As Alexander Ovechkin relentlessly pursues Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goal record, the hockey world is abuzz with comparisons between these two legendary players. Ovechkin’s climb past Gordie Howe into second place on the all-time goalscoring list has intensified the debate: How do these two icons truly stack up against each other? While Wayne Gretzky was already retired by the time Ovechkin entered the league, their careers offer a fascinating contrast and comparison. Let’s delve into the stats and achievements to Compare Gretzky To Ovechkin and understand their places in hockey history.
Career Stats: Gretzky vs. Ovechkin Head-to-Head
Wayne Gretzky, often called “The Great One,” played 1487 NHL games and amassed an incredible 894 goals, including 91 game-winning goals. Alexander Ovechkin, known as “The Great Eight,” has played 1310 games to date, scoring 802 goals and counting, with an impressive 124 game-winning goals. Gretzky’s playmaking dominance is evident in his staggering 1963 assists, dwarfing Ovechkin’s still-respectable 649 assists.
Wayne Gretzky in his New York Rangers jersey celebrating a goal, highlighting his legendary career.
via Imago
Image alt text: Wayne Gretzky, legendary New York Rangers player, celebrates a goal during his NHL career.
Statistically, Gretzky averaged an astounding 1.92 points per game, totaling 2857 points in his career. Ovechkin’s points per game average is 1.11, with a total of 1451 points. Gretzky also boasted a higher shooting accuracy of 17.6% compared to Ovechkin’s 12.9%. Interestingly, Ovechkin has accumulated significantly more penalty minutes with 765, while Gretzky had 577 penalty minutes throughout his career. Gretzky played center, a position known for playmaking, whereas Ovechkin is a left winger, primarily focused on goal scoring. Both legends, however, shared the honor of captaining their respective NHL teams.
Shared Records and Legacies
Beyond the overall goal record chase, Ovechkin has already tied Gretzky in several remarkable achievements. Both players hold the record for “most career 40-goal seasons” with an astounding 12 seasons each.
Image alt text: Alexander Ovechkin celebrates tying Wayne Gretzky’s record for most 40-goal seasons in NHL history.
Furthermore, Ovechkin joined Gretzky and Mike Bossy in the record books for “most career 50-goal seasons,” each achieving this feat 9 times. While Ovechkin continues to build his legacy, Wayne Gretzky’s place in history is cemented with an incredible 61 NHL records. Alexander Ovechkin currently holds 24 NHL records, a testament to his own remarkable career.
As Ovechkin continues his pursuit of Gretzky’s all-time goal record, the hockey world eagerly watches to see if “The Great Eight” can surpass “The Great One” in this ultimate statistical comparison. The debate about who is greater will continue, but both Wayne Gretzky and Alexander Ovechkin have undeniably left indelible marks on the sport of hockey.
