NHL Players Think Alex Ovechkin’s Goal Record Will Be Broken, Who Was Picked to Do It?

There’s belief within the NHL that Washington Capitals icon Alex Ovechkin’s all-time record of 911 goals scored will eventually be broken.

Several players envisioned Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews becoming the new all-time record holder in a poll conducted by The Athletic.

“I think Auston is the most realistic one,” one player told The Athletic.

“Matthews is on pace and not a bad choice,” another player said. “If there’s one to do it, it’s him.”

Matthews is still far away from Ovechkin on the all-time leaderboard, but has amassed 413 goals in 653 career games. He has three Richard Trophy victories under his belt for leading the NHL in goals scored, doing so in 2021, 2022 and 2024.

“Maybe Ovechkin’s record gets caught,” a player told The Athletic. “It’d have to be Matthews, but he’d need to have a couple of huge seasons.”

Matthews recorded 401 goals across his first nine years in the NHL, while Ovechkin racked up 422 goals throughout his first nine seasons.

The 40-year-old isn’t finished adding onto his record, either. Ovechkin has already scored 14 goals in 30 games this season, helping the Capitals open the year with a record of 18-9-3.