Alex Ovechkin may not have scored in the Washington Capitals’ 3-1 opening night loss to the Boston Bruins on Wednesday but he’s still on the doorstep of history and potentially another new ride too.
The Great Eight, who entered the 2025-26 NHL season with 897 career goals, was reminded ahead of the game that Wayne Gretzky promised to buy him a new car if he became the first player in league history to score 900.
“I think [Gretzky] told you he was going to buy you a car if you got to 900. I know you’re a car guy, what are you thinking?” TNT Sports rinkside reporter Tarik El-Bashir asked him pre-game.
“Honestly, I don’t remember that,” Ovechkin said through a smile. “I’m too old for this stuff.”
Gretzky, too, pleaded ignorance after hearing El-Bashir dig up his seven-month-old offer to the Capitals captain during TNT’s pre-game coverage on Wednesday.
“That was news to me,” he said through a chuckle. “It’s one thing he broke my record, now he wants to break my bank?”
Gretzky made his generous offer during the on-ice ceremony honoring Ovechkin for breaking his all-time NHL goals record at UBS Arena on April 6.
“You get to 900 I might buy you a car,” Gretzky said then.
“I will try,” Ovechkin replied.
The 40-year-old, indeed, is known for his eclectic car collection. He once owned seven of them back in 2013 and was gifted a new Jetour SUV in July for breaking Gretzky’s record while participating in “Match of the Year” back in his native Russia.
Ovechkin’s next opportunity to add to his already historic goal total will be Saturday as the team travels back to the site of his record-breaking moment to face the New York Islanders at UBS Arena.
