Alexander Ovechkin is a 39-year-old Russian ice hockey player in the National Hockey League. He has been playing for the Washington Capitals for the past 20 years. Ovechkin plays left wing for the Caps and is one of their top goal scorers.

He started playing hockey at a young age and played for his first professional ice hockey team in Russia for Dynamo Moscow at 16 years old. From here he excelled, earning himself a spot in the NHL, and being the first overall draft pick by the Capitals.

During his first season with the Capitals, he made the All-Rookie Team, ending the season with 52 goals and 54 assists, winning him Rookie of the Year and the Calder Memorial Trophy.

Ovechkin is a world-renown ice hockey player. Some of his achievements include most empty net goals, most power play goals, most shots on goal, Conn Smythe Trophy winner, three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner, three-time Ted Lindsay Award winner, 13 NHL All-Star Game elections, nine-time Maurice “Rockey” Richard Trophy winner, Art Ross Trophy, and one-time Stanley Cup winner.

Most recently he has been recognized as one of three players who has scored 800 career goals in the NHL. This past season, Ovechkin has been working hard to pass Wayne Gretzky’s all time goals scoring record of 894 in the NHL.

Gretzky retired from ice hockey in 1999, ending his 21-year hockey career. In the 2022-2023 season, he passed Gordie Howe, which had held the second-place spot with 801 goals scored. Ovechkin started the season with 853 career goals and has been slowly working his way up to his goal of 895.

Since his goal of beating Gretzky had grown so popular, he decided to make a charity campaign out if it. He started a charity called the GR8 Chase for Victory Over Cancer, which supports research for pediatric cancer through the V foundation.

On Sunday, April 6, 2025, in a game against the New York Islanders, he officially passed the record for the most goals in the National Hockey League with 858 goals.

After his record-breaking accomplishment, they held a quick ceremony on the ice to commemorate the moment. Wayne Gretzky was there to congratulate him on beating his record.

During his nineteenth season with the Capitals, he will officially become the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer.