Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin announced Monday that the 2026-27 season will be his final one in the NHL, ending a career spent entirely with one franchise.
What they're saying: "My family and I decided this summer that this will be my final year in the NHL," Ovechkin said in the team's statement. "I love this game so much, but I know in my heart it's the right decision."
- "I'm not 20 years old," he told reporters, per CBC. "I want to play with my kids when they're growing up. I want to be healthy enough to do that kind of stuff."
By the numbers: Ovechkin turned 41 on September 17 and enters the season with 929 goals and 1,688 points in 1,575 games, all with Washington. He ranks first in NHL history in goals, power-play goals (331), game-winning goals (141) and 40-goal seasons (14).
- He is 11 goals from passing Wayne Gretzky's 1,016 combined regular-season and playoff goals, 12 points from 1,700, and one 20-goal season from tying Gordie Howe's record of 22.
The backstory: Ovechkin broke Gretzky's regular-season goals record in April 2025 and signed a one-year deal this summer. He captained the Capitals to their only Stanley Cup in 2018, and he and Sidney Crosby this season joined Howe, Alex Delvecchio, Stan Mikita and Steve Yzerman as the only players to spend 22 seasons with one franchise.
Yes, but: The farewell tour comes with some baggage. Ovechkin appeared in an ad for a party aligned with Vladimir Putin during the off-season and has said he will move back to Russia when he retires, though CBC reports there was little sign of a hostile reception in the first two road games.
What's next: The Capitals host Montreal in their home opener Wednesday. Starting in November the team will announce a new charity initiative on the eighth of each month, and Ovechkin's pediatric cancer campaign, which donates for every goal since his 885th, has raised more than $256,000.
Why it matters: Every arena he visits this season is selling a last look at the greatest goal scorer the sport has produced, and the Gretzky combined-goals mark could fall before Thanksgiving.
