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P.K. Subban Makes Bold Maple Leafs Prediction Involving Alex Ovechkin

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Apr 8, 2025 6:00 AM ET

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin became the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer on Sunday with career goal No. 895. The milestone reignited debate about whether anyone could ever catch him.

Former NHL star and current TNT analyst P.K. Subban believes there’s at least one player who can eventually surpass Ovechkin.

Speaking on ESPN's SportsCenter, Subban pointed to Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews as a legitimate candidate to break the recently set record.

“Well, Ovi’s career percentage is 0.6 goals a game. Auston Matthews’ right now is at 0.64,” Subban said. “That means he is on pace right now to potentially break this record.

“He’s a big guy, plays well in open ice, can score in tight, and performs in big moments. He’s going to have a real shot at it.”

"Even though in a short time in his career, [Auston Matthews] is on pace right now to potentially break this record."@PKSubban1 on which player could potentially pass Ovechkin's career goals pic.twitter.com/1Xq9jAeyOa
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 7, 2025

Through 623 games, Matthews has scored 398 goals—seven more than Ovechkin had at the same point in his career.

Staying on pace for another 778 games would be the true test, however, as that'd the amount of appearances Matthews would need to log at his current goal-scoring pace (0.64 goals per game) to break Ovechkin's record.

Matthews has missed time in most seasons due to injury and has played a full 82-game schedule only once, back in his rookie year.

Asked about this possibility, Matthews downplayed the suggestion when addressing the media on Monday.

“That’s such a long way away,” Matthews said. “I don’t think I should even be in that conversation. Rightfully so, it should be on Ovi and what he has been able to accomplish.”

Meanwhile, Wayne Gretzky, whose record of 894 goals stood for three decades, agrees with Matthews and many others in believing Ovechkin's record is here to stay.

“They say records are made to be broken,” Gretzky said on Sunday, “but I’m not sure who is going to get more goals than that.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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