Alex Ovechkin informed his Washington Capitals teammates earlier than apply Monday in Arlington, Virginia, that the 2026-27 season can be his final within the NHL, NHL.com reported.
“This is going to be my last year, I’m pretty sure,” Ovechkin informed the group in a video the Capitals posted on social media.
In the identical video, he stated it mattered to him that his teammates heard the information from him first, and he referred to as the second unhappy however one thing he had accepted.
The 41-year-old left wing is in his twenty second NHL season, all with Washington, which drafted him first total in 2004. He holds the league document with 929 regular-season targets, and his 1,006 targets together with the playoffs are 10 behind Wayne Gretzky’s mixed complete of 1,016.
Ovechkin informed NHL.com he reached the choice over the summer time in conversations along with his household, together with his spouse, Nastya. He stated he needs to stay wholesome sufficient to play sports activities along with his kids as they develop up.
He selected to make the announcement earlier than Wednesday’s house opener in opposition to Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Capital One Arena so it might not cling over his play, and stated his focus that night time could be on the sport alone, NHL.com reported.
The announcement got here 21 years to the day after his NHL debut, a two-goal recreation in opposition to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 5, 2005.
Forwards Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome informed NHL.com that Ovechkin had hinted on the resolution throughout a group dinner in Annapolis, Maryland, final week. Coach Spencer Carbery stated he didn’t know for sure till Ovechkin referred to as him Sunday about addressing the group, and described disappointment on the information that gave technique to gratitude for his or her relationship.
Ovechkin has one help by Washington’s first two video games, each on the highway. He arrange Alex Tuch’s opening objective in a 5-2 win at Carolina on Friday and was held with out a level in a 3-1 loss at Tampa Bay on Saturday.
He re-signed on a one-year contract July 2 after taking time over the summer time to weigh his future. Washington missed the playoffs final season, when Ovechkin led the group with 32 targets and 64 factors whereas taking part in all 82 video games.
Ovechkin additionally holds NHL information for power-play targets (331), game-winning targets (141) and extra time targets (27), in keeping with NHL.com. He received the Stanley Cup with Washington in 2018, the franchise’s solely championship, and was named playoff MVP with the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Looking again on his profession Monday, Ovechkin stated it had its ups and downs however that delivering the Cup to Washington was what mattered most, in keeping with NHL.com.
He stated he wouldn’t pay a lot consideration if opposing groups plan farewell gestures this season. He has beforehand raised the thought of ending his taking part in days with Dynamo Moscow of the KHL, the place he got here up, however has not introduced a call on that, NHL.com reported.
Crosby informed NHL.com earlier than Pittsburgh’s recreation in opposition to Winnipeg on Monday that making the announcement would free Ovechkin to cease fielding questions on his future and focus on hockey.
“For him, as long as he’s happy and enjoying it, that’s the biggest thing,” Crosby stated.
Penguins ahead Evgeni Malkin, who often doesn’t communicate after morning skates, made an exception to reward his fellow Russian as a legend and a fan favourite, NHL.com reported.
Wednesday’s recreation at 7:30 p.m. ET is the primary of 4 conferences between the Capitals and Penguins this season. The others are Jan. 18 and March 13 in Pittsburgh and April 4 in Washington.
website positioning Headline
Meta Description
URL Path
Keywords
© Copyright 2026 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce with out permission.
