Washington Capitals announce Alex Ovechkin to play final NHL season in 2025-26

The Washington Capitals announced that Alex Ovechkin will be back with the team in 2025-26, but it will be his final NHL season. According to Jacob Billington of The Hockey Writers, the Capitals sent an email to its season ticket holders that said, “OCTOBER – the start of Capitals hockey and Alex Ovechkin’s FINAL NHL SEASON.”

Shortly after the email was sent, the Capitals refuted that Ovechkin is retiring, saying a mistake was made with the email that was sent. “No decision has been made on Alex Ovechkin’s future following the 2025-26 NHL season,” the team wrote on X/Twitter. “An email was sent from an individual with the corporate sales department that mistakenly alluded to next year being Alex Ovechkin’s final year.”

Alex Ovechkin will turn 40 in September and made his NHL debut in 2005. He spent his entire career with the Capitals, leading the team to a Stanley Cup title in 2018. This past season, Ovechkin made NHL history by surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals scored record. He has scored 897 goals in his career.

In April, Ovechkin reacted to breaking Gretzky’s record. “I’m probably gonna need a couple more days or maybe a couple weeks to realize what does it mean to be No. 1,” Ovechkin said, per the Associated Press. “I’m really proud for myself. I’m really proud for my family, for all my teammates that help me to reach that milestone and for all my coaches. It’s huge. It’s unbelievable. It’s unbelievable moment, and I’m happy.”

Alex Ovechkin was asked about retirement after breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record

Shortly after breaking the record, Ovechkin appeared on The Pat McAfee Show to talk about his future in NHL. “Well, I have one more year, and we’ll see what’s gonna happen,” Ovechkin said, per Athlon Sports. “I love the team, I love being around the boys, and as long as I can, I will try to stick around and put my great body in the NHL.”

“Of course, you have to adjust a little bit,” Ovechkin said when asked about how his game has evolved over the years. “As soon as the season is over, you know how many times you have to prepare your body, to prepare your mind for next year? When you’re young, it’s one thing. But when you get older, it’s a different thing.”

Along with being a Stanley Cup champion and the NHL’s all-time leader in goals scored, Ovechkin was named an All-Star 13 times and won the Hart Memorial Trophy (NHL MVP) in 2008, 2009 and 2013. Ovechkin was selected to the 2000s All-Decade First Team in 2009 and the 2010s All-Decade First Team in 2020.