Washington Capitals hockey player Alexander Ovechkin scored his 885th career goal in a win against the New York Rangers to put him nine goals away from Wayne Gretzky’s record. 

Gretzky holds 61 National Hockey League, or NHL, records including the most goals and the most assists. His goal record is 894, with an assist record of 1,963. 

The tight race between Ovechkin and  Gretzkyallows the world to witness the constant evolution and progress of hockey as a sport. Their commitment to the sport allows their audience to experience not just one, but two of the sport’s most respected players. 

Ovechkin holds 886 goals with 714 assists. He has also played 12 fewer games than Gretzky. For reference, Ovechkin scored 15 goals in 18 games at the start of the 2024-2025 season. Though, many argue that Ovechkin will never be as great of a hockey player as Gretzky. 

“What has he done?” said Henry Jones, a junior management information systems major. “He’s just scored a lot of goals?”

Many hockey fans feel as if Ovechkin’s accomplishments are nowhere near the level of Gretzky’s.

Gretzky was placed into the Hockey Hall of Fame after his retirement and was inducted before the waiting period ended. Only nine other players have had this specific honor, signifying the true influence he has in the hockey world. 

Some of Gretzky’s most notable achievements include: most career goals, most career assists, most goals in a season and four Stanley Cup titles. These are only several of Gretzky’s records that have labeled him as “the greatest hockey player” by many. 

Though Gretzky holds this title by many and has outstanding records, Ovechkin has his own set of achievements. A few of those include: most goals by a left-wing and most goals in three different decades. Along with this, he has earned the Hart Memorial Trophy three times, which recognizes him as the NHL’s most valuable player. He also won the Conn Smythe trophy, awarded to an individual team’s most valuable player in the playoffs. 

“He has also scored against 180 different goaltenders, despite advancements in goalie equipment that arguably make this chase even more difficult,” according to olympics.com. 

The advancements in goalie equipment explain how scoring has become more challenging over the years. This highlights the ability of Ovechkin to evolve his skills along with the sport, arguing for the side that sees Ovechkin as the next NHL. star. 

Each player has their own set of achievements and records that signify their strong dedication to the sport. 

“I don’t know if I could say Gretzky is the greatest of all time if he catches up, but he is a memorable player that people could look up to for motivation,” said Madi Hummel, a sophomore mass communication major. 

There is a broader debate that involves the recognition of Ovechkin’s achievements. His dedication to the game and his relentless pursuit of Gretzky’s record shows the level of commitment that truly resonates with hockey fans. 

The hockey world watches closely as history is being made. As Ovechkin continues his chase of breaking the record for the most goals, debates about hockey’s greatest player persist.