Alex Ovechkin informed his Washington Capitals teammates on Monday that the 2025-26 NHL season will be his final one, according to a report from WTOP. He made the announcement in a locker room address before the team posted a message from him on social media. In his remarks, Ovechkin said, “It’s sad, but it is what it is,” and added, “It’s hard, but let’s enjoy it and let’s do some special things this year.”
The forward signed a one‑year contract over the summer and turned 41 on September 17. Ovechkin noted that he and his family had reached the conclusion in recent months that this season would mark the end of his career. He later reiterated the sentiment in a statement released before the Capitals’ home opener on Wednesday night, saying, “I love this game so much, but I know in my heart it’s the right decision.”
Ovechkin entered the 2025-26 campaign having broken Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goal‑scoring record in April 2025, bringing his total to 929 goals at the start of the season. The Capitals’ front office has added veteran forwards Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch via trades and signed Boone Jenner and defenseman Vincent Desharnais in free agency, aiming to bolster a young core and pursue another deep playoff run.
Commenting on the roster, Ovechkin told his teammates, “We have an unbelievable team this year,” and urged them to “make the playoffs, let’s have fun and enjoy the moment because times fly.”
Throughout his career, which has been spent entirely with Washington, Ovechkin has won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year (2005-06), the Hart Trophy as league MVP three times, and led the NHL in scoring on nine occasions. He was also named playoff MVP in 2018 when he captained the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup championship.
The announcement sets the stage for a farewell tour as Ovechkin seeks to cap his 22‑season NHL stint with a strong final campaign.