A little over thirty years after Wayne Gretzky’s pursuit of Gordie Howe’s NHL career goals record, the “Great One” found himself part of another historic chase—this time witnessing Alex Ovechkin’s quest to surpass his own legendary mark.
In the spring of 1994, Gretzky was closing in on Howe’s record, and when he finally tied and passed it, his father, Walter Gretzky, advised him to be supportive if anyone else approached that milestone. Gretzky took that advice to heart and has been a mentor to Ovechkin long before the Capitals star reached the brink of history.
Back in December 2022, Ovechkin struggled to surpass Howe for second place on the all-time goals list, going four games without scoring. Gretzky reached out, offering words of encouragement. “I called him and said, ‘Hey, you’ve got to relax out there,’” Gretzky recalled. “And he’s like, ‘You know, I’m pressing.’ I said, ‘For most people, that’s 20 games without a goal.’”
Gretzky assured Ovechkin he’d reach 900 goals before he knew it. Now, Ovechkin is poised to claim goal No. 895 and take sole possession of the record on Sunday against the New York Islanders. Gretzky will be there, as Ovechkin wouldn’t have it any other way.
During the pregame ceremony, Ovechkin expressed his gratitude. “Thank you, Wayne, for your support, for your kindness. It’s great,” he said. His happiness radiated through the night, from honoring his 2018 Stanley Cup teammates to scoring two goals and watching a video montage celebrating his journey to 894 goals.
After the game, Ovechkin and Gretzky shared a heartfelt moment in the Capitals’ locker room, exchanging hugs and congratulatory words. Longtime teammate Tom Wilson reflected, “You could tell he was genuinely happy for ‘O.’ To see those two guys standing together, embracing—it was incredible. Just an unforgettable moment between the two greatest goal scorers of all time.”
Whether Ovechkin surpasses Gretzky on Sunday, Thursday against Carolina, or next weekend against Columbus, the milestone is inevitable. When asked what he’d say to Ovechkin upon breaking the record, Gretzky joked, “Why’d you do it?”
But beyond the humor, Gretzky’s pride in Ovechkin’s achievement is evident. “It’s really been a wonderful journey for everyone,” he said. “It’s great for hockey, for the league, for the people in Washington, and for fans all over the world.”
