Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is already some of the heralded gamers in NHL historical past. The legendary ahead already has a ton of information on the NHL historical past books, however there’s yet one more nonetheless to go that might put him within the pantheon of all-time greats.

Ovechkin is on the verge of turning into the NHL’s all-time targets chief, and he can go Wayne Gretzky’s mark of 894 in the course of the 2024-25 common season. The Capitals standout presently has 873 profession targets, so must rack up 22 extra targets this season to be able to prime Gretzky’s document.

The 2023-24 marketing campaign proved to be a mortal one for Ovechkin, who scored 31 targets final season, his lowest whole in a full-length season since he netted 32 targets within the 2012-13 season. Ovechkin did have simply 24 targets in 2020-21, however that season was shortened as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.

Ovechkin scored 42 targets in the course of the 2022-23 season, and has tallied not less than 41 targets in 13 of his 19 NHL seasons.

Ovechkin presently has tallied 1,582 factors (873 targets, 709 assists) in his skilled profession. He made much more historical past in 2023-24 when he registered an NHL document 18th 30-goal season, passing Mike Gartner’s 17 for the glory.

Ovechkin just lately returned to the ice after lacking over a month with a leg harm. Since his return, Ovechkin has scored 5 targets in 5 video games, together with a tally in Washington’s 4-1 win in opposition to the Nashville Predators on Jan. 11.

At this season’s tempo, given well being, Ovechkin would surpass “The Nice One” earlier than the top of the common season. He is already scored 20 targets this season regardless of lacking a month as a consequence of harm.

Ovechkin will probably proceed to be a longtime pressure on the Capitals’ prime power-play unit, so there figures to be loads of goal-scoring alternatives. He, clearly, has gotten off to a a lot hotter begin than he did a 12 months in the past when he recorded simply 5 targets over the primary two months of the season.

CBS Sports activities will preserve monitor of Ovechkin’s targets all through the season and preserve tabs on how shut he’s to eclipsing Gretzky’s all-time document.