Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin announced he will retire at the end of this NHL season.
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Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has announced that this season will be his final in the NHL.
The 41-year-old Russian made the announcement to teammates in a video posted by the Capitals on Monday, saying: “I love this game so much, but I know in my heart it’s the right decision.”
Ovechkin added, “I am excited about this season with my teammates, and we will do everything we can to make this year special. I am going to enjoy every moment with my family, my boys, our fans and everyone who has been part of my hockey career.”
Ovechkin is in his 22nd NHL season after being drafted first overall by Washington in 2004, spending his entire career with the Capitals and winning the 2018 Stanley Cup.
He broke Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals record in April 2025 when he scored his 895th career goal against the New York Islanders, and he currently has 929 goals with 77 more in the playoffs.
With 1,006 combined regular-season and playoff tallies, Ovechkin is 10 goals shy of Gretzky’s 1,016 total and has 1,688 career regular-season points, ranking 10th, with a chance in his final season to pass Mario Lemieux (1,723) and Steve Yzerman (1,755).
Ovechkin and the Capitals are set to play their home opener Wednesday against longtime rival Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
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