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Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals captain and NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, says he will wait until after this season to decide whether to continue playing. At 40, Ovechkin remains a dominant presence in the league, which is increasingly filled with younger and faster players.
Following a recent skate before the Capitals’ game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ovechkin told reporters he’s considering his health and family as major factors in his decision. “If I was 35 or 25, it’s one thing,” he said. “But when you’re 40, you have to think for the future.”
Over his 21 NHL seasons, Ovechkin has amassed 928 career goals, surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s previous mark of 894 goals last year. This season, he leads the Capitals with 31 goals and 61 points. He has scored at least 30 goals in 20 different NHL seasons, a testament to his enduring skill and competitiveness.
Ovechkin holds several significant NHL records, including most power play goals at 331, most game-winning goals at 141, and the most shots on goal with 7,091 and counting. He is also a physical force, ranking third in career hits with 3,871.
The Capitals still have a chance at the playoffs this year, sitting five points behind the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference as they prepare for a series of crucial games against Toronto, Pittsburgh, and Columbus.
Head coach Spencer Carbery expressed full support for Ovechkin’s decision, whenever it comes. “He’s earned that right,” Carbery said. “If this is it, we’ll support him that way, and I’ll celebrate him and give him a big hug and have a cold beer.”
Teammates also appreciate Ovechkin’s leadership. Centre Dylan Strome called playing alongside him an honor and praised how Ovechkin approaches the game and his teammates with respect and joy. Goalie Logan Thompson called Ovechkin a “special player” and noted it would be a sad day when he eventually retires.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft, Ovechkin has recorded 1,684 points in 1,569 regular-season games, adding 147 points in 161 playoff appearances. He was instrumental in leading Washington to its only Stanley Cup win in 2018.
Ovechkin acknowledged the game’s constant evolution, noting how players are faster and more skilled now. “You have to adjust yourself, your body, your mind, it’s life,” he said. Though he declined to discuss if playing in the KHL is a possibility, he currently sits just 11 goals shy of Gretzky’s combined total of regular-season and playoff goals.
If this season marks the end of his NHL career, Ovechkin plans to handle it quietly, avoiding a big farewell. “He never takes the game for granted and just loves every day in the NHL,” Strome said.
Carbery marveled at Ovechkin’s continued excellence at age 40. “You think maybe the goals have dried up and all of a sudden he scores nine goals in 12 games. Next thing you know, he’s got 30 goals on the season,” the coach said. “He defies all logic.”
Still, time eventually catches up with everyone. For now, Ovechkin remains a beloved force on the ice, but his teammates acknowledge the day will come when the NHL will no longer have his iconic grin and electric presence. “It’s going to be weird, whenever that time may be, without Ovi,” Strome said.