Capitals' Alex Ovechkin would have a higher goal total if not for unlucky NHL Draft year

Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin would have a higher goal total if not for unlucky NHL Draft year originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It’s never a bad time to think about the legendary NHL career of Alex Ovechkin.

He’s still playing, but the ‘ star, and the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, is beyond Wayne Gretzky on the goals chart and now just adding to his own record.

He could have even more goals, believe it or not.

And there’s an obvious but quirky reason why he doesn’t.

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What was Alex Ovechkin’s draft year?

The Capitals made Ovechkin the No. 1 overall pick in 2004.

One problem: The NHL missed the entire 2004-05 season due to a lockout.

Ovechkin didn’t get to debut until 2005-06.

If there had never been a lockout, Ovi might’ve had more goals.

He scored 52 goals as a rookie. Who’s to say he wouldn’t have had between 25-40 even a year prior?

How many goals does Alex Ovechkin have?

Alex Ovechkin hasn’t scored yet in 2025-26.

He entered the season with 897 goals.

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Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin would have a higher goal total if not for unlucky NHL Draft year

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