Alexander Ovechkin, nicknamed "The Great 8" and "Ovi", is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger and captain of the Washington Capitals. He is second in all-time NHL goal scoring, behind Wayne Gretzky. Ovechkin holds numerous NHL records, including most power play goals, away game goals, overtime goals, goalies scored upon, and goals with one team. He is one of three players to reach 800 career goals, along with Gretzky and Gordie Howe, solidifying his place as a hockey legend.
In 2009-10, Ovechkin surpassed the mark of Hall of Fame goaltender Bill Durnan (first four seasons from 1943–44 through 1946–47) and became the first player in NHL history voted a First Team All-Star in each of his first five seasons.
In 2009-10, Ovechkin surpassed the mark of Hall of Fame goaltender Bill Durnan (first four seasons from 1943–44 through 1946–47) and became the first player in NHL history voted a First Team All-Star in each of his first five seasons.
Ovechkin led the NHL in points for the first time in 41 seasons that a left-winger led the NHL in points since Bobby Hull led the league with 97 points in 1965–66.
In 1968, Tim Horton recorded 3-points in consecutive games at 39+ years of age, achieving what Ovechkin would later accomplish.
In 1975, Tatyana Ovechkina, Alexander's mother, became a world champion in basketball.
In 1976, Tatyana Ovechkina, Alexander's mother, won an Olympic gold medal in basketball.
In 1980, Jean Ratelle recorded 3-points in consecutive games at 39+ years of age, achieving what Ovechkin would later accomplish.
In 1980, Tatyana Ovechkina, Alexander's mother, won an Olympic gold medal in basketball.
Alexander Ovechkin was born on 17 September 1985, which became relevant when the Florida Panthers attempted to draft him early.
On 17 September 1985, Alexander Ovechkin was born in Moscow to Soviet athletes.
Ovechkin's 60-goal season in 2007-08 was the first since Mario Lemieux and Jaromír Jágr in 1995-96.
In 1998, the Washington Capitals made their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance, prior to Alexander Ovechkin joining the team.
In 2007-08, Ovechkin became the first NHL player to score at least 40 even-strength goals in one season since Pavel Bure in 1999–2000.
In 2007-08, Ovechkin became the first NHL player to score at least 40 even-strength goals in one season since Pavel Bure in 1999–2000.
With 110 points (56 goals and 54 assists), Ovechkin finished as runner-up to countryman Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the Art Ross Trophy. Also, Ovechkin won his second consecutive Rocket Richard Trophy, becoming the second player after Bure (2000 and 2001) to win the award in back-to-back seasons.
In 2001, Ovechkin began his professional career with Dynamo Moscow of the Russian Superleague.
In 2001, Ovechkin began playing in the Russian Super League (RSL) for Dynamo Moscow at the age of 16.
With 110 points (56 goals and 54 assists), Ovechkin finished as runner-up to countryman Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the Art Ross Trophy. Also, Ovechkin won his second consecutive Rocket Richard Trophy, becoming the second player after Bure (2000 and 2001) to win the award in back-to-back seasons.
At the age of 16, Ovechkin played at the 2002 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where he scored two hat tricks, one against Switzerland and one against the United States, and an assist.
At the age of 17, Ovechkin became the youngest skater ever to play for the Russian national team in the Česká Pojišťovna Cup EuroTour tournament in 2002 and also the youngest player to score for the team.
In 2002, Ovechkin's first IIHF tournament was the World U18 Championship.
In 2003, Ovechkin and the Russian team won a gold medal in the World Junior Championships.
In 2007-08, Ovechkin helped lead the Capitals back to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2003.
In the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, the Florida Panthers attempted to draft Ovechkin in the ninth round, despite his birthday being two days after the cut-off.
At the age of 19, Ovechkin was named to the Russian national team for the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, making him the youngest player to play in the tournament.
Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Ovechkin remained with Dynamo for one more season.
In 2004, Ovechkin was selected by the Washington Capitals first overall in the NHL Entry Draft.
In 2004, Ovechkin was selected first overall in the NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals.
In 2004, Ovechkin's first senior tournament was the World Championship, and he also played in the World Cup.
In January 2005, Ovechkin and his team received the silver medal after losing the gold medal game to Canada on January 4. Ovechkin was named the Best Forward of the tournament.
In July 2005, Ovechkin's contract with Avangard Omsk contained an out clause with a 20 July deadline to maintain NHL eligibility.
On 5 August 2005, Ovechkin signed with the Washington Capitals.
On 5 October 2005, Ovechkin played his first game with the Capitals, scoring two goals against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
In 2005, Ovechkin helped Dynamo win the RSL title.
In the 2005–06 season, Ovechkin captured the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year and finished third overall in league scoring.
