Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals forward, has cemented his place in NHL history as the League’s all-time leading goal scorer. With this milestone, he not only solidifies his remarkable career but also emerges as one of the most well-rounded fantasy hockey players in history.
On Sunday, Ovechkin scored his 895th career goal, surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s legendary record, making him the highest goal scorer in NHL history. In addition to his goal-scoring prowess, Ovechkin holds multiple all-time records, including the most career shots on goal (6,852), power-play goals (325), game-winning goals (136), and overtime goals (27). These statistics underscore his impact on the ice, but they also make him a formidable fantasy asset in key categories.
At 39 years old, Ovechkin continues to dominate in traditional fantasy hockey metrics. He ranks third in NHL history for hits with 3,735, a category tracked since the 2005-06 season, coinciding with his rookie year. Additionally, Ovechkin stands 11th all-time in power-play points (601). His ability to consistently contribute across goals, shots on goal, power-play points, and hits places him in a league of his own, generating generational totals in four of the most important fantasy skater categories.
Standard fantasy hockey leagues typically track categories such as goals, assists, power-play points, shots on goal, and hits. Ovechkin leads the NHL in two of these categories—power-play goals and shots on goal—and is at the top of the rankings in several others, including game-winning goals. For leagues that track additional categories like blocked shots or plus/minus, Ovechkin’s versatile contributions make him a valuable player across various formats.
While Ovechkin’s accomplishments are undeniable, Wayne Gretzky remains a strong contender for the title of greatest fantasy hockey player. Gretzky holds or shares 59 different NHL records, including career assists (1,963), points (2,857), and power-play points (890). He also ranks second in goals (894) and is highly ranked in other fantasy-relevant categories such as plus/minus and game-winning goals.
However, Ovechkin, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft and won the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018, has defied age and injury to achieve some of the best goal-scoring numbers of his career. His performance this season, with 42 goals in 61 games, has placed him near the top of the league in scoring, despite overcoming a broken leg earlier in the year. Ovechkin’s goals-per-game average this season (.688) is one of the highest of his 20-season career, reinforcing his sustained excellence and ability to produce at an elite level.
Ovechkin’s ability to perform under pressure is also evident in his recent streak, having scored 16 goals in his last 21 games. His goal-scoring rate since January 30, 2025, has made him the league leader in goals during that span, with 20 goals in 27 games. Moreover, Ovechkin holds the NHL records for most 30-goal seasons (19), 40-goal seasons (14), and is tied for the most 50-goal seasons (nine) in history.
Although fantasy hockey became widely popular after Gretzky’s final season in 1998-99, Ovechkin’s achievements—particularly surpassing Gretzky in career goals—position him as a top contender for the title of greatest fantasy player of all-time. His exceptional consistency, combined with his record-breaking goal total, durability, and versatility in key fantasy categories such as hits, makes Ovechkin a player that continues to dominate the fantasy landscape.
In sum, while Gretzky’s historical dominance is unparalleled, Ovechkin’s all-around contributions, including his ability to thrive in modern fantasy categories, have solidified his case as one of the greatest fantasy hockey players of all-time.
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