Alexander Ovechkin went beyond Wayne Gretzky to become the top scorer of all NHL time on Sunday – almost a decade after saying that it would be “impossible” to do so.
Washington’s capital legend pulled the 895th goal of his NHL career at his home during his 4-1 defeat against New York Islanders, which broke the score record held by Gretzky for 31 years.
After the historic moment, Ovechkin was congratulated for the ice by the hockey icon of which he exceeded the ranking of all time after the match on Sunday was briefly arrested.
“They say that records are made to be broken, but I don’t know who will get more goals than this,” Gretzky said at the ceremony.
And quite funny, Alex made almost exactly the same prediction on Wayne’s long -standing record nine years ago.
In 2016, Elliotte Friedman asked Ovechkin de Sportsnet on the prospect of going beyond Gretzky to become the top scorer in the NHL history.
Alexander Ovechkin (left) broke the NHL NHL Wayne Gretzky (right) rating for 31 years
“I don’t think someone will break this record in this league. I think it’s impossible, ”he insisted.
Friedman replied: “You could challenge it, you might be able to do so.”
“No,” said Ovechkin. “I must have six seasons of 50 goals. I don’t know if I will be able to skate in six seasons.
Not only did he end up breaking the Gretzky record, but the capitals left Winger also continued to skate for nine years and to count.
He did not need six seasons of 50 goals to achieve the feat, having reached this number only twice since this 2016 interview.
Two years later, Ovechkin also doubted more doubts about his chances of breaking the record.
“I don’t think it is possible to break this record,” he told Igor Eronko in 2018. You have to play up to 60 years. Jagr tried but couldn’t. Hockey is not the same. Everything is much more difficult now.
Ovechkin is now the top scorer of all NHL time after shooting the 895th goal of his career at home
“To break the record, I have to score 50 each year. It’s hard.
After doing the impossible on Sunday, Ovechkin took Gretzky’s microphone as a past torch from one game legend to another.
He thanked the injured teammates Nicklas Backstrom and TJ Oshie, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2018, and expressed his affection for his wife, mother and two sons standing nearby.
“We did it, the boys. As we did, ” said Ovechkin. “And the most important thing, for my mother, my family, my beautiful wife, my stepfather, my beautiful children, thank you. I love you so much, and without you, without your support, I would never stay here.