Since the start of his NHL career in 2005, Alexander Ovechkin surpassed Jaromir Jagr for most goalies scored on in NHL history, reaching a total of 179 different goalies.
On 13 January 2006, Ovechkin scored his first career hat trick against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Also, on 16 January, he scored "The Goal" against the Phoenix Coyotes. On 1 February, Ovechkin was named NHL Rookie of the Month for January 2006 as well as being named Offensive Player of the Month.
In August 2006, New York Rangers forward Jaromír Jágr expressed admiration for Ovechkin's goal-scoring productivity, stating that Ovechkin's goals are not "flukes" and that he often beats players one-on-one.
In October 2006, Ovechkin was struck on the foot by a teammate's wrist shot during practice, but famously told reporters, "I'm okay; Russian machine never breaks."
At the 2006 IIHF World Championships, Ovechkin scored six goals and three assists and was selected to the Media All-Star team.
In 2006, Ovechkin and Malkin roomed together during the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, before tensions arose between them.
In 2006, Ovechkin created Ovi's Crazy 8's, donating Capitals season tickets to Most Valuable Kids, providing access to games for those who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity.
In 2014, the Capitals missed the 2014 playoffs by three points, marking the first time since 2006–07 where Ovechkin and the Capitals missed the playoffs.
In the 2006–07 season, Ovechkin completed his second NHL season with 46 goals, 46 assists and 92 points in all 82 games.
On 24 January 2007, Ovechkin appeared in his first NHL All-Star Game.
In August 2007, Ovechkin allegedly punched Malkin's Russian agent, Gennady Ushakov, at a Moscow nightclub, sparking tension between the two players.
On 12 October 2007, Ovechkin scored his 100th NHL goal against Henrik Lundqvist.
On 10 January 2008, Ovechkin signed a 13-year contract extension with the Capitals worth $124 million.
On January 21, 2008, in Pittsburgh, Ovechkin took a run at Malkin during a game, which could have resulted in a devastating hit.
After the 2007-2008 season ended, Ovechkin was awarded the Lester B. Pearson Award as the most outstanding player voted by the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) and the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's MVP.
On June 11, 2008, Ovechkin launched his own line of designer streetwear with CCM.
In October 2008, Ovechkin returned home to Moscow to visit his ailing grandfather, missing only the second game of his career up to that point.
From 2008 to 2010, Ovechkin led the NHL in goals per game and points per game for three straight seasons.
In 2008, Ovechkin appeared in the films NHL: Just Like Me and Boys to the Bigs as himself.
In 2008, Ovechkin garnered some criticism over his exuberant after-goal celebrations.
In 2008, Ovechkin was awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy honoring the most valuable player in the league.
On January 24, 2009, at the SuperSkills Competition, Malkin assisted Ovechkin in his stunt during the Breakaway Challenge, signaling a potential reconciliation.
In February 2009, Canadian hockey analyst Don Cherry criticized Ovechkin's after-goal celebrations.
On 5 February 2009, Ovechkin scored his 200th goal, against Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings, becoming only the fourth player in the NHL to reach the milestone in four seasons.
On March 19, 2009, Ovechkin performed the "hot stick" celebration after scoring his 50th goal, drawing criticism from Tampa Bay's head coach.
On July 6, 2009, Ovechkin was named an ambassador for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
In November 2009, Ovechkin suffered an upper-body injury during a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets after colliding with Raffi Torres.
In 2009, Ovechkin confirmed that he punched Malkin's agent, Gennady Ushakov, stating "but is okay".
In 2009, Ovechkin was awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy honoring the most valuable player in the league.
On January 1, 2010, Ovechkin began his dominant run in the 2010s decade, ultimately becoming the leading goal scorer with 437 goals.
In January 2010, Ovechkin was named captain of the Washington Capitals, becoming the first European to be named captain. Also in January 2010, he reached the 500-point milestone of his NHL career.
After being eliminated in the first round of the NHL playoffs, Ovechkin joined Russia for the 2010 IIHF World Championships, where they lost to the Czech Republic in the finals.
In 2010, Ovechkin appeared in the film "Zaytsev, zhgi! Istoriya shoumena" as an actor.
In 2010, Ovechkin played halfway into the 2010-11 season when he was featured in one of ESPN's This is SportsCenter commercials
In 2010, Ovechkin was a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy honoring the most valuable player in the league.
In 2010, concerns were raised on how the feud between Ovechkin and Malkin would affect the league, and the Russian national team at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
In the 2010 playoffs, Ovechkin recorded 10 points as the Capitals lost the series in seven games to the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens, surrendering a 3–1 series lead in the process.
In the 2010 season, Ovechkin's point production declined.
In January 2011, Ovechkin and the Capitals participated in the New Year's Day NHL Winter Classic against the Pittsburgh Penguins, with the Capitals winning 3-1.
