Former Red Wings Center Makes Feelings Clear About Alex Ovechkin’s NHL Future Ahead Of 1,000 Career Goals Chase

Pavel Datsyuk, the former Detroit Red Wings star, recently spoke about his hopes for fellow Russian hockey legend Alex Ovechkin. Now that Ovechkin has passed Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record, Datsyuk wants to see him aim even higher, to 1,000 career NHL goals.

Ovechkin will begin the 2025–26 NHL season with 897 career goals, just three shy of 900. It’s the last year of his current contract with the Washington Capitals, and although he’s turning 40 soon, he’s still chasing big goals.

If he continues scoring at his average pace of 0.60 goals per game, it would take him around 171 more games, about three more full seasons, to reach 1,000 goals.

Red Wings Legend Pavel Datsyuk Wants Alex Ovechkin to Score 1,000 NHL Goals

In an interview with Match TV, Datsyuk joked that Ovechkin shouldn’t be allowed back into Russia until he scores his 1,000th goal. But behind the joke was a profound message: Datsyuk believes Ovechkin can keep going and do something no one has ever done.

“I think everyone is waiting for Ovechkin to score his 1,000th goal in the NHL championships,” Datsyuk told Pavel Lysenkov. “Until then, we won’t let him into Russia.”

Pavel Datsyuk says he doesn’t want Alex Ovechkin to leave the NHL until he scores 1,000 career goals: “Until then, we won’t let him into Russia”

— RMNB (@rmnb) June 8, 2025

Even if he doesn’t get to 1,000, Ovechkin still has some impressive milestones in his sights. He’s just nine games away from playing 1,500 NHL games, something only 22 players have done before. He’s also one 50-goal season away from holding the record for most 50-goal seasons in NHL history. Last year, he was on track to break that record, too, but an injury in November held him back.

Ovechkin isn’t just known for scoring goals; he’s also one of the most physical players in the game. With 3,743 hits, he’s 286 away from the all-time NHL record for most hits. The two players ahead of him, Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck, are no longer active, so Ovechkin has a real chance to break that record, too.

As for Datsyuk, he retired from hockey in 2021 after finishing his career in the KHL. In 2024, he signed a one-day contract with the Red Wings to officially retire as a member of the team he helped win two Stanley Cups with. He’s now working as a development coach for a KHL team in his hometown.

Datsyuk and Ovechkin spent years playing together on Russia’s national team and have remained close. Datsyuk’s lighthearted comments show how much he admires Ovechkin’s talent and drive. Whether Ovechkin scores 1,000 goals or not, he’s already a hockey legend, but with a few more seasons, he might just take things to a whole new level.