On Sunday, April 6, the hockey world witnessed a moment of historic magnitude. In a match between the New York Islanders and the Washington Capitals, Russian forward Alexander Ovechkin scored his 895th career NHL goal, surpassing the legendary Wayne Gretzky and officially becoming the league’s all-time top goal scorer.
Although the game ended in a 4–1 loss for the Capitals, all eyes were on that iconic moment. After scoring the milestone goal, Ovechkin celebrated in his signature style—sliding across the ice on his stomach. His teammates rushed onto the ice as if they had just clinched the Stanley Cup. “This is insane. I think it’ll take me a few days, maybe even weeks, to really process that I’m now number one,” the 39-year-old forward said during the post-game ceremony.
Ovechkin expressed heartfelt gratitude to his teammates, his family, and everyone who supported him on the road to the record. However, as noted by the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, he pointedly avoided mentioning Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite their long-standing and close relationship. Putin, a known hockey enthusiast, has frequently taken to the ice with Russian stars, including Ovechkin, who has publicly demonstrated loyalty to the Kremlin leader and is even said to have visited Putin’s Black Sea residence.
Russian Power in the NHL
Ovechkin is one of many Russian players who have left a lasting impact on the NHL. Since 2005, he has represented the Washington Capitals, joining the team after playing for Dynamo Moscow. He briefly returned to Russia during the 2012–13 NHL lockout, but his career has been firmly rooted in North America. His crowning achievement came in 2018 when he led the Capitals to their first-ever Stanley Cup victory.
Despite spending the bulk of his professional life overseas, Ovechkin has always remained deeply patriotic. Whenever possible, he answered the call to play for Russia’s national team, becoming a three-time world champion (2008, 2012, 2014). Perhaps the bitterest moment in his international career came during the 2014 Sochi Olympics, when Russia’s team fell to Finland in the quarterfinals—an event seen as a major blow to both national pride and Putin’s sports-driven agenda.
Politics and Sport: A Delicate Divide
When the war in Ukraine began, the NHL adopted a noticeably different stance from other sports organizations. The league chose not to suspend Russian players, citing a desire to “keep sports and politics separate.” However, as Neue Zürcher Zeitung points out, financial interests likely played a role—“money talks,” as the saying goes.
Today, 62 Russian players are active in the NHL, trailing only Canadians, Americans, and Swedes in number. Excluding such a significant player base could have had serious repercussions for the league.
A National Hero with a Complicated Legacy
In Russia, Ovechkin is a living legend. He wears jersey number 8 in honor of his mother, Tatyana Ovechkina, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in basketball (1976, 1980) with the Soviet national team. She was present at the game to witness her son’s historic moment, sharing in his triumph.
On the ice, Ovechkin inspires awe. Off the ice, he is not without critics. In Russia, he’s sometimes accused of selfishness and being overly individualistic. Former player and national team coach Vyacheslav Bykov—who twice led Russia to world championship titles—once remarked that Ovechkin is “too egocentric and not team-oriented enough.”
Still, as the Swiss press notes, none of this has diminished his iconic status. With 895 goals, Ovechkin now officially surpasses Gretzky in goals scored. But Gretzky’s overall legacy remains untouched—he still holds 55 NHL records, including an unmatched 2,857 career points. Ovechkin, by comparison, has 1,619 points to date. Nevertheless, the Russian forward intends to continue playing next season, despite approaching his 40th birthday.
Interestingly, when Gretzky stepped onto the ice after the historic goal, the applause he received was just as loud—if not louder—than that for Ovechkin. In both Canada and Russia, hockey is more than just a sport; it’s part of national identity. According to Neue Zürcher Zeitung, for many Canadians, the dethroning of their national hero felt like a symbolic blow.
Still, regardless of how the world views this changing of the guard, one fact is undeniable: Alexander Ovechkin has secured his place in history as one of the greatest to ever play the game. And while his journey has not been without controversy, his contribution to hockey is unquestionable.
This article was prepared based on materials published by Neue Zürcher Zeitung. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
The original article can be found at the following link: Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
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