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"I want to be with the team": When Wayne Gretzky opened up to Capitals owner about his wish regarding Alex Ovechkin's record chase
Ahead of the 2022 NHL season, Wayne Gretzky let his thoughts be known to Washington Capitals team owner Ted Leonsis about franchise legend Alex Ovechkin. Leonsis had opened up about the relationship between the pair and the Great Eight's chase of the NHL goal record.
In some cases, when it comes to such massive records, there might be some hard feelings between two competitive sporting legends. But in Ovechkin and Gretzky'se case, it is completely the opposite. The pair seemed to have gotten closer as Ovechkin has marched on over the years to one of sport's greatest records.
Ahead of opening night in 2022, Ovechkin had 780 goals and the conversation had started to spread about him soon breaking the goal record. In an exclusive with NBC Washington, Leonsis opened up about Gretzky and his contributions to the game and how he had stated he would like to be in attendance when his goal record is broken.
“He’s really been a godsend for us and just a great, great ambassador for the game. No one is resentful that he could pass Gordie Howe. Wayne Gretzky calls me all the time and says, ‘Alex is going to pass me. I want to be with the team when that happens.’
"He’s going to travel with the team and Alex. What does that say about the integrity of the guy and also the way the franchise has moved up the respect echelon in the entire league?," Leonsis had said.
When Wayne broke Gordie Howe's record on March 23, 1994, Howe was present in California to mark the event. Thus it makes sense that the "Great One" wants to pass on the baton himself.
Alex Ovechkin looking for an earlier return than expected
Alex Ovechkin is currently in his injury rehab process to get back into the Washington Capitals lineup after fracturing his fibula 18 games into the season. The Russian is just 26 goals away from the iconic 894-goal mark that Wayne Gretzky had set.
On Thursday, the Capitals provided an update that the 39-year-old had started light skating in the rink showing signs that he could be back in action by early January.
At the time of injury, Alex Ovechkin was the leading scorer in the league with 15 goals. The Caps led the Eastern Conference with a 13-4-1. They still remain at the top with their latest win over the Canadiens, currently holding a 19-6-2 record.
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