“Ovechkin breaks Gretzky’s 31-year-old record in game number 1487, the exact number of games in which Gretzky played,” said iconic Capitals play-by-play announcer Joe Betninati at the beginning of the celebration ceremony. Then came the gifts as the Capitals invited Alex Ovechkin, his mother, wife Nastasiya, and kids Sergei and Ilya on the ice.

The Great One, Wayne Gretzky, revealed he got a Rolls-Royce for breaking Gordie Howe’s goal-scoring record. While Ovi didn’t get a luxury car for his achievement, the Capitals showered the NHL’s goals leader with several unique (and expensive) gifts. However, it all started with the humble flower bouquets, which alternate captains Tom Wilson and John Carlson presented to the Ovechkins.

Capitals president of hockey operations Brian MacLellan gifted a custom-made engraved golden stick to the Russian veteran. But was that all? Nope. In fact, they went out of their way to gift a pair of mini golden sticks to Sergei and Ilya Ovechkin. “Boys. We don’t use those on the street, and we don’t hit Daddy in the knee with those,” joked the color commentator. And then Capitals’ owner Ted Leonsis himself stepped up.

Leonsis topped things off by gifting Rolex watches to Ovechkin and his mother and a Cartier to Nastasiya. While we don’t know how much the sticks or the watches cost, it’s safe to say that Cartier, Rolex, and custom-made golden sticks don’t come cheap. Yet, the uniqueness factor of the tribute to Alex Ovechkin didn’t just stop at golden hockey sticks.

Right behind the carpenter, where the Great 8 and his family stood, was a unique sculptural painting. TYP, a Detroit, Michigan-based artist, created a special piece that stood six feet tall and was shaped like a puck. “It features concrete casts of Alex’s skates painted on canvas, along with an actual pair of his signature yellow lace skates and the game-used stick,” revealed Betninati. What a way to celebrate the man who created history. Ted Leonsis had no idea it would happen when Ovechkin first signed with the Capitals.

Ted Leonsis on Alex Ovechkin’s significance

There was good reason why the Washington Capitals went above and beyond to make the celebration ceremony a special one. The fact the Ovi has changed the trajectory of the Capitals to becoming one of the prime Stanley Cup contenders season after season is something Leonsis knows very well. To Leonsis, Ovechkin is a lot more than a goal-scoring machine.

Alex Ovechkin is the most important and impact athlete for Ted Leonsis. “I mean, it can be debated, I’m certainly open for the debate, but I have to say, he’s the most important athlete in a professional sport in Washington DC,” the Capitals’ owner said shortly after Alex Ovechkin scored the goal number 895. Yet it wasn’t like this from the beginning.

In fact, the 68-year-old had no idea Ovechkin’s talent would lead to such record-breaking achievements in the future. Even Joe Betninati himself doubted Ovechkin could do it. “Certainly, when we drafted him 20 years ago, I don’t think that would have come into the conversation, so he’s earned it,” added Leonsis.

Ovi’s contributions to the Capitals’ success come through with his other records. Of the multiple goal-scoring records, Alex Ovechkin also holds the records for most game-winning goals and most goals with the same team in NHL history. So it’s no wonder the entire Washington Capitals organization gave him a hero’s welcome. The 39-year-old goalscorer is grateful, too.

“Those numbers, it’s pretty big, and, to see all those people who came here to celebrate with us, it’s a pretty big moment,” the ice hockey superstar said, overwhelmed with the love and support from the Capitals community.