In January 2011, Ovechkin was featured in an ESPN's This is SportsCenter commercial.
In August 2011, Ovechkin switched to Bauer Hockey equipment following a decline in his point production.
In December 2011, Ovechkin played in his 500th NHL game, a 3-2 OT win over the Ottawa Senators, recording an assist.
Ovechkin joined the Russian team for the 2011 IIHF World Championships and failed to score any points.
In January 2012, Ovechkin received a three-game suspension for a hit on Zbynek Michalek and announced he would not attend the 2012 NHL All-Star Game.
During the lockout in the first half of the shortened 2012–13 season, Ovechkin went to play in the KHL and re-joined Dynamo Moscow with his teammate Nicklas Bäckström.
Ovechkin played in Russia's last three games of the 2012 IIHF World Championships, recording two goals and two assists as Russia won the tournament.
In January 2013, Ovechkin and Backstrom returned to North America after the NHL lockout concluded.
In December 2013, Ovechkin scored his 400th career goal in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes, becoming the sixth-fastest player to reach that mark.
In 2013, Ovechkin was awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy honoring the most valuable player in the league.
Ovechkin represented Russia in the 2013 IIHF World Championships after the Capitals were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs, but Russia was defeated by the U.S.
On July 21, 2014, Maria Kirilenko announced that her wedding with Ovechkin was called off.
In October 2014, teammate Brooks Orpik commented on Ovechkin's one-timer, noting its effectiveness despite being predictable. Also in October 2014, Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos highlighted Ovechkin’s combination of skill and physicality.
In November 2014, Ovechkin recorded his 826th point in a game against the Calgary Flames, surpassing Peter Bondra for the franchise record.
In 2014, Ovechkin participated in the IIHF World Championships where Russia won gold. After the tournament, he requested Vladimir Putin reward the Russian hockey team, drawing criticism due to the perceived insignificance of the World Championship compared to the Olympic gold.
In 2014, Ovechkin was an ambassador for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
In 2014, Ovechkin won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy with 51 goals but had a -35 plus-minus rating and the Capitals missed the playoffs.
In 2014, the Capitals missed the playoffs, which was the first time since then that they had missed them. The Capitals would miss the 2023 playoffs as well.
In the 2014 Winter Olympics, Ovechkin represented Russia and lost to Finland 3–1 in the quarter-final round.
Since 2014, Ovechkin has been an ambassador for the American Special Hockey Association, supporting individuals with disabilities and promoting ice hockey.
In March 2015, Ovechkin scored his 50th goal of the year in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes, becoming the sixth player in NHL history to have six 50-goal seasons.
In July 2015, Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick described Ovechkin's powerful shot, comparing it to facing a baseball batter due to the puck's speed.
On September 11, 2015, Ovechkin announced his engagement to Nastya Shubskaya.
In November 2015, Ovechkin tied Sergei Fedorov's record for most goals among Russian-born players with 483 and subsequently broke the record.
In 2015, Ovechkin joined the Russian team late in the IIHF World Championships, where Russia won the silver medal.
In 2015, Ovechkin was a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy honoring the most valuable player in the league.
In January 2016, Ovechkin scored his 500th career goal in a victory over the Ottawa Senators, becoming the 43rd player to reach the 500-goal plateau and the fifth-fastest to do so.
In November 2016, Auston Matthews said that Ovechkin's goal against the Phoenix Coyotes was the best goal he ever saw live.
In 2016, Ovechkin received a gift from Putin at his wedding and has a personal phone number for the Russian president.
Ovechkin helped the Capitals clinch their second consecutive Presidents' Trophy and third in franchise history.
In January 2017, Ovechkin scored his 1,000th career point in a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, becoming the 37th player in NHL history to reach 1,000 points with only one team.
In January 2017, Ovechkin stated, "I have a good relationship with Russians and with Americans. So, I'm neutral."
In October 2017, Alexander Ovechkin became the first player in 100 years to start the season with back-to-back hat tricks, playing against the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens.
In November 2017, Ovechkin announced PutinTeam on his Instagram account and launched the group's official website, encouraging sign-ups and participation.
In November 2017, Ovechkin started a movement called PutinTeam in support of Russian President Vladimir Putin during the 2018 Russian presidential election, emphasizing it as support for his country rather than politics.
In 2017, Ovechkin was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players of all time.
In the 2017-18 season, Ovechkin switched back to CCM equipment.
In January 2018, Alexander Ovechkin recorded his 500th career assist on a goal by Nicklas Bäckström in a game against the Florida Panthers.
On January 25, 2018, Ovechkin recorded his 500th career assist on a Nicklas Bäckström goal.
