Alex Ovechkin had a 2024-25 season that will go down in the history books.
The Washington Capitals captain not only broke Wayne Gretzky’s once thought unbreakable all-time goals record but also bucked all age-related trends to do so.
At age 39, Ovechkin recorded 44 goals in just 65 games, finishing the year third in the league in goal-scoring. Now, the attention turns to Ovi’s age-40 season, the final year on his contract with the Capitals. After watching a season of unbelievable moments for the Great 8, Caps head coach Spencer Carbery is not putting any limits on what he thinks Ovechkin can achieve.
“I don’t like doing this on him. You know why? Because you just can’t put a cap on anything this guy does,” Carbery said Saturday on Breakdown Day. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes out and has a similar start next year, and we’re like, ‘What is happening? At 40 years old?’ And he’s now into the 900s and scoring at a clip like he was this year.
“Because last year, you would have thought after the playoffs, you’re like, ‘Ah, you know, another year,’ because the previous year he sort of stumbled out of the blocks a little bit. Wrong. Comes out red hot and scoring every night.”
Ovechkin started the year scoring 15 goals in his first 18 games before breaking his left leg in November, going onto injured reserve as the oldest player in NHL history to lead the league in goals (min. 10 goals). He missed only 16 games with the first severe injury of his career, returning just a month and 10 days later.
After Ovechkin returned, he finished the season scoring 29 goals in his last 47 games. His 44 goals are the most ever by a player 39 years or older, and he recorded his highest goals-per-game rate (0.68) in a season since 2010.
“I don’t put anything past him, even being 40 years old,” Carbery said. “When you put that four in front, now it becomes a little bit different when you hear some of the stats in that. As Terrell Owens once said, ‘I would get your popcorn ready.'”
Ovechkin, who isn’t unfamiliar with flashy Owens-esque celebrations, will head into the 2025-26 season just three goals shy of becoming the first player in NHL history to reach the 900-goal plateau. He is also one 50-goal season away from being in sole possession of the most in league history (10) and could also chase down Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin for the most-ever hits.
