News Roundup 04/07/25
The Chase Is Over
The main story this week is an obvious one: Alexander Ovechkin finally did it. He broke Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring record. Gretzky ended his career with 894 goals while Ovechkin on Sunday scored his 895th. Even more amazingly, Ovechkin scored his 895th in the same amount of games it took Gretzky to score 894 goals: 1,487 games. He also owns the records for most power-play goals (325), overtime goals (27), and game-winning goals (136). Now the only major goal-scoring record left to break is becoming the all-time scoring leader with regular season and playoff goals combined. Gretzky still has that record, having scored 1,016. Currently, Ovechkin has 967. He is 49 goals away from breaking that record.
If you want to read more, there is a rather interesting article for history nerds (like me, so no judgment here) on the nine players who held the NHL scoring record before Ovechkin. Yes, Ovechkin is the tenth to hold the record. Then, my colleagues over at Offside News (if you don’t follow me on social media, I am now writing there as well), released two great articles on this record being broken. One was written by Rickie Sharafeddin-Rice on passing down the record of NHL scoring leader, starting with Gordie Howe. Then, there’s also an article from Michelle Zheng on Ovechkin’s legacy as seen from someone who has spent their life in the D.C. area. Finally, the NHL website has an article recapping how Ovechkin’s goal was celebrated along with the ceremony if you are interested in that.
The St. Louis Blues have won 12 games in a row…David Pastrňák now has scored 40 goals in four consecutive seasons, tying him with Leon Draisaitl and Teemu Selänne for fourth in most consecutive 40-goal seasons for an NHL player born outside North America (Jari Kurri has the most with seven)…In the last twelve games, Sidney Crosby has 17 points (9G, 8A)…Patrick Kane has surpassed Mike Modano for most 20-goal seasons by an American player with 17…Dustin Wolf is now fifth all-time for U.S.-born rookie goaltender wins with 25 (Jimmy Howard of the Red Wings has the most, winning 37 games in the 2009-2010 season)…The NHL signed a 12-year broadcasting deal with Rogers for Canadian audiences (Sean Shapiro had a great analysis of this deal)…Trey Augustine will return to Michigan State for a third season…Cam Fowler of Boston College left and has signed a contract with the Montreal Canadiens…The 2025 Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalists are Zeev Buium, Isaac Howard, and Ryan Leonard…Montréal Victoire goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens has been put on LTIR, goaltender Tricia Deguire was signed to take her place…New York Sirens goaltender Corinne Schroeder leads the league with 3 shutouts after defeating the Victoire, 1-0…Ottawa Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips is the first goaltender in league history to record multiple shutouts in their rookie season…Canadian forward Hannah Miller was deemed ineligible to play in the upcoming IIHF Women’s World Championships and will now be replaced by Julia Gosling.
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