Following the Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup victory, Ovechkin participated in celebrations, including swimming in the fountains at the Georgetown waterfront with the Cup on June 9, 2018. The summer of 2018 was dubbed "The Summer of Ovi."
In August 2018, Ovechkin and his wife had a son, named after Ovechkin's late brother.
On October 22, 2018, Ovechkin passed to T.J. Oshie rather than score the hat trick for himself.
On November 19, 2018, Ovechkin applauded Carey Price's sprawling stop, showing respect for the goaltender's effort.
In December 2018, Alexander Ovechkin became the fastest player in NHL history to take 5,000 shots on goal and recorded his 23rd career hat trick, passing Pavel Bure for most by a Russian-born player.
In 2018, Ovechkin started a movement called PutinTeam in support of Russian President Vladimir Putin during the 2018 Russian presidential election.
In 2018, Ovechkin won the Stanley Cup for the first time, and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for most valuable player in the 2018 playoffs.
In 2018, a Kremlin-supported public-relations firm, IMA-Consulting reportedly held a $600,000 contract to promote the 2018 Russian presidential elections, while Ovechkin has claimed that the idea for PutinTeam was all his and that the group is non-political in its nature.
In January 2019, Alexander Ovechkin was named a captain for the upcoming NHL All-Star Game but chose to skip it to rest, resulting in an automatic one-game suspension.
In April 2019, Wayne Gretzky stated he is cheering for Ovechkin to break his record.
In November 2019, Ovechkin recorded his 24th career hat trick in a game against the Detroit Red Wings, surpassing Jari Kurri for 10th most hat tricks in NHL history.
In 2019, Cole Caufield matched Ovechkin's record of 14 goals in a single tournament at the IIHF World U18 Championships.
By December 31, 2019, Alexander Ovechkin concluded the 2010s as the leading goal scorer with 437 goals, solidifying his legacy.
On January 24, 2020, Ovechkin was named to the NHL all-decade team for the 2010s, recognizing his outstanding performance as the leading goal scorer during that period.
In May 2020, Ovechkin and his wife had a second son.
In September 2020, Malkin gave a speech at Ovechkin's 35th birthday party, indicating that the two are close friends again.
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic shortening the season, it marked the first time in Alexander Ovechkin's NHL career where he did not score at least 30 goals, finishing with 24.
In May 2021, Ovechkin was reportedly an investor in the Washington Spirit, a professional team in the National Women's Soccer League.
By June 2021, Ovechkin was studying for and close to obtaining a Doctor of Sciences in Pedagogical Sciences.
In July 2021, Alexander Ovechkin signed a five-year, $47.5 million contract extension with the Washington Capitals.
In 2021, Canadiens goaltender Carey Price sustained a knee injury and had multiple setbacks in his recovery.
Sportico reported in February 2022 that he might not have formally completed the process to acquire the stake, and that even if he had, it was unclear whether he retained his stake after the club was sold
In March 2022, Alexander Ovechkin scored his 767th career NHL goal, moving him into third place for goals scored all-time in the NHL, passing Jaromír Jágr.
On April 16, 2022, Ovechkin showed respect and admiration for Canadiens goaltender Carey Price by giving him a fist bump from across their respective benches during a stoppage of play.
In May 2022, Ovechkin reiterated his support for Putin and retained the Russian president on his Instagram profile photo.
In June 2022, Ovechkin signed a one-game contract with FC Dynamo Moscow, in a friendly against FC Amkal Moscow, scored a goal, and wore number 3 in honor of his father.
In November 2022, Alexander Ovechkin scored his 787th goal with the Washington Capitals, setting a new NHL record for most goals with one team.
In January 2023, Alexander Ovechkin tied Mike Gartner for having the most 30-goal seasons, recording his 17th 30-goal season.
In December 2023, Alexander Ovechkin recorded his 1,500th point, becoming the 16th player in NHL history to reach the milestone.
In February 2024, Alexander Ovechkin scored his 57th career empty-net goal, surpassing Wayne Gretzky for the most all-time.
In October 2024, Alexander Ovechkin recorded his 700th career assist, becoming the 60th player in NHL history to reach the mark.
As of 2024, more than 5,700 individuals have had a chance to see a game free of charge through Ovechkin's Ovi's Crazy 8's program
On January 11, 2025, Alexander Ovechkin became the second player in NHL history to record 20 consecutive 20-goal seasons, joining Gordie Howe.
On February 9, 2025, Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery described Ovechkin's passing abilities, remarking, "Everybody is so focused on his shot when he gets the puck, you’re always thinking shot, shot, shot. But he’s got that look-off pass too, the shot-pass, I call it".
In March 2025, Ovechkin announced that he would be partnering up with Hockey Fights Cancer and the V Foundation to raise money and awareness for pediatric cancer for every goal he socres as he closed in on breaking the all time goal-scoring record.