Alexander Ovechkin Collecting His Memorabilia While Chasing NHL Goals Record
For years, many of the greatest athletes overlooked the significance of their memorabilia, only to later witness their jerseys, sneakers, and equipment fetch astonishing prices at auctions.
However, as Alexander Ovechkin inches closer to Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals record of 894, he’s taking a different approach—ensuring that every piece of his journey is carefully preserved.
The Washington Capitals superstar is well known for collecting both his memorabilia and that of fellow players. According to Sportico, this habit was sparked by none other than Gretzky himself, who once advised Ovechkin to hold onto his game-used equipment.
Ovechkin has since made it a mission to collect every puck and stick from his goals over the past few seasons, with plans to one day showcase them in a museum in Moscow.
They’re going to be part of the museum and part of my home, Ovechkin told Sportico. “I’ve been a hockey fan since I was young. I want to see all the little [equipment] things.”
Beyond his memorabilia, Ovechkin—who is just six goals away from tying Gretzky’s record—has amassed an impressive collection from fellow players, including over 200 autographed sticks.
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On a recent episode of the NHL Unscripted podcast, Capitals forward and Ovechkin’s linemate Dylan Strome shared an interesting detail—players who assist on Ovechkin’s record-breaking goals are asked to sign his jerseys from those games.
Though Ovechkin is now highly protective of his memorabilia, that wasn’t always the case. Over the years, several of his iconic items have surfaced in the public market, often through MeiGray, a well-known authentication company specializing in hockey jerseys.
MeiGray has previously sold multiple Gretzky jerseys worn during milestone goals, including No. 873. Meanwhile, the jersey Ovechkin wore for his legendary “falling goal” in 2006, scored against Wayne Gretzky’s Coyotes, sold for $111,930 in 2020.
Of course, Gretzky’s memorabilia remains the gold standard in hockey collectibles. A stick used in the Oilers’ 1988 Stanley Cup-clinching game sold for $336,000, setting the record for the most expensive NHL stick sold at auction. Additionally, Gretzky’s final-point jersey commanded an astonishing $715,120.
Ovechkin’s story is still unfolding, but one thing is certain—he fully understands the weight of this historic moment. And when the dust settles, he’ll have plenty of artifacts to commemorate his journey.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for CLLCT, the premier company for collectible culture.
