"He'll get nervous"- Wayne Gretzky comments on Alex Ovechkin's record chase

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is on course to pass Wayne Gretzky as the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer.

Ovechkin currently stands at 868 career goals, 26 shy of Gretzky’s 894. While Ovechkin is on the IR at the moment, it seems like it’s only a matter of time before he passes the Great One.

When asked about his take on the situation, Gretzky stated the following, per insider Chris Johnston on Monday:

"He's human. He'll get nervous near the end."

The comments highlight the personal side of life in the NHL. If there’s anyone who knows about breaking records, it’s Wayne Gretzky. His chase of Gordie Howe’s all-time points record was a drama that unfolded in full public view.

Day by day, fans kept a tally of Gretzky’s point totals until he eventually broke the mark on October 15, 1989. Similar drama should unfold as Ovechkin inches closer to Gretzky. There is no doubt that Ovechkin should experience mixed feelings as Gretzky described.

Alex Ovechkin poised to return from injury

Alex Ovechkin suffered a lower-body injury on November 18 during the Capitals’ matchup against the Utah Hockey Club. The knee-on-knee collision derailed Ovechkin’s season, placing him on IR for roughly six weeks.

Based on that timeline, Ovechkin could return from his fractured fibula injury as early as December 19. However, there is a possibility that he could only return after the holiday break, potentially suiting up on January 2.

But it seems he could be back sooner than that. According to a report by USA Today, Ovechkin is already well enough to skate on his own. While he is not close to game action, he has participated in drills and exercises.

When asked about Ovechkin’s situation, Capitals coach Spencer Carbery told reporters it’s “status quo.” In other words, there is no clear update on the Russian star's return.

As it stands, Ovechkin will continue to participate in practice wearing a red, no-contact jersey. It may be a question of another week to 10 days before fans could get a clear picture of when Ovechkin could return to his pursuit of Gretzky’s all-time goals record.

In the meantime, the closest potential return date for Alex Ovechkin could be December 20 when the Capitals take on the Carolina Hurricanes at Capital One Arena.