Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin enters his 18th season 114 goals behind Wayne Gretzky for the most goals scored in NHL history. Gretzky has been very supportive of Ovechkin breaking his record. The two have become friends in the process.
It appears Gretzky wants to travel with the Capitals as Ovechkin approaches the record, Capitals’ owner Ted Leonsis said to NBC Sports Washington before the Caps’ regular-season opener Wednesday against the Boston Bruins.
“He’s really been a godsend for us and just a great, great ambassador of the game No one is resentful that he could pass Gordie Howe. Wayne Gretzky called me all the time and says, ‘Alex is going to pass me. I want to be with the team when that happens.’ He’s going to travel with the team and Alex. What does that say about the integrity of the guy and also the way the franchise has moved up the respect echelon in the entire league?” Leonsis said.
‘The Great One’ is now an analyst during TNT’s coverage of the NHL. During the pregame show of the Bruins-Capitals game, Gretzky said it is a matter of “when not if” Ovechkin will pass him to become the game’s leading goal scorer.
The 37-year-old Ovechkin is in the second year of a five-year, $47.5 million contract with the Capitals. He needs to average 29 goals a season to pass Gretzky during the length of his current contract.
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