Wayne Gretzky has previously stated his desire to travel with the Washington Capitals once Alex Ovechkin gets closer to the all-time goals record. According to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, that will be a 2-for-1 deal as he’s also planning on being on those trips.
Bettman discussed the plans during his guest appearance on Monumental Sports Network’s Alt-Cast of the Capitals’ game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Friday night. He also shared when exactly they might begin traveling.
“Alex was on a tear and got hurt, unfortunately,” Bettman said. “And he had a bunch of multi-goal games. I think when we get down to five, certainly no less than four, I’ve got to start following him around, and The Great One is going to be doing that as well. And I think we’ve concluded that either five or four. We can’t take any chances because when he gets that close, my guess is he’s going to be so focused it’s going to happen in a multi-goal game.”
With 15 goals through his first 18 games this season, Ovechkin was barreling down on the record. The only thing that could stop him was a broken left fibula, taking him out of action for four-to-six weeks.
Still, given Ovechkin’s career goal-per-game rate and the pace he was setting into November this year, the record could fall this season. Bettman says he and Gretzky are ready for that if the time comes.
“Yes [we’ve talked about it],” Bettman said. “I said to Wayne, ‘We’re going to be bunking with each other for a while.'”
Bettman says the NHL is also prepared to mark the occasion with a special ceremony.
“The build-up to this incredible feat and the moment it gets tied and beaten is something that people will be very pleased with,” Bettman said. “[It will get] the focus and the intention and the celebration that it deserves.”
