There has been a lot of speculation regarding Alex Ovechkin’s future this past week. But now, Ovechkin himself has come forward to clarify what will happen after his contract expires at the end of the 2025–2026 season.
Recent incidents have fueled speculation about Alex Ovechkin and his future with the Washington Capitals. First, the Capitals accidentally sent out an email stating that the 2025–2026 campaign would be Ovechkin’s last.
Shortly after, excerpts from an interview with Ovechkin’s wife, Nastya, surfaced in which she said the family would return to Russia after the 2025–2026 season. However, it turned out that her quotes were taken out of context—she had simply meant that they would be visiting Russia during the summer, as they always do.
Alex Ovechkin’s clarification
Now, a source close to Alex Ovechkin tells RG Media that he has not made a definitive decision about his future career.
“Alex has not made a decision to retire from the NHL in 2026. Alex has always been honest with himself and the hockey community. If he feels he can no longer play at the highest level, he won’t continue playing just for the sake of staying,” the source said, according to The Hockey News.
Not even Ovechkin himself seems to know for sure.
“I’m looking forward to next year. I just want to come back and see if the team is capable of winning the Stanley Cup. I haven’t thought about it yet, but we’ll see what happens,” Ovechkin said on the Capitals’ exit day.
Last season, Alex Ovechkin made history by breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record for the most goals in NHL history, scoring 44 goals despite missing 16 games due to a broken leg.
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