Alex Ovechkin says current NHL season will be his last

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin announced on Oct. 5 that the current NHL season, his 22nd with the club, will be his last, bringing a retirement date to a career in Washington that has produced 929 goals and 759 assists.¹²³

A decision made with his family

Ovechkin told his teammates about the decision before the Capitals released his message publicly, according to The Guardian and ESPN. He and his family had concluded during the summer that retirement after this season was the appropriate course. “I know in my heart it is the right decision,” Ovechkin said.¹³

The announcement came before Washington’s first home game of the season. Ovechkin said he remained focused on playing with his teammates and trying to make the campaign memorable. He also confirmed that he intends to live in Russia after leaving the NHL.¹²³

Ovechkin returned to Washington on a one-year contract signed during the summer, The Guardian reported. ESPN said the agreement carries an average annual value of $4.25 million and a $4.75 million performance bonus that would be activated by his 10th game; those financial details were reported only by ESPN.¹³

Records and milestones

The BBC describes Ovechkin as the NHL’s all-time leading goalscorer. It reported that he moved beyond Wayne Gretzky’s regular-season record in April 2025 by scoring his 895th career goal. Gretzky had held that record for 31 years after passing Gordie Howe in 1994.²

Ovechkin now has 929 goals and 759 assists. According to the BBC, those figures give him 1,688 points in 1,575 appearances for Washington and place him 10th on the NHL’s career points list. The broadcaster also reported that he is 11 goals short of surpassing Gretzky for the most total goals in NHL history and four assists behind Nicklas Backstrom’s Capitals record of 762.¹²

According to The Guardian, Ovechkin earned the 2005-06 Calder Trophy, was awarded the Hart Trophy on three occasions and finished as the NHL's scoring leader nine times. It also said he was the playoff most valuable player in 2018, when Washington won its first Stanley Cup.¹

Washington prepares for a transition

The Capitals missed the playoffs last season. The Guardian reported that Ovechkin appeared in all 82 games and scored 32 goals during the 2025-26 campaign. ESPN said that was his NHL-record 20th season with at least 30 goals and that his average ice time fell to a career-low 17 minutes and 27 seconds; those two records are single-source reports.¹³

Washington reshaped its roster during the summer as it prepared for the period after Ovechkin. The Guardian and ESPN reported that the Capitals added wingers Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch, while The Guardian also reported the signings of forward Boone Jenner and defenseman Vincent Desharnais.¹³

Ovechkin began his final campaign as Washington defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in its season opener, according to The Guardian, which reported that he played just under 13 minutes. His stated aim for the year was direct: “Let’s make the playoffs, let’s have fun and enjoy the moment because times fly.”¹