Alex Ovechkin is on the brink of NHL greatness. The Great Eight is on the hunt to pass Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL’s all-time leading goal-scorer and with a hot start this season, it is becoming more of a reality than ever. The Russian phenom sits at 740 goals in 1,208 career games, one behind Brett Hull for fourth. 

Brett Hull is the step Ovechkin will easily climb within the next few games, but passing Jaromir Jagr to sit third all-time is a possibility this season. Jagr, who has 766 goals, should be overtaken by Ovechkin in 2022. Gordie Howe at 801 goals and Wayne Gretzky at 894 are the last two greats challenging him, but everyone, including Ovechkin, believes this feat is possible. 

Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) has Brett Hull in his sights. 👀

(Via IG/nhleurope) pic.twitter.com/IAYdB3dnRr

— NHL (@NHL) November 5, 2021

Signing a five-year, $47.5 million contract extension with the Washington Capitals solidifies Ovechkin as a Capital for life. To pass Gretzky, Ovechkin would need to score just 30 goals per season over the five years, and he is already on pace to smash that total this season. 30 goals for any player is a milestone, but for Ovechkin, it is a failure. Ovechkin has 40-goal expectations placed upon him by management, fans and himself, and he always lives up to the hype. The noted Islander-killer’s speed may decrease and his defense may flounder, but his thunderous one-timer will always fill the back of the opposing team’s nets.

Lockout and COVID-shortened seasons have hurt Ovechkin more than any player in the NHL. His canceled rookie season, 2004-05, gave him another year to hone his skills before coming to the NHL. His electric rookie season saw him become an immediate 50-goal threat, so it is safe to imagine he would have scored at least 35 goals in his rookie year. The 2012-13 season saw the league sit out half of a season and COVID-19 stripped away approximately fifty more. A new collective bargaining agreement is in place until 2025-26, expiring at the same time as Ovechkin’s contract. No lockouts are on the horizon, meaning Ovechkin should not have any NHL stoppages to stop his mission. 60 to 80 goals have been lost on Ovechkin’s résumé due to factors out of his control, showing the majesty of his goal scoring.

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A new contract, a blazing start to the season and Ovechkin looking like he never left his prime is a recipe for success. The five-year contract will take Ovechkin until he is 41, but his shot and grit will not fade over time. Many are hoping Ovechkin overtakes Gretzky, solidifying himself as the undisputed greatest goal scorer of all time, but until that happens, it is still the great eight chasing the great one. 

John Smark