Ovechkin Source Updates The Latest On Goal King's Retirement Talk

A source close to Alex Ovechkin has provided an update on the all-time goal-scoring king's future

Rumors started spreading around the hockey world on Friday when Alex Ovechkin's wife was quoted in a Russian outlet as seemingly saying that her soon-to-be 40-year-old husband will be leaving the NHL and returning to Russia when his contract with the Washington Capitals expires after next season.

A source close to the NHL's all-time goal-scoring king has now provided an update on Ovechkin's future, as reported on Sunday by Sergey Demidov in rg.org.

Alex has not made a decision to retire from the NHL in 2026.
His position remains the same—he has a contractual obligation to play the 2025-26 NHL season, after which he will decide whether to remain with Washington or not.

Ovi is entering the final season of a five-year, $9.5 million AAV deal with the Caps, and in a media availability a couple of weeks ago, he joked that he's just hoping to make the roster in the fall at the age of 40.

Alex Ovechkin, on the #ALLCAPS final media availability of the season, sure sounds like a guy who intends to fulfill his contract, which has one more year on it. “For me—it’s first of all—to make a roster at 40 years old,” Ovi cracked. pic.twitter.com/Pc4r2cLqyk
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) May 17, 2025

Is Alex Ovechkin retiring in 2026?

"Alex has always been honest with himself and the hockey community," the source told rg.org. "If he feels he can no longer play at the highest level, he won't continue playing just for the sake of staying."

The Capitals' captain, of course, entered the record books and cemented himself as a hockey legend this past season, passing Wayne Gretzky as the game's all-time leading goal scorer.

He finished the campaign with 44 goals, his third time breaking the 40-mark in the last four seasons, all since passing the age of 36. Obviously, the nine-time Rocket Richard winner and three-time Hart Trophy winner isn't slowing down much, despite his advancing age.

"If next year he continues to play at the same level, and the Capitals offer him a worthy contract, there wouldn't be many reasons for Alexander to refuse," the source added. "However, any decision will ultimately be made by Ovechkin himself, but only next year."