Home Sports Wayne Gretzky looks forward to the day Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin breaks his...

Wayne Gretzky looks forward to the day Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin breaks his goals record

Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky and Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin shared stories and memories throughout Monday’s “Hockey at Home” interview series that aired on NBC Sports Network and Sportsnet.

The 2 respected scorers met for the first time in Malibu, California when Gretzky welcomed Ovechkin and his other half to have supper with hisfamily Ovechkin called the experience “crazy” and a “special moment.”

“It was great and I asked him questions because as a kid, you always want to know how it was back then when he played and what’s the difference between this hockey and hockey back then,” Ovechkin stated.

Gretzky left the restaurant pleased withOvechkin The former Oiler stated he generally gets concerns about particular turning points and memories, however Ovechkin asked Gretzky about what he requires to surpass as a captain.

MORE: “The Great One” by the numbers

Ovechkin met Gretzky prior to winning his first Stanley Cup in 2018 as the Capitals were having a hard time to go deep in the playoffs

“The thing I found so fascinating about Alex wasn’t so much about individualism, scoring goals, how do we become a better player but the whole night was about, ‘What can I do or what do I need to do as captain to help get our team over the hump? What can I do to contribute to winning a Stanley Cup for the Washington Capitals and the city of Washington,'” Gretzky stated. “I keep in mind leaving there believing, ‘Wow, this is so distinct.’

” We might have discussed anything, goals, helps, games, memories and actually, Alex, the just thing he had on his mind was that, ‘I have to bring a Stanley Cup to the city of Washington,'” Gretzky recounted. ” For me, that was among the fantastic parts of the entire night. I understood then and there leaving the restaurant that a person day he was going to lift the Stanley Cup.”

Ovechkin is a passionate hockey stick collector and he asked Gretzky for among his at the supper. When he won the trophy, the four-time Stanley Cup champ made an offer that he would send him a stick.

MORE: April 18, 1999: Wayne Gretzky’s last NHL game

Gretzky stated Ovechkin never ever called him about the stick up until he raised theCup When the Capitals forward started bothering the former Oiler monthly, that’s. His perseverance ultimately settled as Ovechkin got the stick Gretzky utilized to score goal No. 807.

For both team captains, their best hockey minute was raising the Stanley Cup for the first time. Gretzky stated it’s specifically significant to be the first gamer to lift the renowned trophy.

” We were both lucky to win a great deal of specific awards prior to we got to that first championship which’s all fantastic. I had fun with a great deal of fantastic players, a great deal of Hall of Famers, simply fantastic people,” Gretzky said. ” However that time you raise the Stanley Cup and make no error about it, there’s something so cool about being the captain and getting to raise itfirst This to me is the biggest, proudest minute as a hockey gamer and something I’ll always remember.

For Ovechkin, it was a difficult journey to get to the hockey peak.

“To lift the Stanley Cup is probably the best moment in my hockey career. Obviously, it was a hard time for a lot of my teammates who had been with me since day one and for the whole organization,” Ovechkin stated. “That moment I will never forget, to share a cup with Backy (Nicklas Backstrom). It was a special moment to see my family, how happy they were, all the fans, the whole organization, all the players. It was the best moment.”

To this day, Ovechkin has actually not enjoyed the Cup- clinching Game 5 versus the Vegas Golden Knights. He’ll be tuned in when it re-airs on tv.

“As soon as Game 5 against Vegas is going to be on TV, I’m going to watch it. To be honest with you, I’ve never watched a replay of that game so it will be interesting to see how I react,” the Capitals captain stated. “I’m probably going to cry like I was on the ice.”

The 2 players have actually been linked more than ever as Ovechkin inches more detailed to Gretzky’s all-time NHL goal- scoringrecord Ovechkin currently has 706 goals, while Gretzky sits atop the charts with 894.

MORE: Can Ovechkin catch Gretzky?

Gretzky ensured to send out Ovechkin a message of support as he was approaching the 700-goal mark.

” I do not believe people understand the microscopic lense that you’re under. I saw his coach in an interview discussing how much more stress there was, how lots of more media people, how lots of more people who were following the club and I comprehended that. I have actually existed and it’s a bit gut-wrenching,” Gretzky said. ” You get a little tight, you get a bit worried and all I texted him was simply ‘Unwind, you’re going to get to 700 real fast and prior to you understand it, you’ll be at 800.'”

Gretzky stated he enjoys practically every game Ovechkin plays in and he’s been cheering and rooting him on as the Capitals winger techniques “The Great One’s” goals record.

When Gretzky broke Gordie Howe’s goal- scoring record, his daddy informed him that when his record is broken, he hopes Gretzky shows as much class and self-respect as Howe did when his marker was exceeded.

” I hope I did and I hope I’m the first person to be able to shake his (Ovechkin) hand when he does break my record,” Gretzky said. ” I do not believe there’s any doubt in my mind that he has a fantastic chance to do that.

” I believe it’s exceptional for Alex and his family and I’m rooting for him as hard as anyone and I believe it’ll be a terrific day for the game of hockey when he gets to the record.”

With the 2019-20 NHL season stopped briefly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ovechkin has actually taken some time to review his profession as he hangs around with his family.

“Obviously, right now I have a lot of time to think about it. It’s great, great for the game, great for me, my teammates, it’s great for the Washington D.C. area to be able to see that,” Ovechkin stated. “Right now, I can’t even realize what I did throughout my career because my career is not ended. To be eighth all-time on goals in the NHL, it’s special.”

If Ovechkin breaks Gretzky’s goal- scoring record, the former Oiler will be awaiting a stick to show up from Ovechkin.

“I hope that I get one of his sticks because I gave him one of mine so maybe we can do a nice trade.”

NO COMMENTS

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Exit mobile version