After breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time file final season, Washington Capitals legend Alex Ovechkin is now the inaugural member of the NHL’s 900-goal membership. Ovechkin reached No. 900 along with his tally within the second interval towards the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday evening.
All through his profession, Ovechkin has scored targets in a wide range of methods, and his 900th may need been probably the most distinctive. After a Jakob Chychrun shot bounced off the top board, Ovechkin scooped up the puck and snuck a spin-o-rama backhand previous a sprawling Jordan Binnington.
It was one other historic second for Ovechkin, and Binnington tried to maintain a bit of historical past all to himself. Whereas the Capitals have been mobbing Ovechkin, Binnington managed to sneak the puck into his pants, considering nobody would discover.
Was Binnington going to flip it on eBay for somewhat additional money? Was he going to maintain it on his mantle? Perhaps Binnington was merely going to chuck it within the rubbish out of spite. No matter plans Binnington had, they have been spoiled when a linesman skated by and made him retrieve the puck.
The No. 1 total decide within the 2004 NHL Draft, Ovechkin has been climbing the file books at a fast tempo since his rookie marketing campaign in 2005-06. Ovechkin has hit the 40-goal mark 14 occasions, and he is surpassed 50 targets on 9 completely different events. Ovechkin has received the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy because the league’s high goal-scorer 9 occasions, far and away probably the most in NHL historical past.
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Final yr, Ovechkin lastly surpassed Gretzky along with his 895th objective and entered the 2025-26 season with 897 below his belt. After a considerably gradual begin, not less than by his requirements, Ovechkin has earned one other distinction with objective No. 900.
There are nonetheless 70 video games left within the season, and Ovechkin hasn’t even indicated that this can be his final, although he’s enjoying on an expiring contract. So, precisely what number of targets can Ovechkin rating earlier than his profession is over?
What number of targets can Ovechkin rating in his NHL profession?
Ovechkin has the possibility so as to add a number of cushion to his all-time targets file. And there are no main indicators of him slowing down, not less than offensively. Sure, Ovechkin is 40 years previous, however he’s constructed very in a different way from virtually each different athlete.
This can be a participant whose favourite pregame meal is an Italian feast match for 2 or three. He additionally takes Pepsi in his water bottle and Dr. Pepper at intermission. Let’s additionally not overlook that, on the age of 39, he broke his fibula through the season and nonetheless managed to attain 44 targets en path to breaking Gretzky’s file.
Up to now in his profession, Ovechkin has by no means scored fewer than 32 targets in a season. Let’s not less than give him that in 2025-26, which does not appear unreasonable contemplating he scored 44 in 65 video games final yr. That may put Ovechkin at 929 targets by season’s finish, however what if he decides to play one other season or two? In any case, the Capitals are a workforce on the rise with an excellent younger coach, so perhaps he desires to chase one other Stanley Cup.
If nothing else, Ovechkin might prolong his profession to the age of 41 or 42 on the power of his energy play prowess alone. In 18 of his 19 full seasons, Ovechkin has scored not less than 13 energy play targets and as many as 25. If groups have been going to cease his patented one-timer from the left circle, they in all probability would have accomplished that in some unspecified time in the future over the past 20 years.
If Ovechkin can keep on the ice for the remainder of this season, plus 2026-27, it is properly inside the realm of chance that he might eclipse 950 targets. It is in all probability truthful to say 1,000 targets might be out of vary for Ovechkin, however it might not be sensible to place his probabilities of getting there at zero due to the longevity, sturdiness and consistency he is proven up to now.
