For His Next Trick, Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin Could Record This Milestone Early in 2025-26
Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin made NHL history last season when he broke Wayne Gretzky’s once thought to be unbreakable all-time career goal record of 894.
After notching record-eclipsing goal No. 895, the 39-year-old wing potted two more goals to close the campaign, taking his career tally to 897.
“The Great 8” could conceivably score goal no. 900 in the Capitals’ regular season opener. Washington will open the 2025-26 regular season at home against the Boston Bruins on Oct. 8.
Ovechkin will turn 40 before the regular season gets underway. Since scoring two goals in his Oct. 5, 2005, NHL debut, he’s often done things in style.
21 years later, could he score an opening night hat trick to reach 900? Anything is possible with Ovi. His career has been full of unforgettable and electrifying moments.
Once he passes 900, it’s up for debate how many more Ovechkin will score before he retires from the NHL. This summer, there was some confusion over whether the upcoming season would be his last in the NHL.
“We are not in negotiations yet,” Ovechkin told RIA Novosti’s Andrey Senchenko regarding his future. “Would I like to stay at the club? A year will pass, and we will think about it. We will live and see.”
Last season, he showed no sign of slowing down. The 6-foot-3 wing tallied 44 goals in 65 regular season games.
Ovechkin has been remarkably durable throughout his career, averaging 75 games played per season. The three-time Hart Trophy winner could have plenty of goals left in his accurate wrists.
Capitals fans will look forward to him setting up in his office at the top of the left face-off circle and firing precision-guided one-timers past helpless netminders.
Provided that he doesn’t suffer an early-season injury, No. 900 is coming soon. Stay tuned.
Alex Ovechkin isn’t going to be circling the ice at Capital One Arena forever. At some point, his number 8 will hang high from the rafters alongside Rod Langway’s no. 5, Yvon Labre’s no. 7, Mike Gartner’s no. 11 and Dale Hunter’s no. 32.
It’s hard to imagine a season-opening montage without Ovechkin’s trademark gap-toothed smile and exuberant celebrations.
Alongside Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, he is chiefly responsible for ushering in an exciting era that lifted the gloom following the entire 2004-05 season being cancelled due to a lockout.
No one knows exactly when Ovechkin will hang up his skates. The 39-year-old will turn 40 on Sept. 17.
In late May, a select group of Capitals season ticket holders received an e-mail announcing that the 2025-26 season would be Ovechkin’s last. The e-mail turned out to be sent out mistakenly by the team’s corporate sales department.
Ovechkin has made several public statements that have kept reporters guessing about his future. In the past, he has spoken about his desire to finish his career with Dynamo Moscow of the KHL. He poured cold water on the rumor that the 2025-26 season would be his final NHL campaign when he spoke to SportsExpress.ru.
“This is nonsense that you guys start twisting around, putting us in an uncomfortable position. We’ll see,” Ovechkin said. “Could I stay in the NHL for another season? Anything is possible.”
Thankfully for Caps fans and coast-to-coast NHL diehards, talk of Ovechkin retiring has been shelved for now. We can all relax and fully soak up all of his 2025-26 season highlights.
Last season, Ovechkin showed little evidence of slowing down. He recorded one of his finest statistical performances despite nearing age 40. The Washington captain tallied 44 goals and 29 assists in 65 regular season games. His 3.8 points per 60 minutes in all situations was the second highest of his career, only trailing his 4.1 PTS/60 of 2009-10.
“The Great 8” passed “The Great One” when he eclipsed Wayne Gretzky ’s previous NHL record of 894 NHL goals. On Apr. 6, Ovechkin scored his 895th career goal on the power play past New York Islanders goaltender and fellow countryman Ilya Sorokin to conquer what was once thought to be an unbreakable record.
Ovechkin enters his 21st season with 897 goals, 726 assists and 1,623 lifetime points through 1,491 regular season NHL games. He’s been one of the most charismatic, colorful and entertaining players ever to lace up a pair of skates. When he decides to call it a day, nothing about it will be ordinary – because his career has been anything but ordinary.
Bo Nix Takes the Blame: Teammates Call Out QB for 4 Critical Mistakes in Broncos' Heartbreaking Loss
The blame game took a sharp turn for Bo Nix after the Denver Broncos' devastating loss, with teammates pointing the finger at the quarterback for four critical mistakes that derailed their chances of securing a victory. Nix, who had been relied upon to lead the Broncos’ offense, faced intense scrutiny after failing to execute in key moments, leading to missed opportunities and ultimately costing the team the game.
The most glaring errors included missed throws, poor decision-making under pressure, and an ill-timed interception that swung momentum in favor of the opposing team. Teammates, frustrated by Nix's performance, expressed their disappointment, highlighting how these blunders set the tone for the Broncos' collapse.
"We all know we’ve got to play better as a team, but there were some moments where Bo’s mistakes put us in tough positions," said one offensive player. "We can’t afford to have those kinds of errors, especially when we’re trying to win games like this."
Despite the criticism, Nix took full responsibility for the loss. “I know I let the team down,” he said after the game. "I’ve got to be better. It’s on me to make those plays, and I didn’t do it today. I’ll learn from this, and I’ll come back stronger."
The Broncos are now left to pick up the pieces after a performance that showcased both individual and team failures. With the pressure mounting on Nix to improve, the coming weeks will determine whether he can bounce back from these mistakes or if the blame will continue to fall squarely on his shoulders.
