his current rate, it seems inevitable that he will surpass Gretzky’s 894 goals—perhaps in 2-3 seasons, depending on his performance and longevity. It’s an exciting time for hockey fans, as we witness one of the greatest players of all time chase down a seemingly untouchable record.