Sharks’ Couture thinks Ovechkin can break record
SAN JOSE >> Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin just passed Brett Hull to become the fourth-leading scorer in NHL history.
There’s little doubt in Sharks captain Logan Couture’s mind that Ovechkin can get to No. 1.
Ovechkin, as of Saturday morning, had 742 career NHL goals and needed 153 more to pass Wayne Gretzky and become the league’s all-time leader in that category.
He’s not slowing down, either. Ovechkin, 36, had 12 goals in his first 17 games before Saturday and has more goals (184) than anyone else in the NHL over the last five seasons.
In that time, Ovechkin has been on a .627 goal-pergame pace. He signed a fiveyear, $47.5 million contract extension in July, and if he can stay healthy and average roughly a goal every two games, he’ll pass Gretzky’s total of 894 sometime near the end of the 2024-25 season or the start of the 2025-26 season.
“I’ve watched a few of (the Capitals’) games when the goalie’s pulled, and he’s always out there looking for the empty netters,” Couture said with a smile. “So, he’s going to score enough, I think.
“If he stays healthy and, knock on wood for the game of hockey that he does, I hope he does break it — just not against us.”
Ovechkin has 12 goals and eight assists in 22 career games against the Sharks, although he was held without a point in his last game at SAP Center on Dec. 3, 2019 — a 5-2 Capitals win.
Just ahead of Ovechkin on the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring list are Gordie Howe (801) and Jaromir Jagr (764). Ovechkin, now in his 17th NHL season, passed Hull’s total of 741 on Nov. 12, scoring once and adding an assist in Washington’s 4-3 win over Columbus.
“We saw (Joe Thornton) and Patty (Marleau) play very well into their late 30s and even into their 40s,” Couture said. “Players are still able to do that and contribute. The elite of the elite are still able to do what they do in this game.”