"You should enjoy the cup more than my stick" - Wayne Gretzky recalls his conversation with Alex Ovechkin after Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup win

By Vignesh Krishnan

Modified Nov 07, 2024 20:25 GMT

Wayne Gretzky is no stranger to winning. The former Edmonton Oilers star led the franchise to four Stanley Cup wins during his illustrious NHL career.

Referred to by fans as "The Great One," Gretzky's game-used stick is considered one of the most sought-after pieces of memorabilia in the hockey community. It comes as no surprise that NHL players have queued up over the years to get their hands on what can be considered the holy grail.

One of them is Alex Ovechkin. The Washington Capitals captain has built a storied career himself, but couldn't resist the urge to ask for a game-used stick from Gretzky.

During Tuesday's edition of "NHL on TNT" Gretzky recalled the time when he had a conversation with Ovechkin about his stick.

"He did ask for a game-used stick of mine," Gretzky said. "And I said, 'I'll get you a game-used stick, but you have to win a Stanley Cup first.'"

Ovechkin did not forget that and guided the Washington Capitals to a Stanley Cup win in 2018. Soon after, he reached out to Gretzky.

"The next day after winning the Stanley Cup, he said, 'Can I get that stick?' Gretzky said. "I said you should enjoy that cup more than my stick right now."

While several NHL records held by Gretzky are unlikely to be broken any time soon, there is one that Ovechkin has his eyes on.

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Wayne Gretzky makes his thoughts clear on Alex Ovechkin chasing down all-time NHL scoring record

Wayne Gretzky holds the record for most NHL regular season goals with 894. The only active player close to that number is Alex Ovechkin.

With 861 goals to his name, he can pass Gretzky this season. When asked about Ovechkin potentially breaking the record, Gretzky knows it's bound to happen.

"Listen, it's not a question of if he's going to break the record, it's a question of when is he going to break the record, which is great for the game," Gretzky said. "It's positive. And he's been such a classy player for our sport for so many years. Good for him."

Ovechkin has been in hot scoring form to start this season. Through the first 12 games he's played, he has registered eight goals and 16 points.

With 33 goals to go, Ovechkin will hope to continue his scoring streak when the Capitals take on the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday at 7:30 pm ET.