During his most recent appearance with TNT, Wayne Gretzky spoke about how he believed Alex Ovechkin would break his NHL goals record, adding that it would be “great for the game.” Gretzky also recalled the story about Ovechkin wanting one of his game-used sticks for his massive twig collection.
In March 2016, Wayne and Janet Gretzky had dinner with Alex and Nastya in Malibu. There, the two goal-scoring greats got to know each other, and Ovechkin made the ask.
Wayne said yes, but with one condition.
“I will tell ya, [Ovechkin] asked me one time for a game-used stick, and I said I’ll give you a game-used stick, but you gotta win the Stanley Cup,” Gretzky said on TNT.
Fast-forward two years, and Ovechkin kept his end of the bargain, and Gretzky’s potential donation to his museum was not far from his mind, despite a huge celebration in Las Vegas.
When the Capitals won their first championship, Ovechkin admitted he was so pumped on the ice at T-Mobile Arena that he has little recollection of what happened.
“Tough memories because it’s erased,” Ovechkin said to ESPN. “I was so excited, I can’t remember basically nothing. Just blackout.”
The team walked the Stanley Cup through MGM Resort and had a banquet with family and friends. They also celebrated at a Vegas nightclub with Tiesto.
The next day, the Capitals flew home to DC. Most players hadn’t slept. But, according to Wayne, he still got a message from Ovi.
“He won the Stanley Cup, and the next day, he said, ‘Can I get that stick?’” Gretzky recalled on TNT. “I said I think you should enjoy the Cup more than my stick right now.”
After swimming in fountains and inventing the Cup stand, Ovechkin eventually received the stick that Gretzky scored his 807th career goal with in November 2019.
“I was happy like a little kid to have a Christmas gift,” Ovechkin said. “It’s in my collection.”
Gretzky autographed the twig and added an inscription, “To Alex, love watching you play.”
Now, as Ovechkin goes after Gretzky’s NHL goals record, he’s getting texts of encouragement from The Great One.
“He’s on my side,” Ovechkin said.
