Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin named 2024-25 recipient of Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award

The NHL announced Friday that Washington Capitals’ forward Alex Ovechkin is the 2024-25 recipient of the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award, presented “to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey.”

According to a press release from the NHL, “Messier solicits suggestions from team and League personnel to compile a list of potential candidates for the award. However, the selection of the winner is Messier’s alone.”

The 39-year-old Ovechkin finished his 20th NHL season this past year, scoring 44 goals and 29 assists for 73 points in 65 regular-season games. The Capitals’ captain entered the history books as the best goal-scorer in NHL history, scoring his 895th career goal April 6 in a game against the New York Islanders.

Through 20 NHL seasons, Ovechkin has recorded nine 50-goal campaigns and has won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy nine times, awarded to the player with the most goals during an NHL regular season.

Ovechkin has also won the Hart Trophy three times, awarded to the league’s most valuable player.

Ovechkin led the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2018, also winning the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the playoff MVP.

The Capitals finished the 2024-25 season with a 51-22-9 record and 111 points, winning the Metropolitan Division and finishing first in the Eastern Conference. They were eliminated in five games by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.