The great eight Alex Ovechkin finally put his fans' excitement at ease after finally tying the Great One Wayne Gretzky’s all time goal record last night against the Blackhawks. But with one more year left on his contract, and the big 4-0 coming up, the question whether he will break the goal record is out of sight, the new question being how far can he take it.
Ovechkin has probably just proved himself as the NHL’s greatest ever scorer, tying Wayne Gretzky’s 894 all time goals in one less game. But with no signs of taking his foot off the gas, and the current form the Capitals are in, the question as to how far Ovechkin can take his new goal record is still unknown.
The soon to be 40 year old Russian has one year remaining on his current contract, tying him down in Washington until the end of the 2025/26 season, but with another 40 goal seasons this year on top of breaking his leg earlier in the year, the big number 1000 still looms for the Great Eight.
It can be said there is a big possibility Ovechkin would have already clocked the number 1000 had there have been no NHL lockouts during his NHL tenure, but without certainty over whether he could have already done it, with one year remaining for sure, and potentially another had he decide to continue, the number 1000 could definitely be in reach for Ovi.
Rumours believe Ovechkin will take his contract down to the end and retire a Capital, estimated to pad around 930ish goals, and is not likely to continue on to push his record to unnecessary lengths. Ovi has shown this season his age won't get in the way of his class, and his goal scoring ability is still there, but tough decisions over being selfish to go for 1000, and decisions which are best for the team, had he slow down next season, it could be the end for the greatest scorer of all time.
Regardless of how far he pushes the record, it is indubitably never going to be broken again, maybe even never be challenged again. With 900 probably being the goal for Ovi, it is likely next season will be his last, but with this exceptional once in a lifetime achievement, it doesn't matter how much he pushes it, because his podium as the NHL’s all time top goal scorer, will NEVER be broken.
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