Washington Capitals left winger Alex Ovechkin now stands alone in NHL history.
Early in the second period of Washington’s home game against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night, the future Hall of Famer scored the 900th goal of his 21-year career, becoming the first player to hit this mark. The only other players to score at least 800 goals in their careers are Wayne Gretzky (894 in 1,487 games) and Gordie Howe (801 in 1,767).
Undoubtedly, it’s a fantastic milestone for Ovechkin. But is it his most impressive?
What is Alex Ovechkin’s greatest accomplishment?
Ovechkin’s résumé is ridiculous. Along with being the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, the Russian has won a Stanley Cup, is a three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner (MVP) and has made 13 All-Star Games.
Most fans will still say scoring 900 goals in 1,504 games is his greatest accomplishment, and for good reason. But Gretzky’s total doesn’t include the 46 goals he scored with the Edmonton Oilers and Indianapolis Racers during the 1978-79 WHA season. (The defunct league merged with the NHL in 1979.)
Gretzky also may have reached 900 goals had he played one more season. In 20 NHL seasons,