Recently, Alex Ovechkin achieved a remarkable milestone. At last, he surpassed Wayne Gretzky’s legendary all-time goal record, netting his career 895th goal against the New York Islanders at the UBS Arena. Despite the Islanders securing a 4-1 victory, the focus remained firmly on Ovi, with every Caps fan and hockey enthusiast beaming with pride over his accomplishments on the sport’s grandest stage.
In pursuit of this goal, Ovechkin emerged as one of the most talked-about figures in the NHL. Every media outlet sought to secure an interview with him. In a surprising turn of events, the Russian hockey star declined an invitation to NBC’s The Tonight Show.
Capitals owner Ted Leonsis addressed the skepticism surrounding the captain’s choice, asserting, “Alex was invited on some television shows and The Tonight Show in New York to build his brand, hype, and celebrate. You know what he said? ‘I’m exhausted. I want to show respect to the coach and my teammates. I want to rest. I want to get ready for Thursday’s game and the sprint of the playoffs. I don’t want to have to fly back to New York and come back. Yeah, it might be good for me, but it’s time.’ And that’s what you want from your captain.”
Certainly, the games following the regular season are on the horizon. With the Capitals clinching a playoff spot first in the NHL and boasting an impressive record in the Eastern Conference, they are poised to maintain their dominance. Despite Ovechkin’s refusal of NBC’s request, he recently participated in a video call on ABC’s “Good Morning America” to talk about his latest achievement and his dedication to charitable efforts.
On X, Capitals PR reported: “Tune in to @GMA now as Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) joins the broadcast live from @MedStarIceplex to discuss scoring his 895th career goal to become the @NHL’s all-time goals leader.” This strategy enabled him to connect with the media and supporters while maintaining his focus on rest and preparation for the playoffs.
Tune in to @GMA now as Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) joins the broadcast live from @MedStarIceplex to discuss scoring his 895th career goal to become the @NHL’s all-time goals leader. pic.twitter.com/fz9iIwCdYq
— Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) April 9, 2025
In conclusion, Ovechkin’s choice to turn down NBC’s invitation stemmed from his intention to reduce travel and concentrate on his team’s playoff preparation, whereas his virtual appearance on ABC enabled him to juggle media obligations with his professional responsibilities. However, have you considered that he has leveraged this attention for a kind gesture?
Alex Ovechkin is helping out cancer patients
In March 2025, as he approached the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring record, Alex Ovechkin launched “THE GR8 CHASE for Victory Over Cancer,” collaborating with the Capitals, Hockey Fights Cancer, and the V Foundation for Cancer Research. In a striking display of dedication, Ovi pledged to donate an amount matching his total career goals for every goal he scores moving forward in his NHL career.
Recently, during an interview on Good Morning America’s YouTube channel, he articulated his inspiration for embarking on this tranquil journey, stating, “Yeah, you know, it’s for all this attention, for all this sound of breaking that record, you know, we decided to join the V Foundation and raise as much money as we can to help kids and to help them to bring up, you know, smile on their face, energy and hope, we’re going to do it more and more.”
Ovechkin seeks to support individuals grappling with the hardships brought on by the lethal illness. He capitalized on the entire spotlight to obtain funding for the foundation, and the next developments are truly astonishing. The quest for the Great 8 may have reached its conclusion, yet the foundation remains open to contributions. In this message, Ovi is calling on his followers to back cancer research and assist individuals in their battle against this deadly illness.
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