Why Alex Ovechkin Realistically Could Reach 1,000 Career Goals

The Boston Bruins welcome the Washington Capitals to TD Garden on Wednesday with Alex Ovechkin on the brink of history.

Ovechkin is five goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals record. The B’s certainly hope the future Hall of Famer doesn’t break the record Wednesday night. However, the milestone did beg the question: Could Ovechkin reach 1,000 career NHL goals?

That was what NESN’s Adam Pellerin asked the network’s broadcast team on the latest edition of “The Hockey Hub.”

“Why not?” NESN Bruins analyst Andy Brickley said. “I don’t know what his gameplan is. He might have talked about next year being his last year, particularly if he didn’t reach 895 this year. We know he’s coming back for that. But does he want to play beyond 41, 42, because if he does, that’s in reach for him. He’s playing with such a youthfulness right now. When you take a look at this Washington team, it’s not (Nicklas) Bäckström and (T.J.) Oshie anymore. He’s playing with different players. He’s playing with young guys that are excited about playing in the NHL, that are playing quality hockey. … I think because of the success of the young players that have popped, that have been drafted and developed or traded for as young players that are now quality NHL players, I think that’s added youthfulness to a 39-year-old guy that has a lot to play for.”

NESN Bruins play-by-play announcer Judd Sirott noted that Ovechkin has one year left on his contract, making $9.5 million, which seems like a bargain given how he’s played this year. Sirott agreed with Brickley’s assessment of the Capitals and how they’re built to win the Stanley Cup this season and compete for more beyond.

Sirott and Brickley will speak more about the Capitals during Tuesday night’s broadcast, which you can catch on NESN starting with pregame at 6 p.m. ET.

You can listen to more of “The Hockey Hub” on YouTube or Spotify.