Ovechkin’s Record Chase Fuels Capitals’ Surprising NHL Dominance

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals‘ legendary captain, is on the brink of hockey history. With 21 goals in 30 games this season, he is just 21 goals away from surpassing Wayne Gretzky‘s all-time NHL record of 894 goals. But Ovechkin’s pursuit of greatness isn’t happening in isolation — it’s fueling a surprising resurgence for the Capitals, who currently lead the NHL standings with a .728 points percentage after 46 games.

Before re-signing with the Capitals in 2021, Ovechkin made a promise to owner Ted Leonsis: he didn’t want to be a third-line player or part of a rebuilding team. “He didn’t want to be someone the team trotted out on the power play just to pad his goal totals,” Leonsis told ESPN in 2022. In return, Ovechkin vowed to stay in shape and focus on team success, not just individual milestones.

Leonsis kept his word, ensuring the Capitals remained competitive. This season, the team has defied expectations under first-year head coach Spencer Carbery. After a surprising playoff appearance last year, the Capitals bolstered their roster with key offseason acquisitions, including 25-year-old center Pierre-Luc Dubois and 26-year-old defenseman Jakob Chychrun. Dubois, acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Kings, has revitalized his career in Washington, tallying 36 points in 46 games.

“There has to be an expectation that we’re going to win,” said forward Dylan Strome, the team’s leading scorer. “That’s a culture that’s been built. The new guys came in this year and complemented that.”

The Capitals’ success contrasts sharply with other aging NHL contenders. The Pittsburgh Penguins, home to Ovechkin’s longtime rival Sidney Crosby, have struggled to surround their veteran core with enough talent to remain competitive. Meanwhile, the Capitals have balanced Ovechkin’s record chase with a commitment to long-term success, drafting and developing young talent while making shrewd trades and free-agent signings.

Assistant general manager Ross Mahoney credits the team’s ability to excel in three key areas: drafting, free agency, and trades. “We all put our time in, we all learned from our mistakes,” Mahoney said. The Capitals’ pipeline includes promising prospects like defenseman Cole Hutson and winger Ryan Leonard, who recently led Team USA to a gold medal at the World Junior Championship.

Ovechkin’s resurgence has been remarkable. At 39, he started the season with 17 goals in 20 games before a broken leg sidelined him temporarily. His determination to chase Gretzky’s record while keeping the Capitals competitive has inspired his teammates and fans alike. “To me, a rebuild is when you look the players, the coaches, the fans in the eye and say we’re gonna be really, really bad,” Leonsis said. “And if we were really, really bad, I don’t think Alex would break the record.”

With Ovechkin thriving and a new generation of talent on the horizon, the Capitals are proving that life after Ovi could be just as bright.