3 hours ago 
Alex Ovechkin will return to the Washington Capitals for a 22nd NHL play aft signing a one-year contract, ending months of speculation astir whether the NHL’s all-time starring extremity scorer would retire. The incentive-laden woody carries a $4.25 cardinal mean yearly value, including a $1 cardinal basal salary, a $3.25 cardinal signing bonus and show bonuses tied to games played that could summation its wide value. Ovechkin, who turns 41 successful September, announced his decision by saying, “I’m back!”
The longtime Capitals skipper said helium remains steadfast and motivated to proceed competing for different Stanley Cup. “Thank you to everyone for giving maine and my household the clip to marque this decision. I’m healthy. I emotion playing hockey and competing to win. I’m excited to travel backmost and articulation my teammates truthful we tin combat for a playoff spot and person a accidental to win. See you successful September, DC!”
Ovechkin, selected archetypal wide by Washington successful the 2004 NHL Draft, has spent his full NHL vocation with the enactment and captained the nine to its archetypal Stanley Cup title successful 2018, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy arsenic playoff MVP. He remains the centerpiece of the organization’s individuality aft starring the nine with 32 goals and 64 points crossed a afloat 82-game slate past year. Ovechkin became the NHL’s vocation goals person aft surpassing Wayne Gretzky successful April 2025 and enters the caller play with 929 regular-season goals implicit 1,573 regular-season appearances, portion besides holding league records for power-play goals and game-winning goals. Entering the 2026-2027 season, helium stands conscionable 10 goals distant from overtaking Gretzky’s combined grounds for the astir full goals scored crossed the regular play and playoffs.
The Capitals anticipation Ovechkin’s return, combined with an progressive offseason, volition fortify their bid to instrumentality to playoff contention aft missing the postseason past year. Washington added veterans Boone Jenner, Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou and Vincent Desharnais to bolster the roster astir its franchise cornerstone, who led the squad with 32 goals and 64 points past season.
By taking the crystal this fall, Ovechkin volition surpass shot fable Walter Johnson’s 21-year stint with the Washington Senators to go the longest-tenured nonrecreational jock successful the past of Washington, D.C. sports. He volition besides participate his 18th twelvemonth wearing the captain’s “C” for the Capitals, trailing lone Sidney Crosby and Steve Yzerman for the longest captaincy tenures successful league history.
Editorial credit: Jai Agnish / Shutterstock.com
English (US)·