Alex Ovechkin Retiring After Current NHL Season: Capitals Captain

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, 41, informed his teammates Monday that the current NHL season will be his last. Ovechkin, who has played his entire 22-season career with the Capitals, made the announcement to his fellow players.

The decision marks the impending conclusion of a celebrated career for one of hockey's most prolific scorers. Ovechkin's impending retirement will impact the Capitals' future roster and strategy, as he has been a cornerstone of the franchise since being drafted first overall in 2004. The team's performance this season carries added significance as they aim for a strong playoff push in his farewell year.

Ovechkin expressed mixed emotions about his retirement, stating, “It's sad, but it is what it is. It's hard, but let's enjoy it and let's do some special things this year.” He added, “We have an unbelievable team this year. Let's make the playoffs, let's have fun and enjoy the moment because times fly.”

As of Monday, Ovechkin had accumulated 929 goals, 1,688 points and 857 penalty minutes over 1,575 games in the NHL. He broke Wayne Gretzky's career goal-scoring record in April 2025. He signed a one-year contract for $4.25 million with the Capitals.

Ovechkin's career highlights include winning the Calder Trophy as the top rookie in his debut season (2005-2006) with 106 points (52 goals, 54 assists). He also secured the Richard and Hart trophies, the Pearson Award, was named a First-Team NHL All-Star eight times, and is recognized on the list of the 100 Greatest NHL Players. He 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. Their final regular-season home game is April 4, also against the Penguins. Their last regular-season game overall is April 10 against the Philadelphia Flyers.