As Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin closes in on Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record, the Great One told CNBC he has nothing but admiration for the player who could soon dethrone him.

Wayne Gretzky stands atop the NHL's all-time goals scored list, but Alexander Ovechkin is not far behind. The Washington Capitals star's journey to immortality took a hit on Monday when the player suffered an injury, but he's still likely to eventually break Gretzky's record.