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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 that he has contemplated being part of a historic moment in hockey. This conversation took place at the third annual Hockey Night in Brampton, a charity event featuring current and former NHL players, which raised nearly $14 million for the William Osler Health System’s project to build a second hospital. Strome remarked that everyone recalls the infamous McSorley-to-Gretzky pass that led to Gretzky’s record-beating 802nd goal, and that such moments become part of hockey’s rich lore. He referred to his assist on Ovechkin’s goal that equalled Gordie Howe’s record, noting that this may fade into obscurity if Ovechkin surpasses the record, yet adding that being involved in such a historic moment would be a thrilling experience.

Strome believes that Ovechkin can achieve the milestone this season, despite the seemingly significant 41-goal gap to close.

“Absolutely,” Strome affirmed. “He’s had significantly more seasons with 40 or more goals than those without. Everyone wrote him off during the first 40 games last year, but he really shone in the second half. I anticipate we’ll see a lot of the ‘Ovi’ we witnessed in the latter half of last season. We’re all eagerly awaiting it and we’ll be prepared. Naturally, I’ll be looking to assist him with passes.”

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

“Can he score 42 goals this year? I certainly believe so,” said Spencer Carbery, the coach of the Capitals, to Tom Gulitti of NHL.com on Monday. He further emphasized, “I am absolutely confident in his capability to achieve that.”

Strome made a valid point, highlighting that Ovechkin has netted 40 or more goals in 13 out of his 19 NHL seasons. Although he had a slow start last season, with only eight goals in his initial 43 games, he bounced back dramatically, scoring 23 goals in his last 36 games. This equates to a pace of 52 goals if spread over 82 games.

“Strome expressed his admiration, stating, “It’s truly remarkable. You should never underestimate someone like him. His shooting skills are arguably the best in the NHL. While there are a few players who possess impressive shots, he ranks in the top five for me. I witness his skills on a daily basis. When someone shoots that well, it’s our job as teammates to ensure he gets the puck, and that’s our aim.”

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

“Strome perceives him as extremely humble. He believes that regardless of the milestones he achieves in his career, whether it’s a record-setting goal or his 800th goal, he always acknowledges others first. Strome added that he has noticed this in the past few years. He also mentioned that he is certainly aware of the all-time record and aspires to become the greatest goal-scorer in NHL history. Strome, along with the rest of the team, is rooting for him to reach this milestone this year.”

Ovechkin’s powerful ending contributed to the Capitals’ 18-13-5 record in their last 36 games, earning them an unexpected Stanley Cup Playoff position. As recently as Feb. 9, they were in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division, lagging behind the New York Islanders by five points for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference.

“Many people undoubtedly wrote us off last year,” said Strome. “For the less experienced players who hadn’t seen much playoff action, it made our regular season efforts seem worthwhile. Despite playing nearly 500 games in the NHL, I’d never participated in the playoffs apart from the bubble in 2020. But as we were the 12th seed in the bubble, it didn’t truly feel like a proper playoff experience. However, it proved that our efforts were paying off and we just need to keep pushing forward.”

Despite being swept in four games by the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference First Round, the Capitals have upgraded their team in the offseason by acquiring forwards Pierre-Luc Dubois, Andrew Mangiapane, Taylor Raddysh, Brandon Duhaime, defensemen Jakob Chychrun and Matt Roy, as well as goalie Logan Thompson.

Strome expressed his eagerness to start the season, citing the Capitals’ strong finish and active offseason as his motivation.

“Making the playoffs was the most enjoyment I’ve found in playing hockey for a very long time,” Strome expressed. “Regardless of whether I can serve as a first or second-line center or whatever my role may be, my primary goal is to contribute to the team’s victory. Last year was extremely enjoyable and I’m eager to return and aim for a repeat performance.”

Having seven new members on a team is quite significant, especially for a team that reached the playoffs. Although the season didn’t conclude as we’d hoped and only one team can ultimately be content at the end, there are numerous opportunities for growth. We are enthusiastic about this.