Alex Ovechkin may be doing several wardrobe changes during his next few games, potentially wearing a new jersey every period he plays.
The Capitals’ equipment staff will be working overtime with the team’s captain as several parties are interested in capturing game-used gear from when he eventually overtakes Wayne Gretzky for the all-time goals record. The news was revealed on the Tales from the Warehouse podcast presented by MeiGray, the long-time authenticator of Capitals game-used gear.
The podcast featured guest appearances from Meigray CEO Barry Meisel and long-time Capitals play-by-play man Joe Beninati. The group gathered to discuss Ovechkin’s chase of Gretzky and the near-priceless memorabilia that will come from it.
“We are in talks with the Capitals to be authenticating everything in real time in those nights,” Barry Meisel said. “Ovechkin has been kind enough and is considering [changing jerseys each period] because the Hockey Hall of Fame is calling, and Meigray is calling, and the Caps want something for the building, so it’s possible, and it’s really a work in progress. They’re trying to win a Stanley Cup. This is not a movie where they can cut and [do an] Ovi wardrobe change.
“So, if Ovi could wear a jersey each period in those last couple of games, he might. The team is equipped to change. Ovi’s not wearing 12 a game, but he could wear two in a game. He could change once. He might change each period when the record is there.”
Ovechkin himself will be very interested and involved in taking personal mementos from the game as he’s an avid collector of his own game-used gear. The Great 8 has been saving his sticks, jerseys, gloves, and pucks from each goal he scores en route to taking ownership of the record.
Ovechkin’s future plans are to open a museum in his native Russia to display his own memorabilia and the extensive game-used stick collection he has put together through gifts from teammates and fellow superstars and legends. Per Meisel, Ovechkin’s collecting habit is already being taken into account for when he scores the record-breaking goal.
“Ovi’s going to keep – obviously, that museum in Moscow is going to be the owner of [the jersey he wears when he scores] 895,” Meisel said. “And, hopefully, the other jersey worn in the game, or the ones worn in each period, will go for fans in Washington to see and for one lucky collector.”
The news of further preparation for the big moment comes as Ovechkin needs just two more goals in his final seven games this season to tie Gretzky’s record and three more to surpass him. Given Ovechkin’s scoring pace this season, 0.66 goals per game, he is on pace to tie Gretzky on April 10 vs Carolina and break the record on April 12 at Columbus.
Hockey insider Chris Johnston already relayed some details on what the NHL has planned for the big moment, including an on-ice celebration reportedly not set to extend longer than seven minutes. Gretzky and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman are expected to be in attendance and involved in the festivities.
