Alex Ovechkin scored his 895th goal during the second period of a game against the New York Islanders, surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s career total of 894 NHL goals. The goal made Ovechkin the highest goal-scorer in NHL history. Ovechkin plays for the Washington Capitals and is 39 years old.
After scoring, Ovechkin belly-flopped onto the ice and was surrounded by teammates. The game paused to recognize the milestone.
- Alex Ovechkin scored his 895th NHL goal against the New York Islanders, surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s long-standing record of 894 career goals.
- Wayne Gretzky still holds the NHL records for most assists (1,963), most points (2,857), and remains the only player with four 200-point seasons.
- Despite losing the goal record, Gretzky’s legacy as a four-time Stanley Cup champion and holder of 61 NHL records continues to define hockey greatness.
Wayne Gretzky’s NHL Career and Records
Wayne Gretzky was born on January 26, 1961, in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. He began skating at two and a half years old. His father taught him to play hockey. By age six, he played in a league with boys aged 10 and 11. He scored one goal in his first season but later scored 378 goals in a single minor league season.
He played in the 1977 Junior World Cup, was the youngest participant, and the leading scorer. He joined the WHA’s Indianapolis Racers in the 1978–79 season. His contract was sold to the Edmonton Oilers. When the Oilers entered the NHL in the 1979–80 season, Gretzky began his NHL career.
In his first NHL season, Gretzky scored 51 goals and 86 assists for 137 points. In 1980–81, he became the first player to average over two points per game. In the 1981–82 season, he set NHL records for goals (92), assists (120), and total points (212). In 1985–86, he set new records for assists (163) and points (215). No other NHL player has had a 200-point season. Gretzky achieved it four times.
He won the Art Ross Trophy for highest scoring in seven consecutive seasons from 1980–81 to 1986–87 and again in 1989–90, 1990–91, and 1993–94. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy for league MVP in eight consecutive seasons from 1979–80 to 1986–87 and again in 1988–89.
Gretzky led the Oilers to four Stanley Cup wins: 1983–84, 1984–85, 1986–87, and 1987–88. In 1989–90, he surpassed Gordie Howe’s all-time scoring record of 1,850 points. In 1993–94, he broke Howe’s record for career goals (801). In 1997, he passed 1,851 career assists, becoming the first to have more assists than any player had total points.
Gretzky retired after the 1998–99 NHL season. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame the same year. His career totals include 894 goals, 1,963 assists, and 2,857 points. The NHL retired his jersey number (99) league-wide after his final game.
Trade to Los Angeles and Later Career
In August 1988, Gretzky was traded by the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings. The trade included Mike Krushelnyski and Marty McSorley. In exchange, the Oilers received Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, Los Angeles’ first-round picks in 1989, 1991, and 1993, and $15 million.
Gretzky played in the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals with the Kings. The team lost to the Montreal Canadiens in five games. He later played for the St. Louis Blues, then signed with the New York Rangers in 1996. He remained with the Rangers until retirement.
Post-Retirement Roles
In 2000, Gretzky became a minority owner of the Phoenix Coyotes. In 2005, he was named head coach. He resigned as coach in 2009 and lost his ownership stake when the team filed for bankruptcy and was purchased by the NHL.
In 2016, Gretzky became a partner and vice chairman of the Edmonton Oilers. He stepped down in 2021 and became a TV analyst.
He founded the Wayne Gretzky Foundation. He is also associated with Wayne Gretzky’s restaurant in Toronto and Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery. He was the Executive Director of the Canadian men’s hockey team that won gold in the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Gretzky is married to Janet Jones. They have five children: Paulina, Emma, Ty, Trevor, and Tristan.
Ovechkin’s Season and Team Performance
In the 2024–25 NHL season, the Washington Capitals finished first in the Eastern Conference with a 51–22–9 record. They scored 288 goals and conceded 232. The team was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Carolina Hurricanes.
Washington goaltender Logan Thompson posted a .926 save percentage and a +7.7 Goals Saved Above Expected rating.
In the second-round playoff series against Carolina, odds favored the Hurricanes. Betting sites listed the Hurricanes at –164 to win the series and –170 to win Game 1.
Aliaksei Protas returned from injury and scored in Game 1. He was listed at 30/1 odds to lead the series in goals. Thompson had 50/1 odds to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Sportsbooks offered odds on when and how Ovechkin would break Gretzky’s record. The New York Islanders were favored as the likely opponent. Odds were also offered on the type of goal and the period in which it would occur. Ovechkin’s “Anytime Goalscorer” prop received high betting volume during the season.
Retirement Speculation
The Washington Capitals sent a message suggesting the 2025–26 season would be Ovechkin’s last. The team later clarified that Ovechkin had not made a retirement decision. He is expected to begin his 21st NHL season in the fall, turning 40 in September.
Ovechkin currently holds franchise records in goals, points, and power-play goals. He ranks second in assists.
