Matthews needs 498 more goals to break Ovechkin's current goal record.
Mar 13, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) skates during the warmup before a game against the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
If there's anyone who could come close to replicating what Alex Ovechkin has just done in his career, it's Toronto Maple Leafs captain, Auston Matthews.
Ovechkin did the unimaginable on Sunday, breaking Wayne Gretzky's record of 894-career NHL goals. It was a massive moment in history, with the league rolling out the red carpet and celebrating the feat mid-game.
"Pretty cool," Matthews told reporters on Monday morning.
"Just to be able to witness that just felt like everything went right there. It was in his spot on the power play; the celebration was amazing, and pretty cool to be able to witness that record being broken."
Let's compare Matthews' current goal total with where Ovechkin was at the same point in his career: Matthews has 398 goals in 623 games, while Ovechkin had 391 in that same span.
To break the goals record, Matthews has to find the back of the net over 500 more times. Ovechkin scored the final 505 goals, including the record-breaker, in 865 games, or 10.5 seasons. Matthews can achieve that, however, he would need health on his side and play into his late thirties.
"Yeah, I mean, that's such a long ways away. I don't think I should even be in that conversation. This guy just broke the record," Matthews said.
"I'm so far away from that, and I think it shouldn't really be a focus on myself. It rightfully so should be on Ovi and what he's been able to accomplish in his career, and this record being one of them."
Nobody thought this record would be broken. It seemed like a feat that would forever remain in the NHL's record books. But as Gretzky said as he passed the boton over to Ovechkin: "Records are made to be broken."
We don't know yet what Ovechkin's final tally will be. He'll likely surpass the 900-goal mark. Matthews can get there, it's just a matter of if and when he approaches that milestone.
"Yeah. I mean, it's pretty crazy. Obviously, I can't even count that high; that's pretty astonishing," Matthew Knies told reporters.
"But yeah, maybe we'll see it down the line, 3-4 could do it."
-1744165491-q80.webp "Jayden Daniels picks 4 Commanders teammates for his dream soccer squad")
