The greatest goal scorer in NHL history turned 40 on Wednesday and will continue to add to his illustrious career in the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Alex Ovechkin is one of three 40-year-olds set to suit up in the NHL this season alongside Colorado Avalanche defenceman Brent Burns and Los Angeles Kings winger Corey Perry.
And if Ovechkin has proven anything in his career, it’s that age has not mattered when it comes to his goal-scoring prowess as the Moscow, Russia product has been very consistent when it comes to putting the puck in the net.
Ovechkin scored at his most prolific clip from ages 20-24, with 269 goals in 396 games (0.68 goals per game) along with 529 points (1.34 points per game).
In the back half of his 20s, Ovechkin scored 206 goals in 364 games for a mark of 0.57 goals per game.
He continued that pace into his 30s. From 30-34, he notched 231 goals in 392 games (0.59 goals per game), but he dipped below a point per game for the first time in his career during this era with 383 points (0.98 PPG).
From 35-39, Ovechkin had 191 goals and 345 points in 339 games, with age 39 being one of his most famous seasons.
Ovechkin opened the 2024-25 season at 853 career goals with Wayne Gretzky’s career mark of 894 on the horizon. When he broke his fibula on Nov. 18, Ovechkin was leading the league in goals with 15. Returning six weeks later, he picked up where he left off.
He scored his 20th goal of the year in January, joining Gordie Howe as the second player in NHL history to record 20 consecutive 20-goal seasons. In February, he became the first player to score 200 or more goals in three different decades (245 goals in the 2000s, 437 goals in the 2010s and 200 in the 2020s).
He broke Gretzky’s record with the 895th goal on April 6 against the New York Islanders, scoring a power-play goal past Ilya Sorokin in a 4-1 loss. He ended the season with 44 goals, finishing third in the league, and at 897 career goals. It was his 14th 40-goal season and is the second player after Howe to have a 40-goal season at age 39 or older.
Ovechkin’s ability to stay on the ice is nearly unmatched. Prior to last season, Ovechkin had played at least 72 games in every NHL season of his career, minus lockout- and COVID-shortened years.
Ovechkin’s trophy case is one of the most impressive in NHL history. He has nine Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophies, three Hart Trophies and Lester B. Pearson/Ted Lindsay Awards as well as one Art Ross Trophy, Calder Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy.
He captured his first Stanley Cup title after 13 seasons in 2018, the first in Capitals franchise history.
With a packed trophy case and the NHL goal-scoring record under his belt, Ovechkin’s next benchmark is the 900-goal mark, and he needs just three goals to do it. He starts his quest for 900 on Oct. 8 as the Capitals kick off their regular season against the Boston Bruins.
