Ice hockey legend <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/wayne-gretzky">Wayne Gretzky</a> has expressed his admiration for Alex Ovechkin as the Washington Capitals captain moves closer to breaking his all-time NHL scoring record.



Ovechkin, whose rivalry with <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/sidney-crosby">Sidney Crosby</a> fueled the sport’s growth in the 2010s, has generated even more interest this season with his pursuit of Gretzky’s record. 



Gretzky, who surpassed Gordie Howe’s goal record in 1989 and has held the top spot for 35 years, now sees <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/alex-ovechkin">Alex Ovechkin</a> just a few goals away from matching and surpassing this historic milestone. Despite Ovechkin’s recent injury, he is expected to return this season to continue his pursuit.



“Alex has been exceptional for our game,” Gretzky said on CNBC’s Squawk Box. “I hope I’m the first guy to shake his hand when he does break the record.” Gretzky also acknowledged the inevitability of records being broken, saying, “That’s progression in our sport.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="572" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241121_BUS_277460_Alex-Ovechkin-Capitals-1024x572_026075ec.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=572" alt="" class="wp-image-277517" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Alex-Ovechkin-Capitals-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Alex-Ovechkin-Capitals-300x168.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Alex-Ovechkin-Capitals-768x429.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Alex-Ovechkin-Capitals-1536x858.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Alex-Ovechkin-Capitals-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Alex-Ovechkin-Capitals-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Alex-Ovechkin-Capitals.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals takes a shot against against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of the game at Capital One Arena on October 15, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



<h3>The growth of Hockey and Gretzky’s legacy</h3>



Ice hockey has seen significant growth in recent years, with Gretzky playing a key role in its development. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman noted the rising value of NHL teams, which now average nearly $2 billion each.


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Gretzky reflected on the moment he broke Howe’s record, sharing how it felt to surpass his idol. He also emphasized the importance of youth development in hockey, recalling his own experience of having an ice rink in his backyard as a child.



<h2>The future of Hockey and the legacy of Gretzky and Ovechkin</h2>



Gretzky believes hockey is in a strong position and its future is bright. The league has successfully attracted new fans and expanded its global reach. “I never played and thought about the records themselves. I was lucky enough to play on some great teams and in some great cities. I always tell people it was an honor and a privilege to play in the National Hockey League,” Gretzky said.



Ovechkin, for his part, is leaving an indelible legacy in hockey. His skill, dedication, and passion for the game have solidified his place as one of the greatest players of all time. Surpassing Gretzky’s record will mark a historic moment in the sport.



As Ovechkin closes in on this milestone, the hockey world watches with anticipation. The rivalry between legends and the pursuit of greatness in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nhl">NHL</a> continue to propel the growth and popularity of the sport.

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<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nhl">NHL</a> legend Wayne Gretzky boasts almost every record in league history. Since his retirement in 1999, not many players have even come close to sniffing his accolades. However, there is one that actually did and is closing in on “The Great One”. On that note, Gretzky has made something clear to Alex Ovechkin on the NHL goals record.



The Washington Capitals star <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/alex-ovechkin">Ovechkin</a> is currently 33 goals away from Gretzky’s 894 tallies, record in NHL history. The Russian winger has had a strong start to the 2024/25 season and the feat seems closer as each day flies by.



Although <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/wayne-gretzky">Gretzky</a> has dozens of other records to boast about and feel proud on, letting go the league’s record for most goals is definitely a tough pill to swallow. However, Wayne has made something clear to Ovechkin on the record, showing his grace for another legend’s accomplishment.



“It’s not a question of if he is going to break the record,” Gretzky stated, via TNT. “It’s a question of when is he going to break the record.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241107_BUS_268070_Wayne-Gretzky-addresses-fans-prior-to-the-2020-NHL-All-Star-Skills-Competition-at-Enterprise-Center-1024x576_af68aa63.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-268168" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Wayne-Gretzky-addresses-fans-prior-to-the-2020-NHL-All-Star-Skills-Competition-at-Enterprise-Center-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Wayne-Gretzky-addresses-fans-prior-to-the-2020-NHL-All-Star-Skills-Competition-at-Enterprise-Center-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Wayne-Gretzky-addresses-fans-prior-to-the-2020-NHL-All-Star-Skills-Competition-at-Enterprise-Center-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Wayne-Gretzky-addresses-fans-prior-to-the-2020-NHL-All-Star-Skills-Competition-at-Enterprise-Center-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Wayne-Gretzky-addresses-fans-prior-to-the-2020-NHL-All-Star-Skills-Competition-at-Enterprise-Center-740x416.jpg 740w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Wayne-Gretzky-addresses-fans-prior-to-the-2020-NHL-All-Star-Skills-Competition-at-Enterprise-Center-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Wayne-Gretzky-addresses-fans-prior-to-the-2020-NHL-All-Star-Skills-Competition-at-Enterprise-Center-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Wayne-Gretzky-addresses-fans-prior-to-the-2020-NHL-All-Star-Skills-Competition-at-Enterprise-Center.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Wayne Gretzky addresses fans prior to the 2020 NHL All-Star Skills Competition at Enterprise Center on January 24, 2020 in St Louis, Missouri.</figcaption></figure>



The Great One has as much confidence in Ovechkin as anybody in the Russian’s circle. Gretzky has shown his support for the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/washington-capitals">Capitals</a> star in many occassions, often highlighting his desire for Ovi to break his goal tally.


