Alex Ovechkin is enjoying the offseason, but the Washington Capitals captain gave fans a big surprise at Fanatics Fest NYC. Fans at the NHL event in the Javits Center came to enjoy games and fun activities. 

They did not expect to see the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer on the floor. Ovechkin joined fans for a fun hockey skills challenge and made the event one of the biggest highlights of the weekend.

The 40-year-old recently signed a one-year contract extension and will return for his 22nd NHL season. At Fanatics Fest NYC, he quickly delivered a fun show for fans.

He joined the "Shoot and Score" challenge and shot pucks from different spots on the ice. He aimed through a small opening at the bottom of the net. 

According to the NHL's report, Ovechkin made the challenge look easy. He even scored one shot when another puck was partly blocking the opening.

After the shooting challenge, Ovechkin went to the DroneCam 360 area. He lifted a replica Stanley Cup over his head, recreating one of the most famous moments of his career.

His appearance showed once again that Ovechkin is one of the NHL's biggest stars. Even during the offseason, he brings in large crowds and keeps fans excited for the 2026-27 season.

Ovechkin continues chasing history entering his 22nd NHL season

The same NHL report also said Ovechkin has another big record to chase next season. He already holds the NHL record for the most regular-season goals.

Last season, he finished with 929 career goals. He also led the Capitals with 64 points and played in every regular-season game. At 40 years old, he is still playing at a high level.

Ovechkin also holds NHL records for the most power-play goals, game-winning goals, overtime goals, empty-net goals, 30-goal seasons, and Rocket Richard Trophy wins. He also shares the record for the most 50-goal seasons with Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy.

Another big milestone could come soon. Ovechkin has 1,006 total goals in the regular season and playoffs. He needs only 10 more goals to pass Gretzky's all-time total of 1,016.

If he reaches that number, he will add another amazing record to his career. His visit to Fanatics Fest also showed how excited fans are to watch him chase history again next season.

As the 2026-27 NHL season gets closer, Ovechkin remains one of the NHL's biggest stars. He continues to excite fans and chase new records, showing that his impact goes far beyond playing games.

What do you think? Will Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin achieve another historic milestone before his legendary NHL career comes to an end? Let us know in the comments. 

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi