Alex Ovechkin announced that his upcoming 22nd NHL season with the Washington Capitals will be his last. The Russian forward, who holds the league’s career goal-scoring record with 929 goals, addressed his teammates and released a statement before the team's home opener. At 41 years old, Ovechkin, who has spent his entire career with the Capitals, expressed that while it is sad, he intends to enjoy this final season and make special memories with his current young core. Despite some controversy over an advertisement supporting Vladimir Putin, Ovechkin said he will retire and return to live in Russia.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Alex Ovechkin, the longtime captain of the Washington Capitals and NHL's all-time leading goal scorer with 929 goals, announced on Monday that his 22nd season will be his last. The Russian star, who turned 41 in September, broke Wayne Gretzky’s record in April 2025. Ovechkin informed his teammates before the team posted a farewell message on social media ahead of their home opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Despite not scoring in the first two games of the season, Ovechkin remains optimistic about making another playoff run and potentially contending for the Stanley Cup this year. The Capitals' front office bolstered the roster with trades and free-agent signings to support a younger core aiming for long-term success.
Written for “Ovechkin Retires After Next Season” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Alex Ovechkin said Monday that his 22nd season in the NHL will be his last, beginning the farewell tour for the longtime Washington Capitals captain who holds the league’s career goal-scoring record.
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who → say → record
Ovechkin addressed teammates to deliver the news before the team posted a message from him on social media.
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team → address → media
“It’s sad, but it is what it is,” Ovechkin said in his locker room address.
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Ovechkin → ’ → address
“It’s hard, but let’s enjoy it and let’s do some special things this year.”
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’s → ’ → things
Ovechkin signed a one-year contract this past summer and turned 41 on Sept. 17.
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Ovechkin → sign → Sept.
All signs pointed to this being the end, and he said he and his family decided as much in recent months.
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he → point → months
“I love this game so much, but I know in my heart it’s the right decision,” the Russian star said in a statement released before the Capitals’ home opener Wednesday night.
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star → love → opener
Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s goals record in April 2025 and entered this season at 929.
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Ovechkin → break → 929
The front office acquired Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch in trades and signed fellow forward Boone Jenner and defenseman Vincent Desharnais in free agency to add around a young core in the hopes of making another long playoff run and contending for the Stanley Cup.
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office → acquire → Cup
“We have an unbelievable team this year,” Ovechkin said.
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Ovechkin → have → team
“Let’s make the playoffs, let’s have fun and enjoy the moment because times fly.”
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times → let → moment
Ovechkin has spent his entire career with Washington, winning the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2005-06, the Hart Trophy as MVP three times and leading the NHL in scoring nine times.
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Ovechkin → spend → scoring
He was playoff MVP in 2018 when he led the Caps to the first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.
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he → lead → history
There’s been speculation Ovechkin could receive an unfriendly reception on the road after he appeared in an ad for a party aligned with Vladimir Putin during the offseason.
uncertain
he → receive → offseason
When addressing the fallout from that last month, Ovechkin confirmed he’d be going back to live in Russia when he retired from the NHL.
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he → address → NHL
In Washington’s season-opening win over the Hurricanes, Ovechkin had 12 minutes, 46 seconds of ice time, the lowest of his career in a game when he wasn’t injured or ejected.
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he → open → game
The Capitals missed the playoffs in 2025-26, but Ovechkin played all 82 games and scored 32 goals.
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Ovechkin → miss → goals
He’s reached 30 in every season of his career except 2020-21, when he played only 45 games.
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he → reach → games
Long before he broke through during the Capitals’ Stanley Cup run, Ovechkin had rejuvenated hockey in Washington, and he’ll retire as one of the city’s most accomplished athletes in any sport.
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he → break → sport
The Capitals drafted him No. 1 overall in 2004, and he and Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby became stars almost immediately in 2005 when the league emerged from missing a season because of a lockout.
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league → draft → lockout
Ovechkin’s combination of goal-scoring skill, physicality and boundless energy made him an instant hit, and he scored a career-high 65 goals in his third season, which earned him the first of his Hart Trophies.
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which → score → Trophies
Washington’s penchant for postseason heartache, which existed long before Ovechkin showed up, followed him for a while as well.
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Ovechkin → exist → while
The Capitals won the Presidents’ Trophy three times with the league’s best regular-season record, falling short in the playoffs each time before a Washington team that merely won its division finally went all the way in the playoffs.
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that → win → playoffs
In four postseason meetings between Crosby and Ovechkin — in 2009, 2016, 2017, 2018 — the winner won the Stanley Cup each time.
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winner → win → Cup
The Aporia
