“Was Happy Like a Little Kid to Have a Christmas Gift”: Wayne Gretzky’s Invaluable Advice to Alexander Ovechkin Proved to Be a Career-Defining Moment in 2016

Alexander Ovechkin is a Russian Ice Hockey player who captains the Washington Capitals in NHL. Wayne Gretzky is an all-time great who captained the Edmonton Oilers during their best years in NHL history. So, naturally, when the two met, in 2016 at a Sushi restaurant in Malibu, California, Hockey was the subject of the entire discussion throughout that evening. They were also accompanied by Ovechkin’s fiance-turned-wife Anastasia Shubskaya.

Ovechkin also made a special request to his hero, which the Great One granted only with one condition. What was that special request and what condition are we talking about? Let’s get straight to it.

An evening shared between Gretzky and Ovechkin, turns into a Q&A session for the former

To start off that evening, Ovechkin’s immense hunger to win the Stanley Cup surprised Gretzky. Throughout the night, he kept asking “What can I do to contribute to winning a Stanley Cup for the Washington Capitals and the city of Washington?” The four-time Stanley Cup winner gave Ovechkin some valuable advice. Later in the parking lot, Ovechkin asked for a game-used stick by Gretzky for his personal collection.

During an interview with NBC Sports Network host Kathryn Tappen, Ovechkin said, “Obviously, everybody knows I am a huge stick collector and have almost a hundred sticks”, but this time he wanted one from the GOAT himself. It would’ve been the most special memento for the Capitals’ captain.

Gretzky however made one condition under which he would fulfill his wish. He promised to send Ovechkin a stick after he had won the Stanley Cup. However, that day would not be far enough.

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The Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup, their only one to date, a couple of years later in 2018. On receiving his gift, Ovechkin said, “Finally, I get the stick and I was happy like a little kid to have a Christmas gift. It’s in my collection”, expressing his unbound joy.

The capitals finally win the Stanley Cup and Gretzky sends his promised gift to Ovechkin

Ovechkin hadn’t kept contact with Gretzky after that dinner in Malibu. But ever since they won the Cup, he kept sending him a message. Gretzky said, “He never bothered me one time until he won the Cup, and then I heard from him once a month, ‘Where’s my stick?'”.

Gretzky finally granted his wish. He sent Ovechkin the stick with which he had scored his 807th goal and autographed and signed it that as, “To Alex, love watching you play”. Gretzky had surpassed Gordon Howe’s record with his 802nd goal.

Gretzky’s advice that night, whatever it may be, definitely helped a young Alexander Ovechkin in overcoming hurdles and finally bringing home the Stanley Cup. Ovechkin said, “I think that advice that he give me helped”. Similar to Gretzky, Ovechkin is nicknamed ‘The Great Eight’, but unlike Gretzky’s his nickname is a reference to his jersey no. #8.

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Ovechkin currently stands on 780 goals, behind Gretzky at 894. Do you think he will be able to overtake Gretzky’s all-time record of the highest goal scorer in NHL history? Will he be then called the greatest ever? What are your thoughts about it? Do let us know.