According to The Hockey News, his teammate Tom Wilson couldn’t help but marvel at Ovi’s other jaw-dropping skill. “He hits hard, he hits heavy,” Wilson said, pointing out how rare it is for a player of Ovi’s caliber to throw his body around like that and still dominate offensively. Unlike most legends who finesse their way to longevity, Ovechkin goes full beast mode every single shift. “He can run guys over. That’s why I loved him as a kid, that’s why he was one of my favorite players. He’d score, pass, run over guys, defend himself. I’ve never had to pull a fly off Ovi’s back. He can do it himself.”
Safe to say, Wilson’s been taking notes from the best in the business. But let’s be real—hitting like a freight train doesn’t come without a price. Wilson himself leads the Caps with 156 hits this season, and while his top skating speed sits in the elite 94th percentile, every impact leaves a mark. “Giving out hits, every hit, two guys feel it: the guy that gets hit and the guy that gives the hit,” he explained. If you are slamming into guys who weigh nearly 230 pounds at full speed, the toll it takes on your body does not take long to add up.
And for Wilson, at 30, sleep is the best remedy—though winding down after an adrenaline-fueled night on the ice? Yeah, easier said than done. That is why what Alexander Ovechkin is doing at the age of 39 is nothing short of legendary. Even more so, Wilson admitted that. “The fact that he’s continuing to do this at his age and continue to fill the net with goals is just honestly, remarkable.” While it is Ovi in the pursuit of Gretzky’s record that might be the biggest story, it is the manner in which he does it.
So, what makes Alexander Ovechkin that special? Well, you don’t just meet a man who is almost like royalty in the world of ice hockey. On January 11, 2025, he did it again—scored an empty-netter goal against the predators to become one of the two players in the history to record 20 straight seasons with 20 goals next to Gordie Howe. This is not merely elite, but this is a once in a lifetime performance. But if you thought that Tom Wilson is a one-time admirer of Ovi, then you are mistaken.
Tom Wilson remains in awe of Alexander Ovechkin!
A few days ago, the Capital One Arena saw the usual Alexander Ovechkin moment; the one that leaves fans speechless. Ovi scored his 878th goal in style, making it in the last second of the game to win the match. His teammate, Tom Wilson, was absolutely shook. As shared by Sammi Silber, the Caps’ beat reporter, the locker room was buzzing with disbelief. “I mean, something special is happening to Poise,” Wilson said, still caught in the moment. “For him to fake the shot with 3 seconds left and put it in with a tenth of a second left… I mean, it’s because it’s Gretzky, I guess, so we’ll just keep chasing here.”
But wait, Tom’s Alexander Ovechkin appreciation tour doesn’t stop there! Just ask any member of the Washington Capitals whether they’d prefer to take a hit from Ovechkin or Wilson and the response is going to be Wilson all day. “That’s an easy one,” said Brandon Duhaime, one of the team’s toughest playersguys. “I love to get hit by Willy, he’s a little bit soft on his feet. Ovi’s built like a train.” And yeah, that train does not slow down. Duhaime even quipped that if you do not see Ovi coming, you are going to get buried.
So, whether it is delivering hits, scoring goals in the last second of the game or simply dominating the floor, Alexander Ovechkin does it bigger, better and more bravely than anyone else. Now, as he gets nearer to that legendary record, one thing is certain; his teammates will always be in awe of him.
