Auston Matthews Breaks Silence On Chasing Down Ovechkin's Goal Record

History was made on Sunday when Wayne Gretzky's once impossible goal scoring record was bested when Alex Ovechkin scored his 895th career goal, an incredible feat and firmly cements the "Great 8" as easily one of the greatest players to ever grace the NHL.

While the league certainly has its share of superstars, there's no one quite like Ovechkin, and while he may not be in the league for too much more time, what he's been able to accomplish is downright ridiculous.

One person who had nothing but praise for Ovi was Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, who shared a congratulatory message for the Capitals leader among the hundreds who were celebrating the achievement. But as one of the NHL's best scorers himself, Matthews could be close in a few years.

Though if you were to ask him, it really doesn't matter and it's about celebrating Ovechkin:

It's obvious that Matthews didn't really appreciate being focused on with history having been made, and acknowledged he's got a ways to go, and to be fair, he does.

With 398 career goals, Matthews needs another 497 goals to reach the plateau, which might not even be the record once all things are said and done. He would have to average 50 goals over the next decade and continue that production into his age-37 season.

Is it possible? Absolutely, and if he picks up the pace he had previously it could be a couple of years before then he hits #895, but he's certainly got an uphill road to climb.

The next closest person to Ovechkin who currently plays is Sidney Crosby, who is still 273 goals away from reaching the mark, so if anyone can do it, it's Crosby but he's never been someone who consistently hits a 50-goal mark, but will comfortably reach the number if he averages 39 goals...for the next seven years.

It just goes to show how ridiculous the record actually is, and how consistently elite Ovechkin has been since coming into the league.

Auston Matthews will certainly do his due diligence and fight to break the once unbreakable record.

But for now? Let's just enjoy history.