Alex Ovechkin leads the NHL in more than just goals scored.
The Washington Capitals’ star forward has the league’s best-selling jersey this season, sports apparel provider Fanatics told ESPN.
Certainly, Ovechkin breaking through and winning his first Stanley Cup in June likely had something to do with the surge in merchandise sales. He gained even more mainstream attention for his post-Cup celebrations in bars and fountains around the Washington area.
Before he won his Cup, Ovechkin finished last season sixth in jersey sales, according to ESPN.
Sidney Crosby, Marc-Andre Fleury, Auston Matthews and Patrick Kane ranked second through fifth this year, respectively. Matthews had the top-selling jersey last season.
Ovechkin has 44 goals so far this season, five ahead of second place. The Russian is on pace to record his eighth 50-goal season, which would be one shy of a record shared by Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy. He can also become the first player to win the NHL goal-scoring title eight times.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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