Insider Reveals 2 Reasons That Ovechkin Might Not Retire

Washington Capitals legend Alexander Ovechkin

After the shocking trades of John Carlson and Nic Dowd at the deadline, Washington Capitals legend Alex Ovechkin might have been thinking this would be his final season. "The emotions probably took him to retirement" at the time, writes insider Elliotte Friedman.

But at his end-of-season interview earlier this week, the NHL's all-time goal-scoring king made a surprising comment that had many of us feeling he's not quite done yet. “I’m pretty sure it’s not my last game," Ovi said.

A couple of exciting things happened to the Capitals on the way to the end of their otherwise disappointing 2025-26 season. And Friedman explains that those two reasons might now be edging the 40-year-old Ovechkin to stick around for another year.

Two of the reasons I think he’s considering returning are Cole Hutson (10 points in 14 games) and Ilya Protas (four points in four games). These 19-year-olds made an impact and look like they can be key contributors.

Hutson, the younger brother of Montreal Canadiens' sensation Lane Hutson, got his NHL career off to an incredible start in Washington, as the defenseman immediately began taking on substantial minutes, displaying his exceptional skating and elite playmaking skills. He finished with three goals and seven assists in his first 14 pro games, and it was more than a coincidence that the Caps finished their season 10-3-1 with him in the lineup.

Hutson was the Caps' second-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft.

Protas, also 19, registered four points in his first two games after posting 28 goals and 64 points in 67 games for the Hershey Bears of the AHL. He was the Capitals' third-round pick in 2024.

Ovi might have been inspired by the youngsters, as he posted seven goals and 12 points in the final 12 games. He finished with 32 goals and 64 points in 82 games in his 21st season of a legendary career.

Friedman still feels that how he feels physically will be the biggest part of the equation for Ovechkin, but seeing the team sparked by those youngsters is certainly a big factor.

"I still think it comes down to whether or not he feels like he can handle an 84-game season and the summer training necessary for it," Friedman writes, "but he also wants to be on a team that can accomplish something. Hutson and the younger Protas showed Ovechkin (and others) they belong."