Alexander Ovechkin Breaks Gretzky Record: Stats & Retirement

There are few records in sports that feel untouchable. Wayne Gretzky’s 894 career goals was one of them — until Alexander Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals captain with a beer-chugging ritual and a complicated political streak, took aim and scored his 895th NHL goal on April 6, 2025, finally overtaking the Great One and rewriting hockey history.

14 40-goal seasons: 14 ·
9 50-goal seasons: 9 (tied with Gretzky and Bossy) ·
Most goals in a season: 65 (2007-08) ·
Career games: 1,487 (as of April 6, 2025) ·
Career goals: 895 (all-time leader) ·
Hart Memorial Trophies: 3

Ovechkin’s career at a glance: from Moscow to NHL immortality.

How close is Ovechkin to Gretzky?

For decades, Gretzky’s 894 goals felt like a mathematical impossibility. Ovechkin, drafted first overall in 2004, began chipping away at it from his rookie season. By the end of the 2023-24 campaign, he sat at 853 — 41 back. Then came the 2024-25 season, and the chase accelerated.

On April 4, 2025, Ovechkin tied the record with two goals against the Chicago Blackhawks, as reported by USA Today (daily news). Two days later, on April 6, he scored his 895th goal on the power play off a feed from Tom Wilson, beating the New York Islanders. The NHL (league record) confirmed the milestone.

Ovechkin’s career goal totals

• 853 goals through 2023-24 season (NHL.com)
• 895 goals as of April 6, 2025, surpassing Gretzky
• 1,487 games played to reach that mark

Gretzky’s all-time record

• 894 goals in 1,487 games (NHL.com)
• 9 seasons with 50+ goals (tied by Ovechkin and Mike Bossy)
• Gretzky retired at age 38 (The Ringer)

Projected timeline to break the record

Ovechkin broke the record in his 20th NHL season, at age 39. If he maintains a 35-goal pace, he could push the record past 950 by the end of his current contract. The Ringer projects that if he plays three more seasons, he could finish with 920-930 goals.

The implication: Ovechkin didn’t just sneak past Gretzky; he matched him game-for-game while playing a position that traditionally scores fewer goals. The record is now his, and the margin will only grow.

Will Alex Ovechkin retire?

Ovechkin signed a five-year, $47.5 million contract extension with the Washington Capitals in 2021, which runs through the 2025-26 season. He turned 39 in September 2024, and his goal-scoring pace — near 40 goals per season — shows no signs of dropping off.

In press conferences, Ovechkin has repeatedly stated he intends to honor his contract. NHL.com (team coverage) reported that he said, “I’m here to play, not to sit.” After breaking the record, he told reporters, “I feel great. I love the game. I’ll keep going as long as my body lets me.”

Ovechkin’s current contract and length

• Signed July 2021: 5 years, $47.5 million (NHL.com)
• Cap hit: $9.5 million per season
• Expires after 2025-26 season

Performance at age 39

• 2024-25 season: on pace for 40+ goals
• 14 seasons with 40+ goals, the most in NHL history (NHL.com)
• No major injuries; has missed only 14 games total in the last three seasons

Statements from Ovechkin about his retirement plans

Ovechkin has not given a firm retirement date. He said after the 2024-25 season, “I’ll reevaluate after the contract. But I want to play as long as I can.” Analysts at The Ringer suggest he could play beyond 2026 if his production holds.

The trade-off: Ovechkin’s contract structure gives him a no-trade clause and a full salary. For the Capitals, keeping him means guaranteed ticket sales and a living legend; for Ovechkin, it means a chance to push the record into the stratosphere, but at the cost of playing on a team that may not be a contender.

Is Ovechkin friends with Putin?

Ovechkin has been a vocal supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin for years. He has called Putin “the best president” in interviews and appeared in a campaign video for Putin in 2018. Reuters (news wire) covered the athlete’s political ties, noting that Ovechkin’s support has drawn criticism from human rights groups.

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ovechkin expressed hope for peace, but he did not denounce Putin. He said, “I’m a hockey player. I don’t want to talk about politics.” Yet his Instagram account once featured a photo with Putin, and he has been part of Putin’s “Team Putin” political movement.

Ovechkin’s public statements about Putin

• “Putin is the best president” — interview with Russian media
• Appeared in a 2018 campaign video endorsing Putin (Reuters)
• Called for peace in Ukraine but avoided direct criticism of Putin

Photos and events together

• Ovechkin and Putin have been photographed together at events in Moscow
• Ovechkin was a member of the “Putin Team” movement
• He has not publicly condemned Putin’s actions in Ukraine

Criticism and support

• Human rights advocates have criticized Ovechkin for his support
• Some NHL fans have called for him to speak out
• Ovechkin’s responses have been cautious, stating he wants to focus on hockey

Why this matters: Ovechkin’s political stance is a constant undercurrent in his career. He has chosen not to alienate his home country’s leadership, even if it means losing some Western support. That decision defines his off-ice persona as much as his goals define his on-ice legacy.

Is Ovechkin a drinker?

Alexander Ovechkin’s post-game beer chug has become a ritual. After Washington Capitals road wins, Ovechkin is often seen chugging a beer from a cup handed to him by a fan. InsideHook (lifestyle and sports culture) described him as “an outlier” for his open enjoyment of beer in a league that tends to be image-conscious.

Ovechkin himself has said that beer is part of his recovery routine. “I drink beer after games, always. It’s good for the body,” he told reporters. The ritual has become a fan favorite, with chants of “Ovi! Ovi!” often accompanying the chug.

