Alex Ovechkin Retiring After 2026-27 Season
Alex Ovechkin announced to his Washington Capitals teammates Monday that the current NHL season will be his last. The 41-year-old forward plans to retire after a 22-season career with the team.
Advertisement
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin informed his teammates Monday that the current NHL season will be his last.
The 41-year-old forward, who has played his entire 22-season career with the Capitals, made the announcement ahead of the team's first home game of the season. Ovechkin's decision to retire was shared first with his teammates, a gesture he stated was important to his family.
Drafted by the Capitals with the No. 1 pick in 2004, Ovechkin made his NHL debut on Oct. 5, 2005, scoring two goals against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He broke Wayne Gretzky's career goal-scoring record in April 2025 and holds 929 goals, 1,688 points and 857 penalty minutes as of Monday.
His career accomplishments include winning the Calder Trophy, the Richard and Hart trophies, the Pearson Award and eight selections as a First-Team NHL All-Star. He is also recognized among the 100 Greatest NHL Players.
Ovechkin led the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup victory in 2018, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP with 15 postseason goals. The Capitals' first home game is Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Related Topics
Article Ratings
How do you feel about this story?
Laura Bennett
Sign in to follow this author from their profile.
Discussion (0)
Join the Conversation
Join the conversation
Sign in to share your thoughts, reply to readers, and like comments.
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!