Ovechkin to leave Washington and NHL after current season, Russian media report
In short
Alexander Ovechkin has announced he will leave at the end of the current season, Russian outlets reported. Interfax said the Russian hockey player will leave the Washington club after the 2026/27 season, while TASS said the 41-year-old will leave the league when the season ends. The reports differ on whether his departure covers only Washington or the NHL as a whole.
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Russian hockey player Alexander Ovechkin has announced he will leave at the end of the current season, according to two Russian outlets. Interfax reported that he will leave the Washington club at the end of the 2026/27 season, while TASS reported that the 41-year-old Russian will leave the league once the current season ends. Neither report says why he is leaving or what he plans to do next. [ 1 , 2 ]
The two accounts differ in scope: Interfax refers to his departure from Washington, and TASS to his departure from the league. TASS presented its report under the quoted phrase “I know this is the right decision”, without the documents stating who the words are attributed to. No further detail on the decision, its timing beyond the end of the season, or any reaction from the club was given in the documents available. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
Ovechkin is the most prominent Russian player in North American hockey, so his departure is a major sports story in Russia and beyond. The documents give no further detail on his plans or on the reasons for the decision, so its wider consequences cannot yet be assessed.
Key facts
- Alexander Ovechkin announced he will leave at the end of the current season [ 1 , 2 ]
- Interfax reported he will leave the Washington club at the end of the 2026/27 season [ 1 ]
- TASS reported the 41-year-old Russian will leave the league after the current season ends [ 2 ]
- TASS framed its report with the phrase “I know this is the right decision” [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether Ovechkin is leaving only the Washington club or the NHL entirely Interfax says he will leave Washington, while TASS says he will leave the league, and neither document reconciles the two formulations
- Ovechkin's age and the exact season in which he departs Only TASS gives his age as 41, and only Interfax specifies the 2026/27 season, so neither detail is corroborated by a second outlet
- The reasons for the decision and any plans after leaving Neither document states a reason or any next step