Hockey fans witnessed history last season when Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s long-standing NHL goalscoring record. His second-period power-play strike against the New York Islanders pushed him past Gretzky’s 894 goal mark, ending the most iconic chase in modern hockey history. That goal wasn’t just another highlight — it was the defining moment that cemented Ovechkin as the league’s greatest pure goal scorer.
Now the Washington Capitals captain enters the 2025 26 season as the NHL’s all-time goalscoring leader with 895 goals and counting. He’s only three tallies shy of the unprecedented 900 goal milestone — a number no other player in NHL history has even approached. At age 40, Ovechkin continues to redefine longevity and consistency, showing no signs of slowing down. Given his 44-goal output last year, hitting 900 appears to be less a question of “if” and more a matter of “when.”
Ovechkin’s continued scoring bolsters his case as the greatest sniper ever to play the game and brings attention to how drastically the sport has evolved. From goalie equipment to defensive systems, today’s NHL makes prolific scoring harder than ever — yet Ovechkin continues to make it look effortless.
How Technology Is Transforming the Hockey Experience
As Ovechkin and other stars rewrite the record book, modern technology changes how hockey is consumed, analyzed, and celebrated. Advanced puck tracking, player movement analytics, and real-time statistical overlays now capture every inch of ice activity. This influx of data has reshaped the way fans follow the game, offering insights once reserved only for coaches and scouts.
Fans can stream live games, break down shift patterns, or even crunch expected goals data from their phones. Beyond that, the sport has transcended the rink. Online casino platforms now feature NHL-branded casino and video games, powered by reputable software providers that manage real-money gameplay and secure transactions. These interactive experiences make hockey a 24/7 passion, connecting fans to the sport long after the final buzzer.
The marriage between tradition and technology has sharpened fan engagement — and as historic milestones approach, tracking records in real time has become part of the entertainment itself.
Other Goal Scoring Milestones in Sight
While Ovechkin’s career total will likely be untouchable for years, he’s not the only superstar closing in on significant scoring benchmarks.
- Steven Stamkos needs only 18 more goals to reach the 600-goal plateau, a mark achieved by just 20 players in NHL history.
- John Tavares, the Toronto Maple Leafs captain, is just six goals away from reaching 500 — a tribute to his decade-plus of scoring consistency.
- Now in the twilight of his career, Patrick Kane sits eight goals shy of 500, poised to become the fifth American-born player ever to hit that milestone.
Each of these achievements reflects both endurance and elite offensive talent. And with several of them within reach early this season, fans across multiple markets will witness their favorite stars etching their names in NHL history.
Sidney Crosby Nears 1,700 Career Points
If Ovechkin’s greatness is defined by goals, Sidney Crosby’s legacy is built on balance — scoring, vision, and leadership. The Pittsburgh Penguins captain begins the season only 13 points away from joining the 1,700-point club, one of the rarest accomplishments in hockey. With his playmaking still sharp and his hockey IQ unmatched, Crosby could hit the milestone before the end of the season.
Crosby and Ovechkin have defined an era, and for both to reach major career marks in the same season would highlight one of the last chapters of their shared dominance.
Meanwhile, several other forwards are on the cusp of their own personal achievements:
- Nikita Kucherov, the NHL’s back-to-back scoring champion, is just six points shy of 1,000.
- Brad Marchand is also closing in, needing 20 more points to join that club.
The league’s top scorers continue to push boundaries, driving offense to record levels and giving fans nightly milestone alerts.
NHL Longevity Records on the Horizon
Durability is often overlooked in the conversation about greatness, but three players are poised to reach another elite threshold — 1,500 career NHL games — this season:
- Alex Ovechkin (needs nine games)
- Anze Kopitar (needs 46)
- Brent Burns (needs three games)
Burns, who hasn’t missed a game in over a decade, now has a streak of 925 consecutive regular-season appearances, one of the longest in modern history. These ironman numbers speak volumes about conditioning, professionalism, and resilience in a physically demanding sport.
Sergei Bobrovsky and the Climb in the Record Books
Between the pipes, Sergei Bobrovsky is chasing milestones of his own. The Florida Panthers veteran goaltender — coming off a Stanley Cup championship and Vezina caliber season — needs 31 wins to move into sixth place on the NHL’s all time goalie wins list.
Bobrovsky’s 33-win campaign last year proved he still ranks among the game’s elite. Only 21 more victories would bring him to the 450-win plateau, solidifying his Hall of Fame credentials. Behind him, Andrei Vasilevskiy (Tampa Bay) and Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg) are within striking distance of 350 career wins, keeping the goaltender milestone race tight.
Paul Maurice Eyes NHL Coaching History
The man behind Florida’s success, head coach Paul Maurice, is also approaching rare territory. If he coaches 70 more games this season, he’ll become only the second person in NHL history to reach 2,000 games behind the bench — joining the legendary Scotty Bowman (2,141).
Additionally, with 54 more wins, Maurice would surpass Joel Quenneville (969) for second place on the all-time wins list, leaving only Bowman’s 1,244 ahead. His steady leadership and adaptability have turned the Panthers into perennial contenders and positioned Maurice among the most successful coaches the league has ever seen.
