Alex Ovechkin says he’s waiting until after the season to decide his hockey future
Apr 5, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates against the New York Rangers during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images Danny Wild/Danny Wild-Imagn Images Alex Ovechkin says he is waiting until after the Washington Capitals’ season is over to decide whether he’s calling it a career or returning to play one more year. The NHL’s career goal-scoring leader announced his intentions in a clip of a pre-taped interview with Capitals radio broadcaster John Walton.
“We’re going to make a decision in the summer,” Ovechkin said, adding he needed to talk with his family, owner Ted Leonsis, president of hockey operations Brian MacLellan and general manager Chris Patrick. Ovechkin said health would be the biggest factor: “I’m going to be 41 years old in September, so you just have to be smart about it. ” He has been peppered with questions for several months about whether he’ll retire or play a 22nd season in the league.
Ovechkin’s current contract expires June 30. Washington just will have three games left after playing at Toronto and faces an uphill climb to make the playoffs. Monday was the one-year anniversary of the Russian superstar scoring his 895th goal at the New York Islanders, breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record that seemed unapproachable until Ovechkin came along.
Ovechkin has since scored 33 more goals, 31 this season, to get to 928 in the regular season. On March 22, he scored No. 1,000 total in the NHL, counting goals in the playoffs.
He also holds records for the most power play goals with 331, game-winning goals with 141 and shots with 7,091 — and counting. Not just an offensive powerhouse, the 6-foot-3 winger has been a physical force and ranks third on the career hits list with 3,871. The Capitals visit longtime Ovechkin rival and fellow face of the sport Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, then host them Sunday.