Alex Ovechkin First Pick

Lore & Background

Ovechkin began his professional career with Dynamo Moscow of the Russian Superleague in 2001, playing there for four seasons. He was selected by the Capitals first overall in the 2004 NHL entry draft. In the 2005–06 season, Ovechkin captured the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year and finished third overall in league scoring. He has won the Hart Memorial Trophy four times (2008, 2009, 2012, and 2013) and the Ted Lindsay Award three times (2008, 2009, and 2010). In 2018, the Capitals won the Stanley Cup, and Ovechkin was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy. He has been named to the NHL first All-Star team 13 times and the second All-Star team four times. In 2017, he was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players of all time.

In Their Own Story

The arena was quiet, a stark contrast to the usual roar, as the draft board flickered in the dim light of the 2004 ceremony. When the commissioner called out 'Washington Capitals' and then 'Alexander Ovechkin,' a hush fell over the room before erupting into cheers that echoed across the Atlantic. In that moment, the trajectory of a franchise changed forever. Years later, standing on the ice under the bright lights of the Verizon Center, Ovechkin would raise his stick in celebration after another goal, the same gesture he made as a rookie, proving that the promise made in 2004 had been fulfilled with every shot.

Reader's Guide

Ovechkin has won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the NHL's leading goal scorer a record nine times and been runner-up once. He holds the NHL record for most 40-goal seasons with fourteen, and shares with Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky the record for most 50-goal campaigns with nine. He is the only player to have tallied 200 or more goals in three different decades. He also holds multiple other NHL records, including the most power play goals, most goals in away games, most overtime goals, most game-winning goals, most individual goalies scored upon, and most goals with one team.

Did You Know?

• Ovechkin was born on 17 September 1985 in Moscow, the son of Soviet athletes. His mother, Tatyana Ovechkina, is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and world champion in basketball. His father, Mikhail, was a soccer player.
• His favorite NHL team growing up was the San Jose Sharks, and his idol was Mario Lemieux.
• When Ovechkin was 10, his elder brother Sergei died of a blood clot following a car accident. Ovechkin often kisses his glove and points to the sky in a salute to his brother.
• Ovechkin established his reputation within the Dynamo Moscow system by scoring 56 goals at the age of 11, surpassing the previous record held by Pavel Bure.
• He has represented Russia at thirteen World Championships and three Olympics, winning the World Championship three times.