It’s been over a week, but that electric, goosebump-worthy moment still echoes like it happened five minutes ago. Alex Ovechkin dialled in from his legendary office, unleashed that signature rocket, and boom—history was made. One perfect power-play dart, one screen from Jacob Chychrun, and just like that, Wayne Gretzky’s once-untouchable record fell to the Russian machine who never breaks. His 895th was pure magic—set up beautifully by none other than ride-or-die teammate Tom Wilson. Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery didn’t even hold back, calling it “the ultimate goal-scorer’s goal for the greatest of all time.”

Kinda hard to argue when the whole arena was thunder-shouting “Ovi! Ovi!” like a stadium choir. And Ovi? He hit the ice like a joyful 10-year-old winning pond hockey bragging rights—belly flop and all—as teammates swarmed in pure chaos. But here’s the kicker: this wasn’t just about a number. Ovechkin didn’t just etch his name deeper into NHL history books—he helped elevate the entire league into the spotlight, outshining even the biggest names across NFL and NBA circles.

Capitals PR hit up X on April 16 like, “RECORD SET: Per @Fanatics, @Capitals player Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) set a record for the most merchandise sales ever by an @NHL player in a single day on April 6.” And whew—April 6 wasn’t just a day… it was an Ovi-powered shopping frenzy. Fans went absolutely wild, scooping up every piece of Ovi magic like hotcakes on a Sunday morning. From his iconic goal tees to autographed pucks that practically scream “GOAT,” the merch flew off shelves faster than one of his slapshots.

The numbers? Unreal. Ovechkin didn’t just top NHL sales—he outshined every athlete in every sport. Yup, football, basketball, baseball—you name it. On that day, Ovi was himself. While the Capitals were crowned the best-selling team across all sports, Ovechkin ran the solo spotlight like a seasoned rockstar. And it wasn’t just one or two hot items—seven outta the top ten bestsellers across the entire Fanatics network were all about that record-breaking moment.

From $30 t-shirts to $400 signed jerseys, framed photos, collectible pucks, and memorabilia that fans would probably fight over in an auction—the Ovi effect was in full force. If it had his name, signature, or face on it, it sold. It was like a hockey merch earthquake, and Ovechkin was the epicenter. And just because he crushed the NHL charts doesn’t mean his name hasn’t been buzzing in other locker rooms. Ovi’s got some serious basketball vibes, too—his connection with hoops has its own lil’ storyline, tucked under the radar but full of flavor.

Alex Ovechkin got some basketball talks going on!

Juicy J? Yeah, the Bandz A Make Her Dance king himself had never dipped a toe into the world of hockey—until he found out Alex Ovechkin and Jakob Chychrun had turned his track into their pregame tunnel anthem. That lil’ shimmy sent TikTok into a spiral, and Juicy J was caught completely off guard. “I’m so surprised–TikTok went crazy. People started calling me, ‘Hey man, there’s a hockey team, Capitals, they love your music,’” he said, vibing outside the rink before catching his first-ever hockey game on April 13. And even if he couldn’t quite drop Ovi’s name, he did remember one thing loud and clear—someone told him Ovechkin’s “the Michael Jordan of hockey.” Dead. On. Accuracy.

Now that Jordan–Ovi comparison? It’s not just for clout. The two G.O.A.T.s might rep different worlds—one ruled the hardwood with six rings and two retirements that didn’t really stick, the other just snatched the NHL’s all-time goal record with the chill of a seasoned assassin—but they’ve been floating in the same legendary orbit for years. Ovechkin, who hit 895 goals in exactly the same number of games Gretzky played, just did something so mythical that you almost expect a Chicago Bulls intro track to start playing behind him. And yet, somehow, these two titans of their turf have never crossed paths. Wild, right?

Ovi spilled the tea on The Pat McAfee Show and yeah, it caught folks off guard. “I never had a chance to meet Michael Jordan but it’s one of my dreams and I have his signed jersey, but yeah. It’s one of my dreams to meet the greatest player to play basketball.” Like—imagine skating into legend and still fanboying over MJ? We love a humble king. And Pat McAfee’s already scheming to make that dream handshake happen. Honestly, Ovi might wanna roll up with his mom, Tatyana Ovechkina—she’s not just a two-time Olympic gold medalist in hoops, she’s lowkey the reason her son’s got that Jordan fever. Two G.O.A.T. s, one legendary mama, and a whole lotta legacy waiting to collide.