Ovechkin says his 22nd NHL season with the Capitals will be his last

Alex Ovechkin said Monday that his 22nd NHL season will be his last, beginning the farewell tour for the longtime Washington Capitals captain who holds the league’s career goal-scoring record. Multiple outlets reported that he addressed teammates to deliver the news before the team posted a message from him on social media. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]

“It’s sad, but it is what it is,” Ovechkin said in his locker room address. “It’s hard, but let’s enjoy it and let’s do some special things this year.” In a statement released before the Capitals’ home opener, he said: “I love this game so much, but I know in my heart it’s the right decision.” Newsweek, The Hill and Fox News quote the statement further: “My family and I decided this summer that this will be my final year in the NHL,” adding that it was important to make the announcement before the first home game so he could thank the people around the game. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]

Ovechkin signed a one-year contract this past summer and turned 41 on Sept. 17, and he said he and his family decided in recent months. Statements quoted by other outlets put the family decision in the summer. Speaking to reporters later Monday, he said this was the right time to announce, two days before the home opener: “I’m not 20 years old. I want to play with my kids when they’re growing up. … I want to be healthy enough to do that kind of stuff.” [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]

He broke Wayne Gretzky’s goals record in April 2025 and entered this season at 929 regular-season goals, according to the Associated Press, The Boston Globe, The Guardian US, PBS NewsHour and Fox News. The Hill said he became the all-time leader on April 6, 2025 with his 895th goal, and listed further career marks including 331 power-play goals and 141 game-winning goals. Newsweek reported that his 1,006 combined regular-season and postseason goals are 10 short of Gretzky’s NHL record. Ovechkin has spent his entire career in Washington, winning the Calder Trophy in 2005-06, the Hart Trophy three times, leading the NHL in scoring nine times and being playoff MVP in 2018 when the Capitals won their first Stanley Cup. Fox News noted the announcement came exactly 21 years after his NHL debut against Columbus on Oct. 5, 2005, a 3-2 win in which he scored twice. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]

The Capitals’ first home game is Wednesday, with Newsweek and Fox News identifying the Pittsburgh Penguins as the opponent. The front office acquired Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch in trades and signed forward Boone Jenner and defenseman Vincent Desharnais in free agency to add around a young core, in the hope of another long playoff run. “We have an unbelievable team this year,” Ovechkin said. “Let’s make the playoffs, let’s have fun and enjoy the moment because times fly.” [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 8 ]

The Guardian US and The Hill noted speculation that Ovechkin could receive an unfriendly reception on the road after he appeared in an ad during the offseason for a party aligned with Vladimir Putin, adding that there was little sign of that in the first two games, at Carolina and at Tampa Bay. Newsweek said he has faced criticism at home over his support of Putin, including the recent election campaign ad for United Russia ahead of last month’s Russian elections, and The Hill reported that he confirmed he would go back to live in Russia after his retirement. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]