Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin said this season will be his last in the NHL.
He announced the news in a locker room address and a Capitals social media post on Monday morning.
“My family and I decided this summer that this will be my final year in the NHL. I love this game so much, but I know in my heart it’s the right decision,” he said on X.
“Ovi” signed a one-year contract and is playing at age 41 after breaking Wayne Gretzky’s career goal-scoring record in April 2025.
“We have an unbelievable team this year,” Ovechkin told his teammates. “Let’s make the playoffs, let’s have fun and enjoy the moment because times fly.”
“It seems like yesterday I was here my first year, and right now it’s my 22nd year. It just goes like this,” he said, snapping his fingers.
His teammates rose to their feet, hugged him and gave him a standing ovation.
Ovechkin entered his 22nd season with 929 goals. He’s scored at least 24 goals in every season of his career, and more than 30 goals in 21 of 22 seasons.
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. He was playoff MVP in 2018 when he led the Caps to the first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.
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