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<h2>Ovechkin recognizes Gretzky’s support</h2>



The 39-year old is a man on a mission. He is after that accolade. Though widely considered as the best goalscorer in the history of the game, breaking Gretzky’s record would cement the claim for Ovechkin. As he inches closer to the history-making figure, Ovi has admitted Gretzky has often times sent him messages in support for his charge at the record.



“It’s great. Even when I have a slump, he will sometimes text me and say, ‘Don’t worry about it. It will come.’ He’s on my side,” Ovechkin said, earlier on the seaon. “If that kind of person is rooting for me, it’s pretty cool stuff. He’s the best player out there and he’s a great human. He supports me and it’s a pretty cool thing. I hope when it’s going to be close, he’ll give me some advice. But not yet.”



<h2>Gretzky’s Points Record is safe and sound</h2>



Though his goals milestone is within reach from Ovechkin, “The Great One” possesses plenty other feats that are well out of the grasp of any walking NHL player on the Earth’s surface. Primarily Gretzky’s Points total. 



Gretzky’s 2,857 points in the National Hockey League put him in a pedestal. The second player on that list is Jaromir Jagr, who is 936 points away. That’s a whole career’s worth of points production. The closest active player to Gretzky’s mark is Sidney Crosby, however, the 37-year old center is 1,246 points behind. It is safe to say we may never witness that record slipping away Gretzky’s hands.

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Five games into the 2024-25 season, Alex Ovechkin stands just 40 goals away from Wayne Gretzky’s <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nhl">NHL</a> scoring record. As the Washington Capitals star approaches this historic milestone, he has made a surprising revelation about his relationship with “The Great One.”



The 39-year-old Ovechkin has his sights set on a clear objective as he enters his 20th season. Following the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/washington-capitals">Capitals</a>’ 2018 Stanley Cup victory, there wasn’t much left for Ovi to achieve. However, the what’s on his mind could forever alter NHL history. 



The Russian winger is closer to <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/wayne-gretzky">Gretzky</a>‘s astounding feat than anyone has ever been. That said, Ovechkin’s yearly production has declined in recent years, and it might take him another full season to surpass the Edmonton Oilers legend.



<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/alex-ovechkin">Ovechkin</a> opened his scoring account for the season with his 854th goal, putting him just 40 goals shy of Gretzky’s record of 894. While no player relishes the thought of their individual accolades being overshadowed, Ovechkin made a stunning confession about how Gretzky closely monitors his pursuit of the record. In fact, Wayne even texts Alex with encouraging messages.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241023_BUS_258586_Alex-Ovechkin-8-of-the-Washington-Capitals-looks-on-against-the-Dallas-Stars-during-the-first-perio-1024x576_d0270e43.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-258637" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Alex-Ovechkin-8-of-the-Washington-Capitals-looks-on-against-the-Dallas-Stars-during-the-first-perio-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Alex-Ovechkin-8-of-the-Washington-Capitals-looks-on-against-the-Dallas-Stars-during-the-first-perio-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Alex-Ovechkin-8-of-the-Washington-Capitals-looks-on-against-the-Dallas-Stars-during-the-first-perio-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Alex-Ovechkin-8-of-the-Washington-Capitals-looks-on-against-the-Dallas-Stars-during-the-first-perio-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Alex-Ovechkin-8-of-the-Washington-Capitals-looks-on-against-the-Dallas-Stars-during-the-first-perio-740x416.jpg 740w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Alex-Ovechkin-8-of-the-Washington-Capitals-looks-on-against-the-Dallas-Stars-during-the-first-perio-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Alex-Ovechkin-8-of-the-Washington-Capitals-looks-on-against-the-Dallas-Stars-during-the-first-perio-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Alex-Ovechkin-8-of-the-Washington-Capitals-looks-on-against-the-Dallas-Stars-during-the-first-perio.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals looks on against the Dallas Stars during the first period at Capital One Arena on October 17, 2024 in Washington, DC.</figcaption></figure>



“It’s great. Even when I have a slump, he will sometimes text me and say, ‘Don’t worry about it. It will come.’ He’s on my side. If that kind of person is rooting for me, it’s pretty cool stuff. He’s the best player out there and he’s a great human. He supports me and it’s a pretty cool thing. I hope when it’s going to be close, he’ll give me some advice. But not yet.”


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<h2>Can Ovechkin reclaim his elite form?</h2>



Last season, Ovechkin scored a career-low 31 goals in 79 games with the Capitals. However, he had a great second-half to the season, scoring 23 times in his final 36 appearances. Judging by the recent-years pace, Ovechkin would get his shot at the record during the 2025/26 season. 



That is, unless we witness a vintage Ovi capable of scoring 40 times in a season. Not long ago, he tallied 42 goals during the 22/23 season. Whether last season was a fluke or a sign of what’s to come, remains to be seen.



<h3>Power Play: Ovi’s best friend</h3>



Ovechkin will continue to operate from his office, positioned over the left faceoff dot, where he has made a living with his lethal one-timer. The Capitals have bolstered their roster with defenseman Jacob Chychrun, who poses a significant threat from the blue line and can create additional space for Ovechkin, a player who has proven he doesn’t need much open ice to find the back of the net.

Wayne Gretzky

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