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Ovechkin vs Gretzky: Career Goals

Wayne Gretzky led Ovechkin after every season from the second through the 19th, but Ovechkin pulled ahead in season 20, 897 goals to 894.

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What the data shows

  • Alex Ovechkin: 52 at Season 1, 929 at Season 21 (18× higher).
  • Wayne Gretzky: 51 at Season 1, 894 at Season 20 (18× higher).

About this chart

Gretzky was ahead of Alex Ovechkin's pace after each of seasons 2 through 19. His 92-goal season in 1981-82 put him at 198 career goals after three seasons, 35 more than Ovechkin's 163. Gretzky had 803 after his 15th season to Ovechkin's 706, and Ovechkin then closed the gap with 730, 780, 822 and 853 in seasons 16 through 19.

In season 20, Ovechkin moved ahead, 897 goals to 894, and Gretzky retired after that season. The two began almost level: Ovechkin scored 52 in 2005-06 and Gretzky 51 in 1979-80. Ovechkin has 929 through his 21st season, after scoring 32 in 2025-26. The chart counts NHL regular-season goals only, so Gretzky's 46 WHA goals and all playoff goals are excluded.

The data

Source: Hockey-Reference.com player pages for Alex Ovechkin and Wayne Gretzky (NHL regular-season goals per season, summed cumulatively); cross-checked with Hockey-Reference career goals leaders page. Retrieved November 4, 2026. Season 1 = each player's first NHL season (Gretzky 1979-80, Ovechkin 2005-06). Gretzky played 20 NHL seasons, so his Season 21 cell is empty. NHL regular season only: Gretzky's 46 WHA goals (1978-79) and all playoff goals are excluded. Ovechkin's total is through the 2025-26 season; the 2026-27 season was in progress on the retrieval date and is excluded.

Ovechkin vs Gretzky: Career Goals, Cumulative NHL regular-season goals by season number, Season 1–Season 21
Date🇷🇺 Alex Ovechkin🇨🇦 Wayne Gretzky
Season 15251
Season 298106
Season 3163198
Season 4219269
Season 5269356
Season 6301429
Season 7339481
Season 8371543
Season 9422583
Season 10475637
Season 11525677
Season 12558718
Season 13607749
Season 14658765
Season 15706803
Season 16730814
Season 17780837
Season 18822862
Season 19853885
Season 20897894
Season 21929

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Frequently asked questions

Who has more NHL goals, Ovechkin or Gretzky?

Alex Ovechkin has more, with 929 regular-season goals through 2025-26 against Wayne Gretzky's 894. Ovechkin passed the record in April 2025, finishing the 2024-25 season with 897.

Who was ahead after the same number of seasons?

Gretzky was ahead after every season from 2 through 19, for example 803 to 706 after season 15. Ovechkin led after season 1 (52 to 51) and again in season 20, 897 to 894.

How many seasons did Gretzky and Ovechkin each play?

Gretzky played 20 NHL seasons, from 1979-80 to 1998-99, and scored 894 goals. Ovechkin has played 21 through 2025-26, scoring 929.

Where does this data come from?

Hockey-Reference.com player pages for Alex Ovechkin and Wayne Gretzky (NHL regular-season goals per season, summed cumulatively); cross-checked with Hockey-Reference career goals leaders page. Retrieved November 4, 2026. Season 1 = each player's first NHL season (Gretzky 1979-80, Ovechkin 2005-06). Gretzky played 20 NHL seasons, so his Season 21 cell is empty. NHL regular season only: Gretzky's 46 WHA goals (1978-79) and all playoff goals are excluded. Ovechkin's total is through the 2025-26 season; the 2026-27 season was in progress on the retrieval date and is excluded. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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