Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin has reached Wayne Gretzky`s record of 894 career goals.
From his debut NHL goal in October 2005, Ovechkin`s journey has been a build-up to this historic achievement. Years of triumph and adversity molded him into the player and champion he is today.
Welcome to the Alex Ovechkin Eras Tour, a look at eight key periods that have defined `The Great 8` over two decades.
The Rockstar Rookie Era (2004-06)
Goals scored: 52
The 2003-04 season was a low point for the Capitals, reminiscent of their dismal 1974-75 season. After a Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 1998, the team had declined into mediocrity.
Owner Ted Leonsis`s acquisition of Jaromir Jagr in 2001 was a gamble that didn`t pay off. Jagr`s performance fell short of his Pittsburgh days, and he was traded in 2004 after 190 games in Washington.
Subsequently, the Capitals entered a fire sale, trading away key players like Peter Bondra and Sergei Gonchar. They struggled, winning only twice in their final 13 games.
Despite their struggles, Washington had only the third-best odds for the top pick in the 2004 NHL draft. They had a 14.2% chance at the lottery, less than Pittsburgh and Chicago. Yet, after a dismal season, luck turned their way: the Capitals won the lottery and the chance to draft Alex Ovechkin.
Or would they choose Evgeni Malkin?
Ovechkin was already a sensation. His performance at the 2002 U18 World Championships highlighted his talent. Scouts ranked him as the top prospect for 2004. Initially a playmaker, he shifted his focus to goal-scoring with Moscow Dynamo. Malkin, drawing comparisons to Joe Thornton, was the alternative, especially for teams seeking a center.
A major what-if in NHL history is the Penguins potentially drafting Ovechkin over Malkin had they won the lottery.
The Capitals were set on Ovechkin. GM George McPhee`s first call after winning the lottery was to scout Ross Mahoney, whose immediate thought was `It`s gotta be Ovechkin.`
Ovechkin played in Russia during the 2004-05 NHL lockout. He joined the Capitals in 2005-06, a team rebuilt from the ground up to accommodate him. The roster included players like Jeff Halpern as leading scorers.
While Ovechkin`s arrival was highly anticipated in Washington, the broader NHL spotlight was on Sidney Crosby, the 18-year-old phenom and top prospect since Eric Lindros in 1991. The Penguins, missing out on Ovechkin, won a special lottery for Crosby.
The two were polar opposites: Ovechkin, the flamboyant Russian star with a powerful style; Crosby, the focused Canadian prodigy, destined for NHL greatness since his early teens.
Their rivalry began when Ovechkin was named Rookie of the Month in October, later securing the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year, overwhelmingly outvoting Crosby.
The NHL`s version of Magic vs. Bird had started, marked by personal contrast and impact. Ovechkin surpassed Crosby in points (106 to 102) and goals (52), including his famous goal against the Coyotes in January 2006, simply known as `The Goal.`
The Capitals improved by 11 points in Ovechkin`s rookie year, but his impact was still growing.
The Young Guns Era (2006-2009)
Goals scored: 167
In 2008, Alex Ovechkin was filmed at a Virginia club, miming guitar for a Capitals fan video, embodying the `Rock The Red` movement.
This video captured Washington`s `Rock The Red` era, where home games were a sea of red, boosted by Ovechkin`s rock star appeal. The Capitals, under coach Bruce Boudreau, won the Southeast Division in 2007-08, ending a three-year playoff drought with an exciting, Ovechkin-centric offense.
Alongside Ovechkin in the video were `The Young Guns,` including Nicklas Backstrom, who became crucial to Ovechkin`s scoring. Backstrom joked about teaching Ovechkin he wasn`t always open but always wanted the puck.
Mike Green, also in the video, led the power play and became a Norris Trophy contender. Alex Semin, Ovechkin`s compatriot, became a 40-goal scorer. Brooks Laich, John Carlson, and Karl Alzner were also key.
The video symbolized the Capitals` swagger, a quality Ovechkin brought. Despite a seven-game loss to Philadelphia in the 2008 playoffs, their trajectory was upwards, unlike Crosby`s Penguins who had already achieved more.
Crosby, after losing Rookie of the Year to Ovechkin, won his first MVP at 19 in 2006-07 and reached the Stanley Cup Final by 2008. He also had rising stars around him: Malkin, Letang, Fleury, and Staal.
Ovechkin one-upped Crosby from 2007-09, becoming the first skater since Gretzky to win back-to-back Hart Trophies (1985-87). Leonsis rewarded him with a 13-year, $124 million contract in 2008, the NHL`s first $100 million deal, initially criticized but later seen as a bargain.
In 2008-09, Ovechkin`s 56 goals led Washington to another division title and a first-round playoff win against the Rangers, setting up a playoff clash with Crosby.
