Alex Ovechkin says 2026-27 NHL season, his 22nd, will be his last

Alex Ovechkin will retire from the NHL at the end of the 2026-27 season. The Washington Capitals captain announced the decision on Monday 5 October 2026 in a statement released by the club.

Ovechkin is 41. This is his 22nd NHL season. He has played his entire NHL career with the Capitals, who selected him first overall in the 2004 NHL Draft. He made his debut in 2005.

He holds the NHL record for career regular-season goals. He passed Wayne Gretzky's mark of 894 in April 2025 and entered this season with 929 goals. He helped the Capitals win their only Stanley Cup, in 2017-18.

Ovechkin told his teammates before the announcement. The Capitals then published the message on social media. He said he made the decision with his family. He signed a one-year contract in the summer. Last season he played all 82 games and scored 32 goals. The Capitals missed the playoffs. The club acquired forwards Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch in the offseason.

The Guardian quoted the statement as saying: "I love this game so much, but I know in my heart it’s the right decision". According to the BBC, the statement also said: "It was important for me to make this announcement before our first home game, so I have the chance to thank all the people around the game". The BBC and the Guardian report that the game is on Wednesday. According to the BBC, the opponent is the Pittsburgh Penguins.

According to the BBC, Ovechkin has 1,688 career points in 1,575 games. The BBC also reports that he is 11 goals short of Gretzky's record for combined regular-season and playoff goals. ESPN reports that his average ice time last season fell to a career-low 17:27 under coach Spencer Carbery.

The Guardian reports that Ovechkin appeared in an offseason advertisement for a party aligned with Vladimir Putin. According to the Guardian, he confirmed that he would return to live in Russia after retiring from the NHL. The reports do not name the party or describe the advertisement.

What is disputed

The BBC describes Wednesday's game as Ovechkin's "first Western Conference home game of the new season". ESPN places the Capitals in the Eastern Conference. The BBC does not explain its description.

What each side says

Ovechkin says retiring is the right decision. The Guardian quoted him telling teammates: "It’s sad, but it is what it is,". He also said the team is strong and should aim for the playoffs. ESPN, citing unnamed sources, reports that Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, 39, has no plans to retire. The reports do not include reactions from Capitals management, Carbery or the NHL.

Analysis

The announcement turns Ovechkin's final season into a farewell tour. Attention is likely to focus on his remaining milestones and on the Capitals' playoff hopes after last season's early exit. ESPN reports that the club is considered among the Eastern Conference contenders. That assessment is not a forecast of results. Off the ice, his reported appearance in a political advertisement may shape how some fans and observers respond in away arenas. The Guardian reports little sign of hostility so far. The reports do not say whether he plans to keep playing anywhere after leaving the NHL. That question remains open.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.