LOVERRO: That object in Gretzky’s rearview mirror is closer — much closer — than it appears

This is getting serious.

When the Washington Capitals season opened, you still needed binoculars to view “The Great Chase” — the relentless pursuit by Alex Ovechkin of the all-time NHL goal-scoring record of Wayne Gretzky.

Not NASA-issued binoculars, mind you. Store bought would do. But the number 894 — Gretzky’s record — was still off in the distance, likely not to be in view until next season. After all, the 39-year-old Ovechkin was at 853 goals, and hockey players at that age do not score 42 goals in a season.

But Ovechkin has come out firing, scoring 10 goals in Washington’s 14 games this season, and it’s caught everyone by surprise, particularly after his slow start last season. He had just five goals in 29 games. Even though he finished strong with 31  for the year,  it was not unreasonable to expect another slow start with Ovechkin a year older.

But now the magical record is in view — it’s there, and, if Ovechkin stays healthy, so is the excitement of watching the countdown, aided by the great start he and his Capital teammates have had.

Pay attention. This is going to be fun.

No sport reveres numbers and records more than baseball. Football has the all-time touchdown pass record, basketball the career scoring mark, and there are some others. But while they are celebrated milestones, they are not necessarily hallowed figures.

This one, though — the most goals scored in NHL history — has some juice.

“It’s like the home run record in baseball, I would think,” said Capitals play-by-play announcer Joe Beninati, who has called most of the Ovechkin goals over The Great 8’s career. “It’s got that sexy quality to it.

“It would be a massive accomplishment, worthy of the attention it is getting,” Beninati said. “The 894 is right up there. That’s hallowed ground.”

The best part? Ovechkin will have done it all in a Capitals uniform. That makes it extra special, and kudos to owner Ted Leonsis for allowing that to happen.

Gretzky made the record in four different jerseys – Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues and the New York Rangers. He broke Gordie Howe’s record of 801 goals in a Kings uniform against the Oilers — the team he led to four Stanley Cup championships over the first nine years of his NHL career. Jaromir Jagr had 766 goals with nine different teams — including the Capitals. Brett Hull had 741 career goals with the Calgary Flames, the Blues, the Dallas Stars, the Detroit Red Wings and Phoenix Coyotes.

For Ovechkin to represent Washington for all 863 goals of his illustrious career to date is a treat for hometown fans, especially in this hometown of late, where they’ve watched one Washington National baseball star after another leave.

That wasn’t lost on Leonsis when, in an Oct. 25 interview with The Washington Post, he took note of the Nationals star exodus.

“If you have a really, really successful business — a billion-dollar business — you can make the investments and you choose the priorities,” he said. “My priority would be, we will never lose a great player for money. We have those resources. Look at who the Nationals have lost — MVP-quality players, in their prime, young. I understand why — they’re rebuilding the team, and they’ll be really good soon. But that hurts the fans. … If we owned the Nationals, we would have the resources to not have that happen, if that’s what the GM says.”

Ouch. Mark Lerner is a Leonsis business partner, one of the investors in Monumental Sports and Entertainment. 

Granted, NHL money is not baseball money, and Leonsis never had to deal with Scott Boras. But he’s right in this sense — this is the business you’ve chosen, and you chose your priorities.

Leonsis praised Ovechkin’s loyalty in a recent social media post linked to a Sporting News article about The Great Chase that pointed out those other top career goal scorers and the various teams they played for in their careers. “Loyalty and fidelity to one team – see the list of all-time goal scorers and the teams played for — @ovi8 is solo with dedication to @Capitals fans.”

But that doesn’t happen without Leonsis making it a priority to sign Ovechkin to a 13-year, $124 million contract extension in 2008 and then a five-year, $47.5 million deal in 2021. Otherwise, you might be watching Ovechkin breaking Gretzky’s record in a Rangers uniform.

Think how painful that would be.

⦁ You can hear Thom Loverro on The Kevin Sheehan Show podcast.