Washington Capitals skipper Alex Ovechkin will retire from the NHL astatine the decision of the 2026-27 season, ending a 22-year vocation with the franchise and 1 of the astir prolific runs successful league history. Ovechkin, 41, announced his determination Monday, precisely 21 years aft making his NHL debut. He informed his teammates earlier the Capitals publically confirmed the news.
“My household and I decided this summertime that this volition beryllium my last twelvemonth successful the NHL,” Ovechkin said successful a statement released by the Capitals. “I emotion this crippled truthful much, but I cognize successful my bosom it’s the close decision.” He said helium wanted his teammates to perceive the quality archetypal and expressed his tendency to marque his last play meaningful portion enjoying clip with his family, teammates and Washington fans.
Capitals proprietor Ted Leonsis wrote connected social media: “Alex Ovechkin is 1 of the top players ever to play our crippled … For much than 2 decades, Alex has fixed our fans everything they could inquire for: the goals, the records, the physicality, the passion, and an unmatched tendency to win. He has made countless nights astatine @CapitalOneArena unforgettable. He brought Washington a Stanley Cup, and helium helped make immoderate of the astir joyful and unifying moments this metropolis has ever experienced successful sports .. What has ever stood retired to maine is Alex’s transportation with our fans. They person watched him turn from a young superstar into the look of this franchise, and they person been with him done each large moment. That narration is rare. It is built connected loyalty, shared memories, and the feeling that each clip Alex steps connected the ice, thing peculiar tin happen. It’s going to beryllium a peculiar and memorable last season, and I look guardant to sharing the travel of @ovi8’s last section with our fans.”
Ovechkin has been the centerpiece of the Capitals for much than 2 decades, starring the franchise to its archetypal Stanley Cup title successful 2018 and earning the Conn Smythe Trophy arsenic playoff MVP. His 2026-27 run is besides his 22nd play with 1 NHL franchise, a favoritism shared by lone a fistful of players, including Sidney Crosby. Ovechkin signed a one-year, $4.25 cardinal declaration successful July aft considering whether to proceed his vocation pursuing the erstwhile season.
The Russian-born guardant entered his last season arsenic the NHL’s all-time starring extremity scorer, with 929 regular-season goals. He surpassed Wayne Gretzky’s longstanding grounds successful 2025 and besides holds league marks for power-play goals, game-winning goals, overtime goals and 40-goal seasons. He has totaled 1,688 points successful 1,575 games, each with Washington, which selected him No. 1 wide successful the 2004 NHL Draft.
Ovechkin kicked-off the play with an assistance during Washington’s 5-2 triumph implicit the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes connected Oct. 2. The Capitals volition big Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins successful their location opener Wednesday, giving fans their archetypal accidental to spot Ovechkin statesman what is expected to beryllium a season-long farewell.
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