“The Great One,” also known as Wayne Gretzky, has set records in the sport of hockey that some have thought would be completely unattainable. The NHL is unlike any other league; the landscape of this sport has changed dramatically and players like Alex Ovechkin have been able to redefine the game. So the real question is “could Ovi surpass Gretzky?”
When it comes to a topic like this, there are multiple factors that influence it. First let’s talk about the numbers and if this is even possible. Gretzky led the league in scoring 5 times and holds the record for most goals in NHL history in the regular season (894). He also led the league in assists 16 times, won 11 different scoring titles, nine MVP awards, and four Stanley Cups. Let’s also not forget that he holds the record for most career points at 2,857. The only person who has come virtually close to that is Jaromir Jagr with 1,921 points.
If we are talking overall points, Alex Ovechkin has nearly half of what Gretzky retired with. Ovi sits at 1,518, and approaching 39 years of age, there is a very small chance that he could compete for most career points at his pace. Goals are a different story, Gretzky and Ovi are only separated by 61 goals. Ovechkin, with 11 goals and about two and a half months left of regular season, could be on track to beat Gretzky, only if he plays 3-4 more seasons. He has three MVP awards and one Stanley Cup, and has a strong number of assists throughout his career, still nothing compared to Gretzky.
Now let’s talk about the landscape of the game. Like most sports, as time goes on, the skill of the sport improves dramatically. Hockey. being known as one of the hardest sports, holds a high demand for skill, athleticism, and equipment.
Wayne Gretzky holds all these records while holding a wooden stick and heavy equipment, but the game didn’t demand as much skill. Ovi has less records with better equipment, but a higher demand of skill and skating for this time period. For the NHL and most every sport, it’s truly hard to compare timelines, but it’s highlighted that in Gretzky’s time period he was completely dominant. Alex Ovechkin may surpass Gretzky for most career goals, but he will never come close to “The Great One ” and his prepotence to the NHL.
