The only real threat to Ovechkin's goals record is a 20-year-old, and he's already 70 ahead

Alex Ovechkin announced on Monday that this will be his final NHL season, according to www.nytimes.com. He has 82 more games to extend his league record of 929 regular-season goals.

The standard was set when he passed Wayne Gretzky's previous mark of 894 late in the 2024-25 season. Gretzky's record stood for decades, and there's a strong chance Ovechkin's entry will stand even longer.

That staying power has never been a question of luck. Ovechkin has recorded 14 seasons with 40 goals or more, and his only season under 30 goals came during a pandemic-shortened campaign. From ages 27 to 39, excluding shortened seasons, he scored between 47 and 57 goals in all but three of those years.

His longevity is just part of the equation. Most players peak between 24 and 26, and while that held for Ovechkin's all-around game, he has still averaged 47 goals per 82 games during the 14 seasons after turning 26. He has scored 223 goals at age 35 or older.

Availability has been just as remarkable. Ovechkin has appeared in 95 percent of available contests, a high-water mark among his peers. In the salary-cap era, the best players average 92 percent — right where Connor McDavid lands — while Steven Stamkos (89 percent), Auston Matthews (88 percent) and Sidney Crosby (86 percent) all sit lower.

Put it together and Ovechkin is a unique beast, perfectly tailored to be the NHL's all-time goal-scoring leader. Everything broke right for him, and that's an unlikely thing to project on any player challenging his crown. But if everything does go right, there is one potential threat who could have a real shot years from now.

WHY OVECHKIN IS UNIQUE

Ovechkin has recorded 14 seasons with 40 goals or more, and his only season under 30 goals came because of the pandemic. From ages 27 to 39, excluding shortened seasons, he scored between 47 and 57 goals in all but three seasons.

That consistency is what separates him. Most players peak between 24 and 26, and while that held for Ovechkin's all-around game, he still averaged 47 goals per 82 games during the 14 seasons after turning 26. He has scored 223 goals at age 35 or older.