The hockey fans all over the world were delighted with the NHL games as well as with the anticipation of the starting 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. But for those who are expecting to witness The Great 8 play in the ice in Montreal, there is a bummer; Alexander Ovechkin is not here. Instead, the Capitals’ superstar is heading to Florida for an undisclosed training camp with a former NHL player. In an interview with RG’s Sergey Demidov, Ovi said the following, “Let’s make a little mystery out of this… Maybe you will see this on my or his social media.”

He underlined that it is not Ilya Kovalchuk, who left everyone in suspense. While Alexander Ovechkin soaks up the Miami sun, balancing recovery and hard work, the mystery deepens. Meanwhile, back in Washington, Ovi’s absence is shaking things up in ways no one expected. With their captain away, the Capitals rally behind Tom Wilson over the GR8 himself.

According to The Hockey News from February 11th, when the Capitals were asked would they prefer to take a hit from Alexander Ovechkin or Tom Wilson, their answer was quick. “That’s an easy one,” Brandon Duhaime replied. “I love to get hit by Willy, he’s a little bit soft on his feet. Ovi’s built like a train.” And honestly, who can argue? Ovechkin has been making highlight reel hits for two decades now and there is no sign of him slowing down. This man has accumulated 3,707 hits in his career and 74 this year alone; he is a human wrecking ball on skates.

Even at 39, Ovi hasn’t lost his edge. “He’s big on his skates, he’s a big guy as it is,” Duhaime laughed. “If he catches someone not looking — even if they’re looking — he’s going to bury them.” That’s just how he plays. This is because the 6-foot-3, 238-pound winger understands that one big hit can turn the tide in the game. Whether it’s causing a turnover, rattling an opponent, or just sending a message, Alexander Ovechkin embraces the physical side of the game like few others.

For him, it’s all part of hockey The key in this case is that he does not seem to mind the constant injuries that are associated with the game. “It’s a physical sport,” Ovechkin shrugged, as if he could not care less about crunching people into the boards as much as taking a slapshot. He does not merely skate on the ice to play, he owns the ice and anyone that dares step in front of him is doomed. But here is the kicker: The Capitals chose Wilson, and there is no beef between Wilson and Ovi.

Alexander Ovechkin’s teammate praises him!

Watching the Capitals steamroll the Panthers 6-3 was a treat for the fans, but let’s be real—the guys on the ice were just as hyped, especially Tom Wilson. And when it came to their captain, Wilson had nothing but love. “something special is happening,” he said, buzzing from Ovi’s last-second magic. “For him to fake the shot with 3 seconds left and put it in with a tenth of a second left. I mean it’s because it’s Gretzky I guess, so we’ll just keep chasing here. Pretty amazing to see that one go on with that much time left.”

Wilson has been riding with Alexander Ovechkin for years, but such scenes? They still leave him in awe. “It’s just a matter of time, whether it’s late this year, early next year, whenever. I mean, he’s a great player. He’s a great goal scorer.” That goal wasn’t just another highlight; it was a glimpse into the greatness Ovi has been chasing his whole career. Time was ticking, tension was rising but the guy just performed—as if it was made for him. He had just a few seconds before the buzzer went off and he scored the most incredible shot that seemed like he had done it with ease.

At this point, it is much more than just Alexander Ovechkin. His whole team is behind him, driving him towards a dream that has been talked about since he was a teenage phenom. He is aiming for the record and this record has been set by none other than the great Wayne Gretzky. And if anyone was ever going to be put in a position to rewrite history, it’s the Great 8.