Pro Sports

Ovechkin begins 5-year contract chasing Gretzky's goals mark

Posted October 11, 2021 7:00 am

By STEPHEN WHYNO

FILE - At left, in a Sept. 29, 2021, file photo, Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates during the first period of an NHL preseason hockey game against the New Jersey Devils in Washington. At right, in a Saturday, Jan. 27, 1996, file photo, Los Angeles Kings' Wayne Gretzky passes during an NHL hockey game against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, in Inglewood, Calif. Alex Ovechkin starts a new five-year contract ready to chase Wayne Gretzky's career goals record that long seemed unbreakable. The Washington Capitals captain has 730 goals and needs 165 to pass Gretzky. (AP Photo/File) The Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) - Wayne Gretzky's 894 career goals has for a long time been one of hockey's hallowed numbers, record that would never be broken with scoring in the NHL so different now.

But great players will keep coming after the 'œGreat One.'ť Alex Ovechkin is ready to take his shot.

Ovechkin starts a new five-year contract with the Washington Capitals with 730 goals, 165 away from passing Gretzky. The Russian superstar is 36 and would need to score at a pace never before seen from an older player to approach that mark by the time his contract is up.

'œYou never know,'ť Ovechkin said after signing the $47.5 million deal. 'œI'm going to try (my) best. That's why I want to play five more years. To have a chance to catch the '~Great One,' why not?'ť

Age and health are his biggest obstacles. Ovechkin has been absurdly durable during his career, especially for a 6-foot-3 power forward who's not afraid to throw his body around, but the seven games he missed to injury late last season are more than the previous decade combined.

The hard-shooting Russian suffered a lower-body injury in Washington's exhibition finale, though coach Peter Laviolette hopes his captain plays in the opener and does not expect him to be out long term.

No matter how long the absence, it's the kind of thing Gretzky thinks Ovechkin will need to avoid.

'œYou've got to get a little bit lucky in the sense that you want to stay away from injuries as much as possible,'ť said Gretzky, who will get a front-row seat for Ovechkin's chase as part of TNT's new studio team covering the NHL. 'œAnd I don't just mean missing game injuries. I'm talking about nagging injuries where your knee is sore or your ankle's sore or your shoulder's sore, but you play through that. If he can stay healthy, I think this is the greatest thing for the game.'ť

Ovechkin needs to average 33 goals a season to get to 895 over the next five seasons, but he's also trying to keep up with Father Time. Gretzky put up 21 goals at age 36, and Ovechkin probably needs to clear 40 this season and maybe next to have a legitimate chance.

General manager Brian MacLellan senses that Ovechkin is energized, motivated to chase the record and in good shape to try it.

'œHe has a passion for the game, for goal-scoring, and I think that'll carry over over the next five years,'ť MacLellan said.

No one has ever doubted that. Ovechkin's unbridled joy after scoring goals became one of the most endearing things about the NHL coming out of the 2004-05 lockout that wiped out an entire season.

Ovechkin does not harbor the same enthusiasm for repeatedly answering questions about Gretzky's record or climbing up the career list. He's one back of Marcel Dionne for fifth and could realistically pass Brett Hull (741) and Jaromir Jagr (766) this season to put himself in third, behind only Gretzky and Gordie Howe.

'œLet's don't look too far," Ovechkin said. "Game by game, step by step.'ť

Ovechkin's teammates are glad to be along for the ride and aiding in his quest. Winger Tom Wilson guesses 'œthere's going to be some pressure on his linemates to get him the puck.'ť That's no pressure for longtime running mate Nicklas Backstrom, who has assisted on 269 of Ovechkin's goals since entering the league in 2008.

'œI absolutely think it's realistic," Backstrom said of Ovechkin's record pursuit. 'œIf anyone can do it, it's him. That's the kind of hunger he's got, and that's the kind of goal-scorer he is.'ť

Having a good team around him helps. The Capitals are built to contend for at least two or three more seasons, and there's no shortage of skilled offensive players ready to dish Ovechkin the puck.

Ovechkin will take his shot but acknowledged, "If I'm going to be second, it's a pretty good number, as well.'ť He just needs 72 goals for sole possession of second, but Gretzky believes Ovechkin will be atop the list by the time he retires.

'œHe's definitely got a legitimate shot,'ť Gretzky said. 'œI'm one of his biggest fans, and it's only good for the game if he can break the record. He just has to be relaxed, and it's going to take two, three, four years but eventually he's probably going to break the record.'ť

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Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno

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More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

FILE - In this Dec. 14, 2019, file photo, Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin follows through on a shot against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Tampa, Fla. Ovechkin starts a new five-year contract ready to chase Wayne Gretzky's career goals record that long seemed unbreakable. The Washington Capitals captain has 730 goals and needs 165 to pass Gretzky. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File) The Associated Press

FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin reacts during a media availability at the team's NHL hockey training camp in Arlington, Va., in this Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, file photo. Ovechkin starts a new five-year contract ready to chase Wayne Gretzky's career goals record that long seemed unbreakable. The Washington Capitals captain has 730 goals and needs 165 to pass Gretzky. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File) The Associated Press

FILE - Edmonton Oilers' star Wayne Gretzky is seen in action, in this 1984 file photo. Alex Ovechkin starts a new five-year contract ready to chase Wayne Gretzky's career goals record that long seemed unbreakable. The Washington Capitals captain has 730 goals and needs 165 to pass Gretzky. (Canadian Press via AP, File) The Associated Press

FILE - Former NHL hockey player Wayne Gretzky smiles during a promotional event for the Beijing Kunlun Red Star hockey team in Beijing, in this Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, file photo. Alex Ovechkin starts a new five-year contract ready to chase Gretzky's career goals record that long seemed unbreakable. The Washington Capitals captain has 730 goals and needs 165 to pass Gretzky. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) The Associated Press

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin warms-up before a preseason NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin skates during a drill at practice at the team's NHL hockey training camp, Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

FILE - Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky laughs as he wears his new Hockey Hall of Fame ring during his induction ceremony at the Hall in Toronto, in this Monday Nov. 22, 1999, file photo. Alex Ovechkin starts a new five-year contract ready to chase Wayne Gretzky's career goals record that long seemed unbreakable. The Washington Capitals captain has 730 goals and needs 165 to pass Gretzky. (AP Photo/Frank Gunn, File) The Associated Press

FILE - Wayne Gretzky and fans celebrate after he scored his NHL career record-setting 802nd goal against the Vancouver Canucks at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., in this March 23, 1994, file photo. Alex Ovechkin starts a new five-year contract ready to chase Wayne Gretzky's career goals record that long seemed unbreakable. The Washington Capitals captain has 730 goals and needs 165 to pass Gretzky. (AP Photo/Eric Draper, File) The Associated Press

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