Hockey agent Alexey Dementyev believes the long-awaited milestone for Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin could lift a heavy mental burden from the veteran scorer. He shared his view with Championship.
“I can picture how tough it was for Ovechkin when goals that fans expected from him didn’t come. The pressure here is immense, and it takes real mental strength to handle it. He is at an age where outside stress is hard to shake, but his focus and experience likely help him stay steady.”
As always, scoring is a joy, and it’s a team game first. Dementyev added that a late winner can bring relief, especially when it comes in extra time, and that relief could lift the mental weight of not finding the back of the net as often as hoped.
On December 22, Ovechkin found the scoresheet in a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets during the NHL regular season. This season, the forward has appeared in 31 games and recorded 20 points, comprised of 6 goals and 14 assists. The contribution remains valuable as the team pursues success through each contest.
Across his NHL career, Ovechkin has tallied 828 goals. He holds the league record for most goals in NHL history, standing 66 goals ahead of Wayne Gretzky, the next closest all-time scorer.
Earlier in his career, Ovechkin was recognized as one of the league’s top stars, earning weekly honors as the best player on the ice. His ongoing production continues to be a focal point for fans and analysts alike as he takes aim at further milestones.