Alex Ovechkin holds the NHL record for most career goals scored.
He broke Wayne Gretzky's long-standing mark of 894 goals in April 2025, a historic moment that shifted the hockey record books after 31 years.

Record Breakdown

Ovechkin reached 895 goals on April 6, 2025, against the New York Islanders, firing a power-play shot past Ilya Sorokin in his 20th NHL season with the Washington Capitals.

By late 2025, sources tracked him at 919 goals over 1,550 games, well ahead of Gretzky's 894 in 1,487 games.

Active as of February 2026, Ovechkin continues adding to his total, leading all players at around 912+ goals per recent stats.

Top Career Goal Scorers

Rank| Player| Team(s)| Goals| Games| Notes 357
---|---|---|---|---|---
1| Alex Ovechkin*| WSH| 919| 1,550| Broke record in 2025; still active 19
2| Wayne Gretzky| EDM, LAK, STL, NYR| 894| 1,487| Held record 1994–2025 59
3| Gordie Howe| DET, HFD| 801| 1,767| Legendary longevity 3
4| Jaromir Jagr*| Multiple| 766| N/A| Second among actives 5
5| Brett Hull| Multiple| 741| N/A| Power-play specialist 5

*Active player. Stats reflect latest available data into 2026.

The Chase and Celebration

Ovechkin entered the 2024-25 season needing 42 goals but overcame a broken fibula, sidelining him for 16 games, before surging with 22 goals in 39 games to claim the record late in the season.

Teammates mobbed him on the ice, pausing the game for a massive celebration as the Capitals topped the Eastern Conference.

Fans and analysts called it "impossible" until it happened, reigniting debates on eras, equipment, and goalie gear evolution.

Trending Context

Post-record, forums buzz with comparisons: Gretzky dominated assists and points, but Ovechkin's pure goal tally shines in a lower-scoring era.

"Ovechkin did what many thought impossible—passing The Great One in goals alone." – Hockey history recap

TL;DR: Alex Ovechkin surpassed Wayne Gretzky's 894 goals with his 895th on April 6, 2025, and leads with 919+ as of late 2025 data.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.