Alex Ovechkin Can Beat Wayne Gretzky’s Goal Record in 2024-25

There are many storylines that are packed into the 2024-25 season for the Washington Capitals. One of them being watched by the entire hockey world is captain Alex Ovechkin attempting to break Wayne Gretzky’s record for most goals scored all-time. Gretzky finished his unprecedented career with 894 goals in 1,487 games. Ovechkin currently sits at 853 goals in 1,426 games. He is 42 goals away from being the all-time leader in goals.

It has been debated about whether Ovechkin can reach this milestone during this upcoming 2024-25 season. There are those who believe that he will surpass The Great One, but that it may not happen until the 2025-26 campaign (which is Ovechkin’s last season on his current contract). He should be able to break the record, but when he does it depends on how well his goal production is in 2024-25.

Alex Ovechkin Can Still Score 42 Goals

Some will point out that Alex Ovechkin looked like he was slowing down a bit last season. He finished the 2023-24 campaign with 31 goals and 34 assists for 65 points in 79 games. He may turn 39 years old in September, but he is still scoring consistently. Also, if anyone can immediately rebound and get 40+ goals and be near 40 years old, it’s Ovechkin.

While he may have gotten 31 this past season, the 2022-23 season had Ovechkin score 42 goals. He is not long removed from registering that goal amount. If he can do it two seasons ago, I believe he is capable of doing it in 2024-25. He has talented teammates around him who will help set him up for success. He will be missing key contributors from past teams like Evgeny Kuznetsov, Nicklas Backstrom, and T.J. Oshie. However, other solid teammates like Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson can help out. Strome led the Capitals last season in points with 67, while Wilson was ranked fourth in points with 35.

Head coach Spencer Carbery still has to figure out the lines in preseason and training camp. There is also the possibility that the newer players that former GM Brian MacLellan traded for like Pierre-Luc Dubois or Andrew Mangiapane could play with Ovechkin. A new line combination could help get him scoring more goals. MacLellan added Dubois and Mangiapane through trades to try and increase the team’s goal amount. They only produced 220 goals last season, and that was the least amount of Goals For in the Eastern Conference. Getting Ovechkin’s goals up from 2023-24 will not only get him closer to passing Gretzky, but it will benefit the team as they try to win more games and go further in the playoffs.

Alex Ovechkin in His Office

One thing that will help significantly for Ovechkin’s goal totals is when he is set up in his particular spot in the left faceoff circle. No matter how many times he goes to that spot, he can still find ways to score there. All the other teams in the league know how automatic that spot can be, and they still cannot stop him from getting goals there. One way to help get his goal totals up is to make sure to feed him in his spot as much as possible during a power play. Doing this might get him above his 31 goals from last season.

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) keeps an eye on New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)

Worst case scenario, if Ovechkin does not break Gretzky’s record this season, he will have one more year left on his current contract to do it. He for sure will have that record locked up during 2025-26. I still think it happens toward the end of 2024-25. The new players might help. Maybe a new line will click or he might just have a hot streak and score more. There are many possibilities. The hockey world will soon see if this campaign is the one to claim the record.