Capitals GM Reveals Protocol for Ovechkin's Hall of Fame Memorabilia

Ovechkin's specific criteria for keeping certain gear items led to a 'different set of rules' in handling his record-breaking milestone.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 8:33pm

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When Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record, the Washington Capitals worked closely with the Hockey Hall of Fame to collect and distribute Ovechkin's gear from the historic moment. Capitals GM Chris Patrick explained that Ovechkin had specific preferences for what items he wanted to keep, leading to a more complex process than typical record-breaking moments.

Why it matters

Ovechkin's record-breaking achievement is a significant moment in NHL history, and the handling of the memorabilia highlights the careful protocols teams and leagues must follow to properly document and preserve such milestones. Ovechkin's personal criteria for keeping certain items adds an extra layer of complexity to the process.

The details

After Ovechkin scored goal #895 to pass Gretzky, the game was paused for a ceremony. Ovechkin's gear, including the puck, stick, and jersey, was immediately collected near the Capitals' bench. The Hockey Hall of Fame worked with the Capitals to determine which items would go to the Hall and which Ovechkin would keep, like the stick and puck. Capitals GM Chris Patrick said the team had detailed tracking systems in place to ensure every item was properly accounted for and assigned.

  • Ovechkin scored goal #895 to pass Gretzky on April 6, 2025.
  • The on-ice ceremony honoring the achievement took place immediately after the goal.

The players

Alex Ovechkin

A Russian professional ice hockey left winger who has played his entire NHL career with the Washington Capitals. He is the NHL's second all-time leading goal scorer, having surpassed Wayne Gretzky's long-standing record in 2025.

Wayne Gretzky

A former Canadian professional ice hockey player who is considered the greatest hockey player of all time. His long-standing record for most career goals in the NHL was surpassed by Alex Ovechkin in 2025.

Chris Patrick

The general manager of the Washington Capitals NHL team.

Gary Bettman

The commissioner of the National Hockey League (NHL).

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, again, these are conversations that I tend to stay away from, just because I think those people are more capable than me, and I think the memorabilia aspect to them is really important.”

— Chris Patrick, General Manager, Washington Capitals

“But with Alex, there's a whole different set of rules, because he has a set of criteria for what he wants to keep from his career, be it sticks that he scores goals with, pucks that he scores goals with.”

— Chris Patrick, General Manager, Washington Capitals

“The pucks, the sticks, the gloves, our equipment staff did a great job of kind of on the fly tagging and barcoding everything as things happened, so that we at least knew what the original equipment was and then figured out who it is supposed to go to, at what time, and who has the rights to it based on everything we've talked about.”

— Chris Patrick, General Manager, Washington Capitals

What’s next

The Capitals will continue to carefully track and manage any additional memorabilia associated with Ovechkin's continued goal-scoring achievements as he extends his record.

The takeaway

The handling of Ovechkin's record-breaking memorabilia highlights the complex protocols teams and leagues must follow to properly document and preserve historic moments, especially when a player has specific preferences for what items they want to keep. The Capitals' detailed tracking system ensures clarity and accountability around these important pieces of hockey history.