Alex Ovechkin made it official yesterday, asserting he’d return to the NHL for the 2025-26 season.
It’s unclear how actual a risk retirement was for Ovechkin, however he’ll be lacing them up for no less than yet one more season with the Washington Capitals.
Ovechkin made historical past this previous season by changing into the all-time chief in profession objectives, passing Wayne Gretzky’s mark of 894. The 40-year-old has yet one more yr on the five-year deal he signed with Washington in 2021.
It was as soon as unthinkable that anybody would method Gretzky’s profession purpose report, however Ovi did it after scoring 44 objectives this season.
With the profession purpose report within the rear view mirror now, what different data may Ovechkin gather on his approach to the Hockey Corridor of Fame?
Listed here are a couple of data that he may, conceivably, break.
Which Information May Alex Ovechkin Break Subsequent?
Most Profession Targets, Together with Playoffs
This primary one’s a straightforward one. Gretzky could have already surrendered the profession regular-season objectives mark, however he nonetheless leads in profession objectives together with the playoffs, with 1,016 objectives.
Ovechkin at present has 974 objectives, so he’d want 42 extra to seize that report as properly.
If the Russian ahead has one other 40-goal season in him, this report may very well be simple to interrupt.
If we assume Ovechkin will play greater than only one extra season, he’ll simply break this one.
Most Profession 20-Purpose Seasons
Gordie Howe holds the report for many 20-goal seasons with 22.
Howe did so with 22 consecutive seasons with no less than 20 objectives from 1949 to 1971.
Ovechkin is the one participant in NHL historical past with no less than 20 seasons of 20 objectives. He earned that mark this previous season.
If Ovechkin can stay within the league for no less than two extra years underneath his normal manufacturing, he’ll simply break Howe’s report.
Most Profession Hat Tips
Gretzky holds the report for many profession hat methods with 50.
He earned his fiftieth and closing profession hat trick on October 11, 1997, when he performed with the New York Rangers towards the Vancouver Canucks.
Ovechkin at present has 32 profession hat methods, which means he’d want 18 extra to no less than tie the report.
He earned that thirty second in a 7-3 win towards the Edmonton Oilers in February of this previous season.
Gretzky accomplished that feat in 20 seasons, and Ovechkin can be getting into his twenty first season subsequent yr, which means he’s behind Gretzky’s tempo.
This report can be more durable for Ovechkin to succeed in, provided that he solely had two hat methods this previous season and none the yr earlier than.
Most Profession Time On Ice
Ovechkin is fifth on the All-Time Time On Ice leaderboard, with three energetic gamers forward of him.
40-year-old St. Louis Blues ahead Ryan Suter holds the report with 36,754:04. Behind him are Brent Burns and Drew Doughty, each energetic gamers. In fourth place all-time is Duncan Keith with 30,993:40.
Ovechkin will seemingly have some hassle with this report as properly, provided that Suter, the record-holder, may very well be getting into his twenty first season subsequent yr and could be very a lot forward of him on tempo. Burns reached second place in 21 seasons whereas Doughty reached third in solely his seventeenth season.
Ovechkin would want to amass 6,000 minutes over the rest of his profession to tie what Burns has now.
Most Profession Multi-Purpose Video games
Gretzky is the record-holder for many profession multi-goal video games — are you sensing a theme right here?
The Nice One had 189 in his profession, whereas Alex Ovechkin has 179.
In contrast to the earlier two, that is extra of a not if however when report. I’m fairly assured that Ovechkin can gather 10 extra multi-goal video games earlier than his profession ends.