Game 2 of that series was iconic: the `Double Hat Trick` game in Washington, with both Crosby and Ovechkin scoring hat tricks in a 4-3 Capitals win. Ovechkin (14 points) outscored Crosby (13), but Pittsburgh won in seven games, eventually winning the Stanley Cup, a recurring theme in their rivalry. Ovechkin missed a key breakaway chance in Game 7.
It was a significant missed chance, foreshadowing more for the Capitals.
The Crisis Era (2009-14)
Goals scored: 203
Ovechkin became Capitals captain in January 2010. He scored 50 goals again in 2009-10, leading the team to their deepest playoffs since 1998. Washington won the Presidents` Trophy with a .738 points percentage, but faced the curse of the league`s best regular-season team.
They played Montreal, the lowest-ranked playoff team. After losing Game 1 in overtime, Washington won three straight. Then, Montreal goalie Jaroslav Halak, combined with Washington`s faltering offense and playoff jitters, led to a seven-game series loss. Washington scored just one goal in each of the final three games, with Ovechkin scoreless in the last two.
This was more than playoff disappointment; it was regression. Questions arose about Washington`s playoff viability and if their regular-season offense could translate to Stanley Cup success. Ovechkin, despite decent playoff stats, faced criticism.
2010-11 briefly offered hope. The Capitals won their division again and beat the Rangers in five games, with Ovechkin scoring six points. But they were then swept by Tampa Bay in the second round. Playoff failure was becoming routine for the `Young Guns`.
Doubts about Washington`s style turned into a crisis of faith. A poor start in 2011-12, including an Ovechkin goal drought, led to Boudreau`s firing in November 2011. Ovechkin`s relationship with Boudreau was scrutinized, and he was labeled a `coach killer.`
`It`s nonsense I got Bruce fired,` Ovechkin told Yahoo! Sports in 2011. `How can a player fire a coach who gave me so much?`
Dale Hunter, a Capitals icon, replaced Boudreau, tasked with improving the team`s defense. The focus shifted to blocked shots over offensive flair.
Ovechkin`s ice time decreased. He called the season `mentally hard,` and his 65 points were a career low, though his goals increased to 38. The Capitals beat Boston in seven games in the first round but lost to the Rangers in seven in the second. Ovechkin had four points against New York.
Hunter left after the season. Adam Oates was hired. Despite Ovechkin leading the league in goals in both seasons under Oates and winning his third MVP, playoff struggles continued. They lost to the Rangers in the first round in 2013 and missed the playoffs in 2013-14, leading to Oates and GM McPhee`s firing.
Ovechkin became the scapegoat for Washington`s failures. The Hockey News suggested trading him to the KHL.
Ovechkin was frustrated but clarified he was still enjoying himself and not seeking a trade.
`When Hunter was here and I didn’t score, you asked why not. I said, my job is to block shots. Now you say Ovi`s changed. I get paid to score goals. I scored 50,` he said after 2013-14.
Ovechkin scored 203 goals in this era, fewer than Stamkos`s 210. But his career total continued to climb.
In 2010, ESPN`s John Buccigross first suggested Ovechkin could break Gretzky`s record, noting it was `not far-fetched` but would require health and luck.
The Frustration Era (2014-17)
Goals scored: 136
GM Brian MacLellan hired Barry Trotz as coach in 2014-15. New players like Kuznetsov, Wilson, Orpik, Orlov, and Holtby joined Ovechkin`s core. Oshie soon followed.
Trotz and Ovechkin developed a key relationship. Trotz knew of Ovechkin`s `coach killer` reputation and accusations of selfishness. He found a player who welcomed challenges and prioritized winning the Stanley Cup.
MacLellan and Trotz aimed to surround Ovechkin with enough talent to alleviate pressure. This sometimes went too far, like in 2016-17 when Ovechkin`s ice time and goals decreased, though Trotz said it was for the greater goal.
Trotz led the Capitals back to the playoffs in 2014-15, winning against the Islanders but losing to the Rangers in seven games. Their offense and defense improved significantly from the Oates era.
This began a streak of three playoff runs ending in the second round, twice against Crosby`s Penguins.
Crosby had two assists in Pittsburgh`s six-game win over Washington in 2016, despite Ovechkin`s seven points. Five of the six games were close. Pittsburgh advanced to win the Stanley Cup against San Jose.
The same happened in 2017. Washington beat Toronto but lost to Pittsburgh in six games. Fleury shut out the Capitals in Game 7. Crosby won another Cup.
Crosby now had three Cups, each partly at Ovechkin`s expense.
Ovechkin was quiet in the 2017 series. He criticized his Game 4 performance. Trotz moved him to the third line in Game 5. He had no points and was a minus-2 in Games 6 and 7.
A veteran coach noted Ovechkin lacked the `I`m taking over` presence he usually had.
Washington`s 2017 defeat led the New York Times to label them the `saddest sports town,` questioning if they`d ever get past the second round with Ovechkin.
