Alexander Ovechkin scored his 895th career NHL goal during the second period of the Washington Capitals’ game against the New York Islanders on Sunday to surpass Wayne Gretzky as the league’s all-time leading goal scorer. The historic moment was immediately followed by an on-ice celebration with Ovechkin’s family, Gretzky himself, and others. But when the excitement subsided and play was ready to resume, Ovechkin sat back down on the bench and the first question he asked his teammates was, “Oh, did you guys get the puck?”

The answer, of course, was “yes.” And after the game, Ovechkin and Gretzky posed with that puck in the visitors’ locker room at UBS Arena. But what happened to the other memorabilia from that moment and where will it all go? We answer those questions and more.

What happened to Ovechkin’s gear after he scored No. 895?

Before play resumed after Ovechkin scored No. 895, he was shown on camera changing his jersey near the Capitals’ bench. He was flanked by representatives from game-used memorabilia company MeiGray, a partner of the Capitals and other professional teams.

“MeiGray’s President and COO, Barry Meisel, was on hand to authenticate all of Ovechkin’s game-used memorabilia from the historic game,” the company’s website announced. “Select Ovechkin memorabilia and warm-up pucks directly off the ice from the momentous game will be available through MeiGray.”

HISTORY MADE.

Authenticated by MeiGray. Congrats, Alex! pic.twitter.com/SaOMy9r7rT

— MeiGray (@MeiGray) April 6, 2025

On an episode of MeiGray’s Tales from the Warehouse podcast last month, Meisel laid out the plans that had been in the works as the Capitals prepared for the big moment.

“We are in talks with the Capitals to be authenticating everything in real time on those nights,” he said. “Ovechkin has been kind enough and is considering (changing jerseys each period) because the Hockey Hall of Fame is calling, and MeiGray is calling, and the Caps want something for (Capital One Arena), so it’s possible, and it’s really a work in progress. … So, if Ovi could wear a jersey each period in those last couple of games, he might. The team is equipped to change. Ovi’s not wearing 12 a game, but he could wear two in a game. He could change once. He might change each period when the record is there.”

What memorabilia from the game will Ovechkin keep?

Ovechkin has been collecting game-used memorabilia from both his own career and from other top NHL stars for years now. According to NHL.com, he has kept the stick and puck he used to score each of his goals over the last four seasons as he closed in on the record, and has collected around 300 autographed sticks from other top players over the course of his career. After Sunday’s game, he even got Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin’s stick.

So what’s he going to do with all that stuff? He plans to open a museum in his hometown of Moscow, Russia in two years, with the stick he used to score No. 895 as the centerpiece of the collection. But it won’t just be the stick.

“Ovi’s going to keep – obviously, that museum in Moscow is going to be the owner of (the jersey he wears when he scores) 895,” Meisel added on MeiGray’s podcast. “And, hopefully, the other jersey worn in the game, or the ones worn in each period, will go for fans in Washington to see and for one lucky collector.”

MeiGray sells a variety of Ovechkin game-worn items on its website — from a $295 sock to a $35,000 jersey he wore when he scored his 810th goal — but nothing from Sunday’s game is available there yet.

The Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto will likely get some items, as well. When Gretzky scored his 802nd goal to surpass Gordie Howe and claim the record in 1994, his gloves, helmet, stick and the puck he used all went to the Hall of Fame for display.

Display honouring Wayne Gretzky’s 802nd goal. The goal made him the @NHL’s all-time leading goal-scorer. pic.twitter.com/DWaMt6mt18

— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) January 26, 2016

What would Ovechkin’s 895 memorabilia be worth?

The most valuable game-used memorabilia on record in any sport usually isn’t tied to an individual career scoring record. That’s at least partly because those items often end up in a museum given their significance to their respective sports, and the pieces from Sunday’s game are no different.

For reference, though: The most expensive hockey jersey ever to sell was Gretzky’s 1988 Stanley Cup Finals Game Four jersey, which sold for $1.452 million in 2022. The most expensive hockey stick ever to sell was Gretzky’s 1988 Stanley Cup Finals game-used stick, which sold for $336,000 last year.

