#alex-ovechkin

#alex-ovechkin

Gretzky, 64, told Variety in an interview about his new deal that he's well aware TNT's NHL coverage has big shoes to fill. "Listen, we are not trying to reinvent the wheel," he said. "We are largely riding the coattails of what those guys on 'Inside the NBA' have done so phenomenally. They know the game, but they are positive, and their personalities come through, even if they don't always agree."

Just to be a part of it and to be in the celebration and the aftermath of it and basically getting to celebrate twice because when he tied the record on Thursday... [We were] partying for two days and then Sunday in New York. I don't think anyone remembers the score of that game, we just remember the fun that we had.

"Yeah, happy for him," Ovechkin told RMNB's Katie Adler. "You know, wish him all the best. Obviously, we all miss him here, but you know, he's back on the ice, and I hope he's going to do well."

While with the Capitals, Irwin saw one of the biggest moments of the now-completed goal chase firsthand as Ovechkin scored his 802nd career goal and passed Gordie Howe for second on the NHL's all-time goals list. Irwin was in the team's lineup for the historic December 23, 2022 game against the Winnipeg Jets, skating 17:36 of ice time in the 4-1 victory.

Ovechkin's future has been a major topic of discussion as he heads into the final year of his contract with the Washington Capitals. While he would prefer not to talk about the end of his NHL career just yet, that won't stop speculation about how the Caps could handle honoring the club's best player when he does hang up his skates.

Whenever he does decide to hang up his skates, which Ovechkin has publicly stated he'll consider after the upcoming season, he plans to return to Moscow to open a sports academy and memorabilia museum. He told "Psychologies" his post-playing goal is to give back to the youth of his home country. "I want to pass on my experience to young people and inspire them to play sports," Ovechkin said.

📸: Alan Dobbins/RMNB Alex Ovechkin received a slight boost in rating from EA Sports for NHL 26. Ovechkin is back up to 90 overall, one year after dropping into the 80s (89) in the video game franchise for the first time in his career. The legendary winger followed up the digital disrespect by posting 44 goals in 65 games during his age-39 season, breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record along the way.

Ovechkin is no stranger to the music industry. He's famously an enthusiast of the EDM and rap genres, even earning a name drop by Drake in Future's 2022 track, "I'm On One." He rapped himself in Sasha Belyi's Champion back in 2012. Ovechkin even looked like a natural as a rock star, headlining a fake band the Capitals came up with to kick off the "Rock the Red" era in 2008.

Alex Ovechkin participated in a ceremonial first kick at a Dynamo Moscow match against FC Krasnodar, greeting players and shaking hands with the manager.

Ovechkin confirmed his attendance for Pavel Datsyuk's 'Magic Game' on August 30, stating, "I can't miss this day, especially since we had a wonderful conversation with Datsyuk."

Ovechkin reached out to Darius Kasparaitis during the break for the 4 Nations Face-off, asking if he could train with him in the gym.