Ovechkin, Suzuka Flop & NBL Free Agency | Ahead of the Game Ep.18

The great eight becomes the greatest of all time.

Alexander Ovechkin has officially passed Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL’s all-time leading goalscorer, and what makes it even more iconic is that he did it in exactly the same number of games.

Ryan and Jez take a moment to appreciate the full scope of the achievement—from Ovi’s durability over two decades to his unmatched power game that’s still wreaking havoc in his late 30s.

Jez points out how Ovechkin has evolved with the game. From smashing blokes into the glass to scoring from the top of the circle with that lethal one-timer, Ovi isn’t just a record breaker—he’s a generational player who did it his way.

And let’s be honest—Gretzky never threw a hit like Ovi does.

From the high of hockey to the low of Suzuka. The boys don’t hold back as they break down another Formula 1 race that just didn’t deliver.

While the Suzuka circuit is a fan favourite, this year’s race turned out to be a procession rather than a battle. Overtaking was rare, tyre strategy meant very little, and outside of the opening lap, the action was minimal.

Ryan wonders aloud whether modern F1 has become too polished for its own good. The sport has always flirted with the line between technology and thrill—but the balance might now be completely off.

They also touch on the 2026 regulation changes and whether reducing car size and reintroducing driver error might be the keys to bringing back the magic.

F1 is still a spectacle, but it’s becoming more of a runway show than a race—and that’s a worry.

Matthew Dellavedova is heading to Sydney.

That’s not a sentence many saw coming, including Jez, who admits he was floored by the move. Ryan, though, sees the potential upside—it’s not just about on-court performance but what Delly brings to the locker room and the brand.

The Kings are going all-in, and adding an experienced, NBA-tested campaigner like Delly could be the missing piece in their pursuit of another championship.

But as Jez says: “Is this Delly with gas left in the tank, or is it a marketing move?” Either way, the NBL just got a little spicier.

To close out the show, it’s time for GPT KO, and this one is pure brutality.

In one corner: Wayne Gretzky, “The Great One,” precision and grace personified.

In the other: Alexander Ovechkin, “The Russian Bear,” raw power and grit.

This hypothetical throwdown, powered by ChatGPT, is one of the best yet. Jez calls it “the most satisfying fight we’ve done,” and Ryan agrees—the visual of Ovechkin suplexing Gretzky into the glass is burned into their brains.

It’s part satire, part sci-fi, and entirely cooked in the best way possible. If you’re not already watching GPT KO each week, now’s the time to start.

Episode 18 of Ahead of the Game had everything: greatness, frustration, shock, and violence (the AI kind).

With Ovechkin cementing his legacy, F1 needing a serious rethink, and the NBL heating up, this week’s episode is a rollercoaster of sporting emotion. And with GPT KO only getting wilder, there’s no better time to jump on board.

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