A Canadian hockey player, Mark Barberio, who plays for Severstal in Russia, believes Alexander Ovechkin remains youthful in both body and spirit. This perspective suggests that Ovechkin could still chase Wayne Gretzky’s historic scoring mark. His viewpoint adds a layer of admiration and expectation to the ongoing chase in North American and global hockey circles.
Barberio commented that when Ovechkin won the Stanley Cup with Washington, it marked a defining moment in his career. He emphasized that Ovechkin earned the trophy completely and that Ovechkin is a living legend of the sport and a true role model. The way Ovechkin trains, prepares, and plays continues to impress fans and peers alike, according to Barberio.
On October 26, Washington defeated the New Jersey Devils on the road 6-4, with Ovechkin scoring his team’s sixth goal into an empty net. The Capitals earned six regulation wins to begin the season, a notable early-season milestone. Ovechkin’s 824th career goal came on that night, leaving him 70 goals shy of Gretzky’s all-time record. Across the 2024-25 NHL campaign, Ovechkin contributed two goals in that opening stretch, reinforcing his continued impact on the ice.
Earlier discussions had circulated around a season in which Ovechkin might surpass Gretzky’s record, reflecting the ongoing debate among fans and analysts about the pace of his pursuit and the enduring allure of hockey history.