Leo’s Hockey Report: Alex Ovechkin joins exclusive company with latest goal

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin celebrating after scoring his 900th career NHL goal. (Credit: Getty Images/Patrick Smith)

Alex Ovechkin has created an impressive resume during his 21-year National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Washington Capitals.

Ovechkin began his NHL career on the right foot. He took home the Calder Memorial Trophy in his first season. The honour is given to the NHL’s top rookie. Ovechkin remains the only player in Capitals history to win the award.  

Following his rookie season, Ovechkin continued his torrent play. The forward has been named to the NHL All-Star team 13 times. He has also taken home multiple individual awards, such as the Ted Lindsey Award and the Rocket Richard Trophy. 

The Moscow native received his only Stanley Cup ring in 2018.  

At the same time, Ovechkin has cemented himself as one of the NHL’s top goal scorers.

He broke Wayne Gretzky’s scoring record last season. His 895th goal came in a game against the New York Islanders in April.  

This goal-scoring ability was on display last Wednesday. Ovechkin scored his 900th career goal in the NHL, a mark that has never been seen in the over 100 years of the league being in existence. Scoring nine centuries-worth of goals is another feather in his cap.  

I guess you could call him the president and founder of the newly minted 900 goal society. 

The monumental goal took place less than three minutes into the second period. Capital defenceman Jacob Chychrun fired a shot on net. The puck bounced off the boards and right into the direction of a lurking Ovechkin. He fired a backhand past the St. Louis keeper, Jordan Binnington.  

Washington ended up winning the game 6-1.  

“I think a couple of days ago somebody asked me about, ‘Do you think about it?’” Ovechkin told reporters after the game. “Of course. It’s a huge number. No one ever did it in NHL history and to be the first player ever to do it, it’s a special moment. So, yeah, it’s nice it’s over, and it’s nice to get it at home, so the fans and family can be here.” 

During the early part of the season, Ovechkin has been snake bitten. He had two goals and five points in the first 13 games of the season, all of which came following an historic 2024-25 season. However, he got the monkey off his back over two weeks into the season. 

The first marker came in a game against the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 17. Ovechkin’s opening goal was the 898th of his illustrious career.

Meanwhile, his second goal of the season came a week later. Ovechkin scored against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The marker, which took place less than a minute into the final frame, was his 899th goal. Columbus is the squad that has faced the wrath of Ovechkin the most during his career.  

His first career goal came on Oct. 5, 2005.  

“I don't think I have lots of weight on my shoulders, I just try to play the game, try to do as best as I can ... 13 games, 14 games, you have plenty of games left, of course you're going to score one goal," Ovechkin told reporters. "It's nice to get it." 

Scoring 900 goals is not the only accomplishment for Ovechkin this season. He skated in his 1500th career game against the Ottawa Senators, a team he has over 26 goals against. All of those games came while wearing the familiar red, white and blue colours of the Washington Capitals. 

He is the eighth player in NHL history to play his entire career with one team. The milestone came on Oct. 25.  

Ovechkin told reporters after Wednesday’s game that he cherished both milestones. He said he was lucky to play so many games for one team throughout his career.  

“Every milestone, it’s a special moment,” he said after the game. “But tonight, obviously, it’s a special one to be the first player ever to do it.” 

With Ovechkin smashing records and becoming the best goal scorer the NHL has ever seen, the question remains. How long does Ovie have left in the tank before deciding to hang the skates up for good?  

He is in the final year of his five-year contract. The deal was signed in July 2021, carrying an average annual value of $9.5 million. 

Compared to some of the other contracts that were signed over the past couple of months, locking Ovechkin up for less than $10 million seems like a steal for former general manager Brian MacLellan and the rest of the management team. 

Ovechkin is unsure whether he will play next season. He has been admitted to exhausting the final year of his contract, which expires at season’s end. Yet, playing for the Capitals beyond the 2025-26 NHL season remains a mystery.  

Therefore, Caps fans and players should be faced with the harsh reality that the great eight may not be back in the United States capital when the puck drops on next year’s season. 

Regardless of when Ovechkin decides to call it a career, all we can do is sit back and let him work his magic. He may not have the same energy as he did during the early years, but Ovechkin can torch defenders when he so desires.

His play this season is set to be absolute cinema and fun to watch.