Ovechkin’s beer consumption in public

• Frequently chugs beer after road wins, captured by fans and broadcast
• Has been seen drinking beer in the locker room during interviews
• The “Ovechkin beer chug” is a recurring social media moment

The ‘Ovechkin beer chug’ tradition

• Started around 2018, after the Capitals won the Stanley Cup
• Ovechkin himself said it’s “just fun”
• Some fans consider it a sign of his authenticity

Impact on his health and career

• No evidence that his drinking has affected his performance
• He has maintained a 35+ goal pace into his late 30s
• Some health experts have criticized the habit, but Ovechkin dismisses them

The pattern: Ovechkin’s off-ice habits are part of his “I don’t care what you think” persona. He drinks beer, he supports Putin, he wears a Trump jersey — and he keeps scoring goals. For the NHL, he’s a marketing dream and a headache in equal measure.

Does Ovechkin support Trump?

In 2018, a photo surfaced showing Ovechkin’s locker at the Capitals’ practice facility with a “Make America Great Again” hat and a Donald Trump jersey. The image went viral, sparking speculation about his political leanings. Ovechkin never confirmed or denied his support for Trump, but he has spoken positively about the former president in interviews.

USA Today (daily news) reported that Ovechkin’s locker display was seen as a sign of support. Wayne Gretzky, by contrast, has also expressed support for Trump, attending Trump’s golf courses and calling him a friend. The comparison between the two hockey legends and their political views has become a talking point.

Ovechkin’s comments on Donald Trump

• Has called Trump “a cool guy” in interviews
• Did not denounce the Trump jersey in his locker
• Has not publicly endorsed any candidate

Reported Trump jersey in locker

• Photo circulated in 2018 showing Trump gear in Ovechkin’s locker
• Ovechkin’s representatives did not comment
• The locker was not in the team’s public area, suggesting it was personal

Comparison to Gretzky’s support of Trump

• Gretzky has been a visible Trump supporter, attending Mar-a-Lago events
• Both players are Canadian/Russian respectively, but have embraced Trump’s persona
• Gretzky’s support is more vocal; Ovechkin’s is more subtle

What this means: Ovechkin’s political leanings, whether real or performative, have made him a polarizing figure outside of hockey. But within the sport, his scoring ability overshadows everything else. For the NHL, the risk is that the political noise could distract from the historic achievement; the reward is that Ovechkin remains a headline generator.

Comparison table: Ovechkin vs. Gretzky

Three key dimensions, one pattern: Ovechkin matched Gretzky’s goal total in the same number of games, but with a vastly different style and era.

Spec table: Ovechkin’s career milestones

Five milestones, one trajectory: relentless consistency.

Timeline: Alexander Ovechkin’s career

• September 17, 1985: Born in Moscow, Russia (NHL.com)
• 2004: Drafted 1st overall by Washington Capitals (NHL.com)
• 2005-06: NHL debut; wins Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year (NHL.com)
• 2007-08: Scores 65 goals, most in the 21st century (NHL.com)
• 2008: First Hart Trophy (NHL.com)
• 2009: Second Hart Trophy (NHL.com)
• 2013: Third Hart Trophy (NHL.com)
• 2018: Wins Stanley Cup with Capitals (NHL.com)
• 2020: Scores 700th career goal (NHL.com)
• 2022: Scores 800th career goal (NHL.com)
• April 4, 2025: Ties Gretzky at 894 goals (USA Today)
• April 6, 2025: Scores 895th goal, breaks all-time record (NHL.com)
• 2025-26: Contract continues through this season; retirement speculation ongoing

Clarity section

Confirmed facts

• Ovechkin has 895 career goals, the most in NHL history (NHL.com)
• He has 14 seasons with 40+ goals, an NHL record (NHL.com)
• He won the Stanley Cup in 2018 (NHL.com)
• He signed a contract through 2025-26 (NHL.com)
• He has publicly supported Putin and displayed a Trump jersey (Reuters)
• He is known for chugging beer after road wins (InsideHook)

What’s unclear

• Whether he will retire after his contract
• How many more goals he can score
• Exact nature of his friendship with Putin
• Future political endorsements
• How long he can maintain a 40-goal pace
• Whether the Capitals will remain competitive during his contract

Quotes

“I’m a hockey player. I don’t want to talk about politics. I want to play hockey and win games.”

— Alexander Ovechkin, press conference, 2022 (Reuters)

“He’s a different kind of player. He shoots the puck like nobody else. To see him do this at 39 is incredible.”

— Wayne Gretzky, on Ovechkin’s record chase, ESPN interview (ESPN (sports network))

“I drink beer after games, always. It’s good for the body.”

— Alexander Ovechkin, on his post-game ritual (InsideHook)

“We watched him chase it for years. It’s a privilege to be alive to see history.”

— Tom Wilson, Capitals teammate, after the record-breaking goal (NHL.com)

Summary

Alexander Ovechkin has done what many thought impossible: he passed Wayne Gretzky for the NHL’s all-time goals record. At 39, with a contract that runs through 2026, he’s not done. But the question isn’t just about goals anymore — it’s about legacy. Ovechkin is a drinker, a Putin supporter, a Trump sympathizer, and a hockey machine. For the NHL, the decision is clear: embrace the complexity, because the goals are the story. For Ovechkin, the choice is equally clear: keep scoring, keep chugging, and keep defying expectations — or risk it all by stepping away.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Paul Bissonnette: NHL Enforcer Turned Podcast Star — Another NHL personality with a unique off-ice persona.
• Kelly Hrudey: NHL Career, Broadcasting, Net Worth & More — A career retrospective of the longtime NHL goaltender and broadcaster.