After breaking Wayne Gretzky’s goal record last season, Alex Ovechkin makes major admission on next milestone in line with Capitals

Alex Ovechkin made headlines across the media last NHL season after surpassing Wayne Gretzky in career goals. But the legendary Washington Capitals forward isn’t satisfied just yet—he’s now aiming to break yet another record as the new season approaches.

What is the next barrier the veteran is looking to break in the near future? He is just nine games away from becoming the 23rd player in the league’s history to reach 1,500 career games.

Regarding this remarkable milestone that’s just around the corner, the player himself recently shared with the media how he feels about the possibility of reaching it.

“You just get used to it, you’re ready for it, it’s clear that playing 1,500 games for one team is worth a lot. Very few players in the entire league have played that many, so this figure will be very important for me.” he said, according to Russian Machine Never Breaks.

Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring a goal during the first period in Game Five of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens at Capital One Arena on April 30, 2025 in Washington, DC.

“I want to play 1,500 games in the NHL,” Ovechkin also said. “I don’t remember how many I have now. I can get there in two seasons. I already have the most games among Russian players in the NHL. I think that’s a great achievement. And this is for one club – only I and [Evgeni Malkin] have that.”

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Alex Ovechkin’s bold response to fantasy trade linking Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to Capitals

NHL all-time games played leaders

The NHL is undoubtedly home to a long list of players who have defined an era in the sport. Alex Ovechkin now aims to continue climbing the ranks among the league’s all-time leaders in games played.

Patrick Marleau currently leads the all-time ranking with 1,779 games played. Behind him, in second place, is Gordie Howe, just 12 games shy of the top spot. Rounding out the podium is Mark Messier, with 1,756 games. Here is the rest of the top 10:

• Jaromir Jagr – 1,733
• Ron Francis – 1,731
• Joe Thornton – 1,714
• Zdeno Chara – 1,680
• Mark Recchi – 1,652
• Chris Chelios – 1,651
• Dave Andreychuk – 1,639

Patrick Marleau #12 of the San Jose Sharks waits for a faceoff in the third period of a game against the Vegas Golden Knights, his 1,768th NHL game, at T-Mobile Arena on April 19, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. With this game, Marleau breaks Gordie Howe’s record of 1,767 career NHL games played. The Golden Knights defeated the Sharks 3-2 in a shootout.

A big season lies ahead

Alex Ovechkin is entering the final year of his five-year contract with the Washington Capitals, taking him through the 2025-26 season. While rumors about his potential retirement or a return to Russia after this contract have circulated, Ovechkin himself has stated his future beyond 2026 is undecided, keeping all options open. He’s made it clear he’ll evaluate his status after the upcoming season.

Currently sitting at 1,491 games played, Ovechkin is on the cusp of hitting the 1,500-game milestone in the NHL. Given he’s confirmed playing the 2025-26 season, he’ll undoubtedly surpass this mark early in the campaign, further cementing his place among the league’s most durable and impactful players.