On 5 October 2026, Alex Ovechkin said the 2026-27 NHL season will be his last. He has 929 career goals, the most in league history.[1][2][3]
This page goes back to April 2025, when he passed Wayne Gretzky, and to the watches given around that record. Ted Leonsis gave Rolex watches to Ovechkin and his mother at a Capitals ceremony, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin followed with a Rolex after a game in Pittsburgh, and Ovechkin gave custom Hublot watches to his teammates and staff members.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
What record did Ovechkin break?
His 895th NHL goal came at UBS Arena on 6 April 2025, against the New York Islanders, and it put Ovechkin ahead of Wayne Gretzky for the most goals in NHL history. The Capitals lost that game 4-1.[4][5]
The record set off a run of watch gifts over the following weeks, first from his club and then from a pair of long-time opponents.[6][7][8][9][11][12]
Who gave which watch for Ovechkin's goals record?
| Given by | Given to | Watch | Where and when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ted Leonsis | Ovechkin and his mother | Rolex watches | Capitals pregame ceremony, Capital One Arena, 10 April 2025 |
| Ted Leonsis | Nastya, Ovechkin's wife | Cartier watch | Same ceremony |
| Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin | Ovechkin | Rolex watch | After the Penguins-Capitals game, PPG Paints Arena, 17 April 2025 |
| Ovechkin | Capitals teammates and staff members | Custom Hublot watches | After the record (date not reported) |
What did Ted Leonsis give Ovechkin and his family?
On 10 April 2025, the Capitals held a pregame ceremony for the record at Capital One Arena. It was billed as the Gr8ness Pre-Game Ceremony. The Capitals' owner, Ted Leonsis, handed a Rolex to Ovechkin and another to his mother, and gave Nastya, Ovechkin's wife, a Cartier watch.[6][7]
What did Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin give Ovechkin?
In the regular-season finale at PPG Paints Arena on 17 April 2025, the Penguins beat the Capitals 5-2.[7][8][9]
After the game, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and alternate captain Evgeni Malkin, still in their uniforms, met Ovechkin outside the locker rooms. Ovechkin was already in a suit. They gave him a Rolex for breaking Gretzky's record.[7][8][9]
The Rolex came with an engraved message from the pair:[11][12]
Congratulations on 895. Honor to compete against you over the years.
[11][12]
The 895 in the message is the goal that took Ovechkin past Gretzky on 6 April 2025.[4][5][11][12]
In May 2025, shortly after Washington's playoff run was over, Ovechkin showed the watch up close, with this note for both Penguins stars:[11][12]
A gorgeous gift from my old friends Sid and Zhenya!!!
[11][12]
Sid is Sidney Crosby and Zhenya is Evgeni Malkin. Ovechkin thanked them both in the same message.[11][12]
Did Ovechkin give his Capitals teammates watches too?
Yes. After breaking the NHL goals record, Ovechkin gave custom Hublot watches to his Washington Capitals teammates and staff members.[5][10]
Lars Eller revealed the commemorative watches in a podcast interview.[5][10]
Which Ovechkin watch can you buy?
No source names the model of the custom Hublots Ovechkin gave his team. The Hublot Big Bang Unico Red Carbon Alex Ovechkin is a separate, earlier watch: Hublot made it with Ovechkin in February 2021, more than 4 years before his 895th goal.[4][5][10][13][14]
It is a limited edition of 100 pieces, made in honour of The Great Eight, as Ovechkin is known. Hublot welcomed him as a Friend of the Brand in 2018.[13][14][15][16]
Bizak & Co. lists this edition, linked below, for readers who want a watch tied to Ovechkin himself rather than to the people who honoured his record.[13][14]
The Ovechkin edition and the brands in this story, at Bizak & Co.
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FAQ
Who gave Ovechkin a Rolex for breaking the goals record?
Ted Leonsis, the Capitals' owner, gave Rolex watches to Ovechkin and his mother on 10 April 2025. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin gave him a Rolex in Pittsburgh on 17 April 2025.[6][7][8][9]
What message came with the Rolex from Crosby and Malkin?
An engraved message congratulated Ovechkin on goal 895 and said it had been an honour to compete against him over the years.[11][12]
Did Ovechkin give his teammates watches after the record?
Yes. He gave custom Hublot watches to his Capitals teammates and staff members after he broke the record.[5][10]
When did Ovechkin pass Gretzky?
On 6 April 2025, with his 895th goal, against the New York Islanders.[4][5]
More on Alex Ovechkin
Sources
- Washington Capitals (WashingtonCaps.com on NHL.com) — Alex Ovechkin Announces 2026-27 Will Be His Final NHL Season (2026-10-05)
- NHL.com — Ovechkin tells Capitals teammates this will be his last NHL season (2026-10-05)
- RMNB (Russian Machine Never Breaks) — Alex Ovechkin announces NHL retirement after 2026-27 season: ‘I know in my heart it’s the right decision’ (2026-10-05)
- NHL.com — Ovechkin becomes NHL's all-time goals leader with No. 895 (2025-04-06)
- The Hockey News - Washington Capitals (via Yahoo Sports) — Ovechkin Gifted All Capitals’ Players, Coaches & Staff Custom Watches After Breaking Record (2025-08-11)
- NHL.com — Ovechkin, Capitals celebrate NHL goals record in pregame ceremony (2025-04-11)
- RMNB (Russian Machine Never Breaks) — Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin gift Alex Ovechkin a Rolex watch after Capitals-Penguins game in honor of breaking NHL goals record (2025-04-17)
- NHL.com — Crosby, Malkin gift Ovechkin Rolex for breaking NHL scoring record, fans give ovation (2025-04-18)
- The Hockey News (Washington Capitals) — Crosby & Malkin Gift Ovechkin Rolex As Penguins Honor Capitals Captain (2025-04-18)
- RMNB (Russian Machine Never Breaks) — Rasmus Sandin shares details behind Hublot watches Alex Ovechkin gifted players and staff after breaking NHL goals record (2025-08-23)
- RMNB (Russian Machine Never Breaks) — Alex Ovechkin shows off the Rolex watch he was gifted by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in honor of breaking NHL goals record (2025-05-22)
- Bolavip US — Alex Ovechkin unveils ludicrous gift from Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL goal-scoring record (2025-05-21)
- RMNB (Russian Machine Never Breaks) — Hublot releases stunning limited-edition watch honoring Alex Ovechkin (2021-02-18)
- Haute Time — Hublot Announces Newest Timepiece With Hockey Player Alex Ovechkin (2021-02-18)
- Watch I Love — Hublot Big Bang Unico Red Carbon Alex Ovechkin (2021-02-20)
- Hublot (official press release PDF, hosted by RMNB) — Hublot and the Great Eight
Bizak & Co. is an independent watch dealer. We are not affiliated with, or endorsed by, Alex Ovechkin or any watch brand named here. Each identification on this page is as reported by the publication cited beside it; the watches we link to are from our own listings, not the pieces worn. This page was researched and drafted with AI assistance from the sources listed and checked against them before publishing. If you spot an error, tell us and we will correct it. Updated 2026-10-05.