Alex Ovechkin announced Monday that the 2026-27 season will be his last in the National Hockey League. The longtime Capitals captain addressed his teammates with the news before the organization posted a message from him on social media, per multiple outlets. "I love this game so much, but I know in my heart it's the right decision," Ovechkin said in the team post, adding that it was important to his family to inform his fellow players first.
Ovechkin's 22nd NHL season will mark the end of a career in which he has accumulated the league's all-time goal-scoring record. The decision comes after he was previously reported to be considering retirement last summer but opted to return to Washington. With this announcement, one of hockey's greatest goal scorers will begin what amounts to a final farewell tour with the organization where he has spent his entire professional career.