Evgeni Malkin Makes Bold Prediction on Alex Ovechkin’s NHL Future
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Evgeni Malkin and the Pittsburgh Penguins faced Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Sunday afternoon. With retirement rumors swirling, it might have been Ovechkin’s last home game in Washington. However, does Malkin believe the Washington forward will retire from the NHL after the season is over?
The Penguins forward believes Ovechkin will be back for the 2026-27 NHL season, the player told reporters . Malkin said Ovechkin will be “back next year for sure” because he is “still hungry. ” As of now, the 40-year-old Washington forward plans to make his retirement decision following the season, but his close friend believes he won’t be done yet.
Ovechkin is the best goal scorer in NHL history, and he is still peforming at a high level. The Capitals star has 32 goals, 31 assists, and 63 points in his 21st NHL season. While Ovechkin isn’t performing at a 50-goal-per-season level, he still provides much-needed offensive production for Washington.
Since Ovechkin’s contract expires at the conclusion of the 2025-26 NHL season, he will need to sign a new one with the Capitals if he continues playing in the NHL. The end of this season has long been viewed as a potential retirement point for Ovechkin, since his contract is up. The 40-year-old forward has previously expressed a desire to retire in Russia and potentially play a final season with Dynamo Moscow.
If Ovehckin retires from the NHL, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him play in Russia this year. However, the Capitals would love to have him back in the organization for one more campaign. After all, it is hard to replace Ovechkin’s offensive production.