Alex Ovechkin’s record ignites nostalgia as Penguins’ Mike Sullivan remembers legends who built NHL

When Alex Ovechkin etched his name above Wayne Gretzky’s with a record-breaking 895th goal, it was more than just a personal milestone, it became a moment of reflection for the entire hockey community. Among those struck by the significance was Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan, who used the moment not only to acknowledge Ovechkin’s greatness but to honor the generation of veterans who defined an era.


Sullivan, who has spent years behind the Penguins’ bench coaching another generational talent in Sidney Crosby, offered a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into how deeply these milestones resonate with those who’ve lived through the rivalry. But instead of making it a debate between Ovechkin and Crosby, he framed the moment as a tribute to what both players have meant to the sport and how they stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the greatest to ever lace up skates.
“It reminds me in a lot of ways, like, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson did for the NBA,” Sullivan noted in an interview.
What’s striking is how Sullivan chose not to center the narrative around just competition, but around contribution. He brought up names like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson not simply to compare rivalries, but to highlight how those kinds of legendary figures transformed their sports by being larger than the box score. In that light, Ovechkin and Crosby aren’t just rivals, they're stewards of the modern NHL, torchbearers for what professionalism, consistency, and longevity look like.
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This perspective isn’t often front and center in the highlight-reel culture of today’s sports media, but for coaches like Sullivan, who’ve watched the game evolve in real time, moments like Ovechkin’s record are reminders of everything that came before it. From the early days of Ovi and Crosby entering the league in 2005 to their countless battles on ice, it’s the shared journey that leaves the deepest mark.
Ovechkin's new title as the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer is historic, but it also casts a wider spotlight. It honors a generation that gave everything to the game and it reminds us that behind every great player is an era they helped define.