Alexander Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky's NHL goals record
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Ovechkin Surpasses Gretzky as NHL's All-Time Goal Scorer
Above: Alex Ovechkin celebrates after scoring his 895th career goal against the New York Islanders during the second period at UBS Arena on April 6, 2025. Image copyright: Steven Ryan/Contributor/NHLI via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
This record-breaking achievement solidifies Ovechkin's status as hockey's greatest goal-scorer. He has demonstrated remarkable consistency and durability throughout his career — particularly impressive given that he accomplished this feat in an era with significantly better goaltending and more defensive systems than during Gretzky's time.
Narrative B
While Ovechkin's milestone is extraordinary, Gretzky's overall impact on hockey remains unmatched. Gretzky still holds 55 NHL records and achieved his goal-scoring feat in an era without modern training methods and equipment advantages, making his broader legacy arguably more impressive.