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BRAMPTON, Ontario — Dylan Strome knows he has a chance to be a part of NHL history as early as sometime this season.

The forward had an assist on the 801st goal Alex Ovechkin scored in his NHL career, a goal that tied him with Gordie Howe for second on the NHL goals list on Dec. 23, 2022.

Now with Ovechkin only 41 away from tying Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record 894 goals, Strome admitted he has let himself wonder about what it would be like to assist on the goal that Ovechkin could score to tie or surpass Gretzky.

Strome confirmed to NHL.com on Wednesday at the third annual Hockey Night In Brampton that he has indeed thought about it. The charity hockey game was attended by current and former NHL players and raised nearly $14 million for a new hospital under the William Osler Health System. “I think everyone has thought about it. Everyone remembers McSorley’s assist to Gretzky for the 802nd goal that surpassed Howe’s record. It’s a significant part of hockey history, and Ovechkin often talks about it. I was the one who assisted on Ovechkin’s goal that equaled Gordie Howe’s record. Not many people may remember that, but it would be fantastic to be a part of such a historic moment if he breaks the record,” said Strome.

Strome believes that, despite the significant gap of 41 goals, Ovechkin can achieve the milestone in the current season.

“Absolutely,” Strome confirmed. “He has had far more seasons with 40 or more goals than those without. Despite being written off after 40 games last year, he really showed his mettle in the second half. I’m anticipating a similar performance from the ‘second-half Ovi’ we saw last year. We’re all eagerly waiting and will be prepared. Naturally, I’ll be looking to assist him with his goal scoring.”

Strome isn’t the only one who believes the record is attainable.

“Can he score 42 goals this year? I believe he can,” Coach Spencer Carbery of the Capitals stated on Monday in an interview with Tom Gulitti from NHL.com. “I’m absolutely confident in his capabilities to do that.”

Strome’s point is underscored by the fact that Ovechkin has managed to score 40 or more goals in 13 out of his 19 seasons in the NHL. Despite a slow start in the last season where he scored just eight goals in the first 43 games, he made a strong comeback, netting 23 goals in the remaining 36 games. This would equate to a 52-goal pace if extended over 82 games.

“His performance was remarkable,” said Strome. “You should never underestimate a player like him. He arguably possesses the best shot in the NHL. While there are other players with good shots, he ranks in my top five. I witness his skills every day. When a player can shoot like that, it’s the responsibility of the team to provide him with the puck, and that’s exactly what we’re striving for.”

Last season, Ovechkin ended with 31 goals, marking the 18th time in his 19 seasons that he scored 30 or more goals. Strome contributed with 14 assists.

Strome expressed his views about the individual, highlighting his extreme humility. Despite the significant milestones he has achieved in his career, he remains appreciative of his colleagues. Strome noted that for the past few years, whether it’s his 50th or 800th goal, he always prioritises acknowledging others before himself. He understandably considers the all-time record, given his potential to be the NHL’s greatest goal-scorer. Strome voiced his support and expressed hope that this record might be achieved within the year.

The Capitals managed an 18-13-5 record in their last 36 games, thanks to Ovechkin’s strong finish, unexpectedly securing a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoff. On Feb. 9, they were languishing in the seventh place in the Metropolitan Division and were five points behind the New York Islanders for the second wild card entry into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference.

“Many people definitely wrote us off last year,” said Strome. “For the less experienced players who hadn’t been in the playoffs much, it felt reassuring that our efforts during the regular season were not in vain. I’ve participated in nearly 500 NHL games but had never made it to the playoffs, except for the 2020 bubble where we were the 12th seed. However, I don’t consider that as a genuine playoff experience. This shows our strategies are effective, and we just need to persist.”

Despite being swept by the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference First Round, the Capitals have made significant improvements during the offseason. They added forwards Pierre-Luc Dubois, Andrew Mangiapane, Taylor Raddysh, and Brandon Duhaime, defensemen Jakob Chychrun and Matt Roy, along with goalie Logan Thompson to their team.

Strome expressed his eagerness to start the season, attributing it to the Capitals’ strong finish and active offseason.

Strome expressed his excitement about his hockey experience, stating, “Making the playoffs was the most fun I’ve had in a very long time. My goal is to assist the team to victory, whether that’s as a first or second-line center. It was incredibly enjoyable to be a part of the team last year, and I’m eager to go back and attempt to repeat that success.”

Having seven new members on a team is quite significant, especially for a team that managed to make it to the playoffs. Although the season didn’t conclude as we had hoped, there’s only one team that ends up happy at the end. Nevertheless, we have a solid foundation to build upon and we’re enthusiastic about the prospects.