Could Ovechkin Break Gretzky’s Record This Year? Capitals Captain Says He Would’ve Already Hit 895 If Not For Lockout & COVID-19

The Capitals captain is 42 goals away from breaking a record that many never thought could be broken.

The Washington Capitals have been through quite a bit of change this offseason, and amid questions regarding their ability to remain a contender, one remains: when will Alex Ovechkin break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record?

Capitals' Alex Ovechkin becomes only player in NHL history to start career with 19 consecutive 20-goal seasons - Daily Faceoff

Ovechkin sits at 853 goals and is 42 away from setting a new record. He has two years left on the five-year extension that he signed in 2021, and looking at the record itself, he told vlogger Amiran Sardarov that he believes it could have already been broken if the 2004 lockout and COVID-19 pause didn’t happen.

“If there’d been no lockout and pandemic, I think Gretzky’s record would have already been broken,” Ovechkin said, as translated by Google Translate. “But unfortunately, such moments happen.”

Considering that, when exactly could Ovechkin break Gretzky’s record?

Ovechkin is entering his 20th NHL season and is coming off his record-breaking 18th 30-goal campaign after potting 31 goals last year. However, it wasn’t an easy feat for him.

The Capitals captain struggled to find twine at the start of last season, putting up just eight goals through the first 43 games of the season while dealing with injuries and issues with his hockey sticks. However, after hitting reset during the All-Star Break and switching twigs, he found his touch again, netting 22 in his final 36 games of the year.

Looking at his scoring pace in the second half of the season, Ovechkin was managing about .64 goals per game. In a full 82-game season, that would have put him on pace for 52 goals.

If he can maintain that same pace and pick up where he left off, the record could be broken this year, and he’d also surpass 900. It’ll take a lot of factors, though, to make it happen.

First and foremost, he’ll have to stay healthy and remain in game shape, and he’s shown he’s ready to do that. Ovechkin, who turns 39 in September, just played in an NHL vs. KHL All-Star Game and showed that his rocket of a shot is still very much present and evident.

His teammates will also be a big help, as he has a plethora of centers and new teammates to help him out. Washington bolstered its offense big time this summer, bringing in Jakob Chychrun to help provide more scoring from the blue line while also acquiring Pierre-Luc Dubois to add center depth.

Dubois isn’t guaranteed to be the team’s first-line center, but his pass-first mentality could be huge for Ovechkin and help establish chemistry between the two. Dylan Strome is also used to playing alongside the Russian star and knows what it takes to get him goals, and Hendrix Lapierre and Connor McMichael have also worked well with Ovechkin.

That said, there will be options at even strength and on the man advantage when it comes to bolstering Ovechkin’s production.

Ultimately, though, what it’ll all come down to is consistency, but looking at his performance over the years, it’s definitely possible for Ovechkin to pass it faster than expected.

Otherwise, it’ll just take two more 21-goal seasons to pass No. 99, and given his determination, it doesn’t seem he’ll hang ’em up before the record is broken.

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