Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin says the 2026-27 NHL season will be his last and he will play nine more games in Canada before retiring.
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Alex Ovechkin says the 2026-27 NHL season will be his final one, with the Washington Capitals captain sharing the news with teammates Monday morning.
Ovechkin, the league’s all-time goal-scoring leader, is slated to play nine more times in Canada as part of what will be his 22nd and final NHL campaign. The run begins with a pair of contests in Ottawa and includes additional games across Canada through the regular season.
The Senators host the Capitals on Nov. 10 in Ovechkin’s first game on Canadian soil since April. Ottawa then visits Washington on Jan. 2 before welcoming Ovechkin and the Capitals back for his final regular-season game north of the border on April 8.
The Capitals also make a swing through Western Canada with games against the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 3, the Calgary Flames on Dec. 5 and the Vancouver Canucks on Dec. 7.
Vancouver is at Washington on Dec. 1, prior to the Capitals’ Canada tour. Ovechkin and the Capitals then return to Canada for games in Edmonton on Dec. 28 and in Calgary on March 9.
The Capitals’ schedule in Toronto includes games against the Maple Leafs on Dec. 21 and March 28.
Montreal welcomes Washington on Feb. 13, after the Canadiens visit the Capitals this Wednesday and again on Jan. 19.
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