It's a long shot, but these players may have shot at Alex Ovechkin’s NHL goal mark

For the majority of his career, Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin deemed Wayne Gretzky’s career goals mark impossible to beat. He even admitted it to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman in a 2016 interview.

But Ovechkin proved himself wrong Sunday, scoring his 895th goal, eclipsing Gretzky's mark 26 years after the retirement of
"The Great One." And Ovechkin, 39, shows no signs of slowing.

Will hockey fans have to wait another 26 years for another player to top Ovechkin's mark? 

Among active players, Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby has the second-most goals with 622. But he's 37 and averages 0.46 goals per game, well behind Ovechkin's mark of 0.60. So he's unlikely to top Ovechkin, who has a year left on his contract (h/t: Spotrac).

Here are the active players who may have the best chance to top Ovechkin, who has 42 goals this season. It's essential for any player who aims to pass him to be relatively injury-free during his career, so their chances may be a long shot. 

 (All statistics are through Monday's games.)

1. Auston Matthews | Toronto Maple Leafs | 398 goals | Age: 27

Matthews, who has two seasons of 60 or more goals, is averaging 0.64 goals per game. If Ovechkin didn't play another game, it would take Matthews roughly 10 seasons at his current playing pace to make it to 896 goals.

However, Matthews has had bad luck with injuries. This season, he missed nine games in November and six games in December with upper-body injuries.

2. Leon Draisaitl | Edmonton Oilers | 399 goals | Age: 29

Draisaitl averages roughly 0.51 goals per game, a pace that would take him roughly 11 seasons and into his early 40s to surpass 895 goals. He hasn't missed as much time as Matthews has with injuries (only six times reported on the injured list). 

Draisaitl has four seasons of 50 or more goals, including a league-leading 52 this season.

3. Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers | 361 goals | Age: 28

McDavid, out since March 21 with a lower-body injury, averages 0.51 goals per game. He also missed games in October with an ankle injury, and he has a far more extensive injury history than Draisaitl.

McDavid has only one season of 50 or more goals, in 2022-23, when he scored 64. Ovechkin has nine seasons of 50 or more goals, so a McDavid quest for the record seems unlikely unless he significantly picks up his goal-scoring pace.