The NHL retired Wayne Gretzky’s number 99 jersey leaguewide on February 6, 2000, during the 1999-00 season’s NHL All-Star Game. Gretzky, who at the time was the league’s all-time leader in goals, assists, and points, is the only player in NHL history to receive the honor.

Gretzky lost one of those marks this past year, when Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin became the new all-time leading goal scorer, recording his 895th career goal against the New York Islanders on April 6. The Great One was on hand to personally congratulate Ovechkin and pass on the goal-scoring mantle to its new owner.

Given the incredible achievement and how iconic Ovechkin’s number 8 jersey has become, Championat’s Vladimir Laevsky recently asked NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly whether any thought was being given to having Ovechkin one day join Gretzky in the distinction of having his number retired leaguewide.

“We won’t consider retiring his number until Ovi himself announces his retirement plans,” Daly said as translated by Google Translate. “As you know, in the 107-year history of the league, we’ve only retired one number. That’s a rarity.”

Ovechkin, 40, is currently playing out the final year on his contract with the Capitals and has made no commitment to continuing his NHL career past this season. While the league probably won’t retire his number, Ovechkin’s number 8 will almost certainly never be worn by another Capital.

The legendary Russian winger could step away from the game tomorrow and leave DC as the team’s franchise leader in goals, points, power-play goals, even-strength goals, game-winning goals, playoff goals, shots, and hat tricks. He’s also the only captain of the Capitals to have led the franchise to a Stanley Cup championship, winning playoff MVP honors in 2018.

Over the summer, Ovechkin was asked in his native Russia if he had ever thought of the Capitals hoisting his number 8 to the rafters of Capital One Arena before. “Call Washington and find out about it,” Ovechkin replied.

The Capitals have not retired a number since 2008, when Mike Gartner’s number 11 was taken out of circulation.