NHL
The Washington Capitals said Thursday that captain and NHL all-time goal leader Alex Ovechkin has not decided whether next season will be his last, refuting an email sent by the team’s sales department.
Capitals season-ticket holders received an email on Thursday morning titled: “OCTOBER — the start of Capitals hockey and Alex Ovechkin’s FINAL NHL SEASON.” The Hockey Writers first reported on the email.
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Shortly thereafter, the Capitals posted on X: “No decision has been made on Alex Ovechkin’s future following the 2025-26 NHL season. An email was sent from an individual with the corporate sales department that mistakenly alluded to next year being Alex Ovechkin’s final year.”
The Capitals declined further comment when contacted by The Athletic. Calls to Ovechkin’s agents were not returned.
No decision has been made on Alex Ovechkin’s future following the 2025-26 NHL season.
An email was sent from an individual with the corporate sales department that mistakenly alluded to next year being Alex Ovechkin’s final year.
— Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) May 29, 2025
Ovechkin, 39, finished a memorable 20th NHL season when his Capitals were eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in a second-round playoff series this month. He ended the regular season as the NHL’s all-time goals leader, having passed Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky with his 895th goal in a game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y., on April 6.
Ovechkin’s 44 goals ranked third in the NHL this season. He has 897 goals for his career.
Ovechkin, whose contract is set to expire after next season, re-signed with the Capitals for five seasons at a $9.5 million average annual value in July 2021. Ovechkin, who has returned to Moscow, where he lives during the offseason, has not said publicly if he plans to play in the NHL beyond the 2025-26 season.
(Photo: James Guillory / Imagn Images
An award-winning sports journalist, Rob Rossi has reported on the Pittsburgh Penguins and National Hockey League since 2004. He has covered almost 2,000 NHL games, including over 150 in the playoffs and four Stanley Cup Final series. He also has covered two Super Bowls and multiple MLB All-Star Games. He sits on the executive board of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, and chairs its Pittsburgh chapter. He joined The Athletic in October 2018, and co-founded its Mental Matters resource group. Follow Rob on Twitter @Real_RobRossi
