Alex Ovechkin, the powerhouse captain of the Washington Capitals is a a goal-scoring machine, 41 goals away from Wayne Gretzky's legendary NHL scoring record. In a recent interview, Ovechkin says the worst part of the NHL offseason It's not the downtime or the anticipation—it's the grind of getting back into tip-top shape. Coming into the season out of shape is a recipe for disaster, whether it's risking injury or getting benched. <q> I hate prep. I hate it. I just don't like training. Before the season, that's the hardest part. Can you imagine, after vacation, you arrive, you're tan, everything's fine, happy, and your coach calls you and says, 'Well Sasha, tomorrow we start training.' And it starts, you go to training, then rest, then another training. I hate it, I can't stand it. - Alex Ovechkin😳😳😳 </q> <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/hockeypatrol/status/1797365380651819244'> </a></blockquote></div> But Ovechkin's not one to shy away from hard work. With three years left on his NHL contract, he's gearing up for more of those grueling training periods. He's gunning to not just tie, but surpass Gretzky's record. So here's to hoping he stays healthy, stays hungry, and keeps lighting up the scoreboard for years to come. As seen on House of Hockey: <a href='https://www.houseofhockey.net/nhl-team/washington-capitals/alex-ovechkin-shares-shocking-comments-worrying-fans-about-his-nhl-future' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Alex Ovechkin shares shocking comments worrying fans about his NHL future</a>