Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin announced on Wednesday, in an interview with longtime Capitals radio broadcaster John Walton, that he will wait until the summer to decide whether he will retire or return for a 22nd NHL season.
Alex Ovechkin sat down with John Walton to discuss his plans to take time after the season to reflect and consult with his family before determining his future this summer.
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 8, 2026
Catch their full conversation tonight on Caps Pregame Live on @MonSportsNet pic.twitter.com/J9jAKL5HJE
Ovechkin, who turns 41 in September, emphasized that his decision will be based primarily on how his body feels."We’re going to make a decision in the summer," Ovechkin said. "I have to talk with my family, owner Ted [Leonsis], and management. Health is the most important factor. I'm going to be 41... you just have to be smart about it".
On April 7, 2025, Ovechkin scored his 895th career goal against the New York Islanders, officially surpassing Wayne Gretzky for the most regular-season goals in NHL history. More recently, on March 22, 2026, he scored his 1,000th total NHL goal (including playoffs). He also tied the late Gordie Howe for the most 25-goal seasons in an NHL career, as well as becoming the fourth 40-plus-year-old player to register 30 goals in a season.
In 1,569 regular-season games, Ovechkin has scored 928 goals and 756 assists for 1,684 points, good for 10th all-time. He has reached the 50-goal mark an impressive nine times, tied for the most historically with Gretzky and Mike Bossy. Ovechkin has won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy a record nine times, the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award three times, the 2007-08 Art Ross Trophy, and the Conn Smythe Trophy when he led the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup in 2018.