Alex Ovechkin’s 22nd NHL game will be his last, the Washington Capitals superstar announced on Monday.
“This is going to be my year,” Ovechkin told his Capitals teammates in a social media post. “It’s sad, but it is what it is. We have an incredible team this year. There are 82 players left. Let’s have a drink and have fun.”
Ovechkin has already established himself as the greatest goal-scorer in hockey history with 929 tallies, and he still has 82 games to increase that total before he hangs up his skates.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft, Ovechkin immediately established himself as a prolific scorer scoring 52 goals en route to winning the Calder Trophy as a rookie.
Since then, Ovechkin has won the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goal-scorer record nine times. The Capitals’ resume also includes three Ross Trophy and three Hart Trophy wins.
Ovechkin’s crowning achievement leads Washington to its first Stanley Cup in 2017-18. After coming up short in several postseasons before him, Ovechkin led all players with 15 goals and won the Conn Smyth Trophy as a result.
Following the 2025-26 season, there was speculation Ovechkin could retire, but the incentive was loaded when the Caps signed a one-year deal.
Sensing that this season could be Ovechkin’s last, the Capitals are loaded to give their franchise icon one more shot at the Stanley Cup. The Buffalo Sabers signed winger Alex Tuch earlier in the season and acquired winger Jordan Kyrou in free agency from the St. Louis Blues in a trade.
No team is as loaded with wings as the Capitals, and they have one of the best rosters in the Metro Division. Washington has the ingredients to challenge the defending Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes and get Ovechkin one more ring before he rides off into the sunset.