It’s possible Ovechkin’s jersey and stick from Sunday’s game could eclipse those values — when it comes to memorabilia of this level, all it takes is two wealthy bidders to drive up the price to new heights — if they ever made it to public auction, but probably not certain. The jersey Ovechkin wore when he scored No. 895 would likely hit at least $1 million.

Two other notable Ovechkin jerseys are currently up for sale through Heritage Auctions, though. His 400th goal jersey has a current high bid of $20,740 with just under two weeks to go and his 300th goal jersey is at $17,690.

What about the painting that Ovechkin was given?

From left to right: Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Gretzky with Ovechkin. (Photo: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

During the ceremony that followed the goal, Ovechkin was presented with a five-foot-tall oil painting depicting himself and Gretzky by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. The artist behind the work is Tony Harris, who has done a number of similar pieces to mark momentous occasions in the NHL.

“It was a ton of fun to paint, but also a bit stressful trying to keep up with OV’s crazy pace over the past few months,” Harris wrote on Instagram.

The painting includes a few Easter eggs: The names of Ovechkin’s wife and kids on the Stanley Cup, the number “895” on the Cup and Ovechkin’s cap, and “894” on Gretzky’s gloves.

What collectibles are there to mark No. 895?

(Photo: Sean Gentille/The Athletic) 

During the game, the Islanders announced that paper tickets would be available to fans in attendance for a fee of $45 per order (on top of the hundreds of dollars fans paid for entry to the game). Although that might seem pricey for a paper ticket, it might be worth the investment — ticket stubs from the game where Gretzky claimed the record on March 23, 1994 against the Vancouver Canucks sell for anywhere from several hundred to north of $1,000 today. And early sales of tickets from Sunday’s game topped $500.

The Islanders also sold a pair of commemorative gameday pucks — both bearing the game’s date, but one featuring the team logos for $25 and one with images of Ovechkin and Islanders captain Anders Lee for $45. Although both were still available online through the team after the game ended, several purchased at UBS Arena sold for around $300 each on the secondary market after Ovechkin scored. Warm-up pucks used on the ice by the players before the game were sold for $375 each by the team (normally they’re around $50) with proceeds benefitting the Islanders’ Children’s Foundation.

Among its collection of official 895 collectibles and apparel, Fanatics is selling Ovechkin autographed pucks: one limited to 895 for $300 and one inscribed with “895” and the game’s date for $350. The Fanatics merchandise will also be available in the Capitals’ “Ovi Shop” at Capital One Arena, which will be opened from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday.

Upper Deck created an eight-card “G8 Moments” set highlighting key moments in Ovechkin’s career. It also includes a chase for cards signed by both Ovechkin and Gretzky. A separate Ovechkin 895 set will includes cards with pieces of the ceremonial carpet from Sunday’s celebration.

𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐎𝐎𝐍: Alex Ovechkin surpasses Wayne Gretzky’s all-time scoring record and you can soon take home the moment! Collect the e-Pack exclusive dual autograph achievement card in our GR8 Moments trading card set, coming soon. #Gr8Chase pic.twitter.com/QqcFde6auN

— Upper Deck (@UpperDeckSports) April 6, 2025

Will this boost the value of Ovechkin’s trading cards?

It certainly won’t hurt, but with long-awaited feats like a career scoring record, an associated increase in value is often priced in significantly before the mark is hit. Ovechkin’s key rookie card — his 2005-06 Upper Deck Young Guns #443 — was selling for around $3,500 in a gem mint PSA 10 grade back in May of last year. On Sunday, one sold for $5,300, but in January there were sales of $5,900.

The most expensive Ovechkin trading card ever to sell was his 2005-06 Upper Deck The Cup rookie patch autograph #179, which sold for $182,400 in 2023. This feat may help ensure that the record is broken the next time a card like that hits the auction block.

Will Ovechkin collectibles be worth more than Gretzky collectibles now?

Only time will tell, but it’s not a certainty by any stretch. The value of sports memorabilia doesn’t always follow the stats. There are certain athletes that have a broader cultural significance that collectors gravitate toward and ensures top value. Babe Ruth’s 1932 World Series jersey sold for a record $24 million last year even though his career home run total was surpassed long ago. Michael Jordan’s key items sell for more than LeBron James’ even though the latter holds the NBA’s career scoring mark. Gretzky is in that group and will likely remain there even though his career goal total is now second best.

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(Top photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)