Alex Ovechkin is returning to the Washington Capitals for a 22nd NHL season with several historic milestones within reach.
After becoming the NHL’s all-time goals leader last season, Ovechkin signed a one-year, $4.25 million extension on July 2, coming off a 32-goal, 64-point season while appearing in all 82 regular-season games last year.
Ovechkin enters the upcoming campaign with 929 regular-season goals. That leaves him 71 goals short of becoming the first player in NHL history to reach 1,000, but getting there would likely require him to continue playing beyond the final season of his new contract.
Speaking with Match TV's “All on Match!”, as translated by Google, Ovechkin did not rule out attempting the unprecedented chase.
“We’ll try,” Ovechkin said. “Everything will depend on my desire and health. Time will tell. It gets harder and harder with each passing year.”
Ovechkin also has another Wayne Gretzky record within closer reach. His 1,006 combined regular-season and playoff goals leave him 10 behind Gretzky’s record of 1,016.
However, Ovechkin said individual records are not his primary motivation while revealing the ultimate goal he's set for himself ahead of the 2026-27 season.
“A team sport doesn’t depend on just one player, and Washington was a united force in 2018,” Ovechkin said. “I want to win the trophy again. That desire outweighs the possibility of breaking another Gretzky record.”
Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images
Washington added Jordan Kyrou, Alex Tuch, Boone Jenner and Vincent Desharnais during this offseason after missing the playoffs last season.
Ovechkin believes all those moves, along with his captaincy, have given the Capitals a roster capable of another championship run.
“The main thing is to have a good team,” Ovechkin said. “I’m happy with the team as captain; we have a competitive squad. Our goal is the title. I don’t know if I’ll have another season.”