The Stanley Cup Era (2017-18)
Goals scored: 49
In June 2018, Ovechkin addressed Capitals fans, wearing a `Stanley Cup Champs` hat. `We`re not going to f—ing suck this year! We`re STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS!` he exclaimed.
Playoff disappointments, lessons, and criticism were finally overcome. As Ovechkin raised the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy, the weight of expectations lifted.
This was catharsis.
By then, Ovechkin was Hall of Fame bound, with a historic goal count. The Stanley Cup win removed any doubts about his legacy.
Their playoff run was an era tour itself. They beat Columbus, coached by John Tortorella. Then, they faced Crosby`s Penguins again. After losing Game 1, they led 3-2. Ovechkin assisted on Kuznetsov`s series-clinching overtime goal in Game 6, reaching his first conference final.
With Pittsburgh defeated, they overcame another nemesis, Tampa Bay, in seven games, winning Games 6 and 7 with strong defense (Dale Hunter`s influence?).
The Final opponent was Vegas, a surprise finalist in their inaugural season, led by GM George McPhee and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.
Washington won the Stanley Cup in five games. Ovechkin scored in the clincher and won the Conn Smythe with 15 playoff goals.
The Capitals indeed did not suck that year.
Elder Statesman Era (2018-23)
Goals scored: 215
Winning the Stanley Cup transformed Ovechkin`s career.
Despite first-round exits in the next four seasons under coaches Reirden and Laviolette, the Cup win overshadowed disappointment. Ovechkin`s MVP-level play and goal-scoring pursuit shielded him from criticism.
He led the NHL in goals in 2018-19 and 2019-20, winning seven Richard Trophies in eight seasons (2012-2020). He remained a top scorer into his veteran years, marked by his graying hair and beard.
Winning the Cup also fostered a friendship with Crosby. They bonded at All-Star Games, veterans observing the new generation.
At the 2023 All-Star Game, Crosby, 35, and Ovechkin, 37, participated in the breakaway challenge with Ovechkin`s son Sergei, who watched from the bench in an `Ovi Jr.` jersey.
`Before we played each other, there was rivalry,` Crosby said. `It was always set up that way. Over time, you appreciate playing against each other for so long.`
Off-ice, Ovechkin`s support for Putin sparked controversy.
In 2017, he launched `Putin Team` on social media, openly supporting the Russian president. `I never hid my relationship with our president,` he stated. `Let`s unite and show a strong Russia.`
This support was scrutinized in 2022 after Russia`s invasion of Ukraine. The NHL cut ties with the KHL and Russian TV. Russia was banned from international hockey events.
Ovechkin faced backlash for his Putin ties, including his social media profile photo.
`He`s my president. But I`m not in politics. I`m an athlete,` he said. `I hope it ends soon. It`s tough for both sides.`
He appealed for peace: `No more war. Doesn`t matter who – Russia, Ukraine, other countries – we need peace.`
This era also saw Ovechkin commit to Washington, signing a five-year, $47.5 million deal in 2021 to pursue Gretzky`s record. He was then sixth all-time with 730 goals.
The Catching Gretzky Era (2024-present)
Goals scored: 67 (and counting)
Ovechkin`s condition for re-signing in 2021 was playing for a contender, not a rebuilding team.
Leonsis promised no rebuild. `Rebuilding is telling fans we`ll be bad. Alex wouldn`t break the record if we were,` he said.
Ovechkin vowed to stay fit and focus on winning, not just the record.
The Capitals missed the 2022-23 playoffs and hired coach Spencer Carbery. Carbery led Washington back to the playoffs in 2023-24 and into Presidents` Trophy contention in 2024-25.
Leonsis kept his word, adding talent like Strome, Dubois, Chychrun, and Thompson. Young players like McMichael and Protas also emerged. The Capitals` resurgence was notable compared to Crosby`s Penguins` post-championship decline.
Ovechkin scored 31 goals in 2023-24, raising doubts about catching Gretzky due to offensive decline and a poor 2024 playoff performance.
He silenced doubts with a career-best 17 goals in the first 20 games of 2024-25. Even a fractured fibula couldn`t stop him. Returning after injury, he scored again. `Russian Machine never breaks` remained true.
The gap to Gretzky narrowed. Breaking the record became inevitable.
The Legacy Era
Ovechkin`s contract ends after 2025-26, possibly his last NHL season. KHL return to Dynamo Moscow is possible.
He`s Hall of Fame bound regardless of the record, but will be inducted soon after eligibility.
His all-time ranking is subjective, with defensive critiques possibly placing him below Crosby. But `greatest goal-scorer` is quantifiable, considering his era`s goaltending and defensive systems.
Ovechkin`s legacy is the sum of his eras: highs, lows, turbulence, and triumphs, creating a unique NHL superstar.
Benedict Kingsley