On January 10, Alex Ovechkin became the fifth fastest player in hockey history to hit the 500-goal plateau. In seven of his 11 seasons pro, Ovechkin has scored 50 goals or more — including a career high 65 in 2007-08. At age 31, Ovi, who has scored 50 goals three-straight seasons, trails Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring record by 369 tallies.

Does The Great Eight think he can catch The Great One?

Not a chance.

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“I don’t think somebody will beat this record,” Ovechkin told Elliotte Friedman in a Sportsnet feature aired Thursday. “In this hockey right now, in this league, I think it’s impossible.

“I have to have six seasons with 50 goals,” Ovechkin said incredulously. “I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to skate in six seasons!”

While Ovechkin is convinced he has no chance, his goals per game rate suggests otherwise. Ovechkin sits at .626 goals per game which is a quarter goal higher than Gretzky’s .601.

While reaching the 894 goal mark would be tremendously difficult, it’s possible Ovechkin becomes the greatest adjusted goal scorer of all-time. Ovechkin is scoring prolifically in a time period where goals are even harder to come by. His 601 career adjusted goals puts him in the top 20 already.

Recently, Ovechkin reaffirmed his commitment to playing in the 2018 Olympics and joked that he may no longer be in the NHL. While the Capitals captain is signed through the 2020-21 season, several of his compatriots have retired from the NHL early, including Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk. Friedman asked Ovechkin if other Russians will follow suit.

“I don’t know,” Ovechkin said. “Everybody has their own mind. Everybody has their own decisions. Right now I’m thinking about to win Stanley Cup. I don’t think to go home. I don’t think to leave the NHL and go back to KHL. My mind right now is stay here and see what happen.”

While speaking about the Caps’ cup chances, Ovechkin also reaffirmed his desire to win a Stanley Cup in Washington.

“Of course my personal goals is to be who I am,” Ovechkin said. “But if I don’t score 50 or 40 [goals], but we still gonna win, for me it doesn’t matter. Like I just wants to be in a position to raise the cup and celebrate with my teammates in Washington.”