Known as “The Great One,” Wayne Gretzky’s nickname does not even begin to describe his impact on the game of hockey. Over 20 seasons, Gretzky amassed a remarkable amount of points that no player has come close to, even still, 25 years after hanging up his skates. Scoring 2857 points in 1487 games, he maintained a near 2 point per game average. Having a multi-point game is impressive as is, meanwhile Gretzky had 96 five point games during his career. His talent is undeniable, and up until now, untouchable. However, this can soon change. 

Born in 1985 in Moscow, Russia, Alexander Ovechkin grew up around the game, eventually becoming the first overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, , entered the National Hockey League with the Washington Capitals on October 5, 2005, making his debut across the league with a two goal game. It’s safe to say that on that day, he set a precedent for the rest of his career. Finishing the 2005-2006 season with 52 goals, Ovechkin took home the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the best rookie in the league. His 52 goals puts him at third all time for most goals by a rookie, but this is only where his accolades begin. Through the first five years of his career, Ovechkin scored 269 goals. In two of these five seasons, he was awarded the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, given to the player with the most goals in given a season. His elite talent has been undeniable since the beginning of his career.

Now, almost twenty years since his debut, Ovechkin’s remarkable run of a career is giving the Great One a run for his money. He currently sits 31 goals behind Gretzky- with 68 games remaining this season. Scoring 10 goals in his first 14 games of the 2024-2025 season, Ovi is on pace for over 50 goals, which, if obtained, would smash Gretzky’s record. And who is coaching Ovechkin through this time of high stakes? None other than Wayne Gretzky himself. 

 “It’s great,” Ovechkin said in an interview with NHL.com in early October. “Even when I have a slump, [Gretzky] will sometimes text me and say, ‘Don’t worry about it. It will come.’ He’s on my side.” Gretzky has been a voice of reason, supporting Ovi throughout his journey. After all, there is no one more equipped to advise a man on the path of greatness than a man who has already achieved it.

As the 2024-2025 season continues on, fans will be anxiously waiting for history to be made. Gretzky marked a generation of hockey, making himself a forever icon of the sport. However, a new era has dawned, and while Gretzky’s impact will never be forgotten, fans are eager to see a new player take the throne. Earlier this season, Gretzky made his prediction on a live TNT broadcast: “Listen, it’s not a question of if he’s going to break the record; it’s a question of when is he going to break the record”