Watch: Alex Ovechkin Drops Huge Hint About His Future

Washington Capitals legend Alex Ovechkin

Everyone in Washington, and around the hockey world, wants to know if Alex Ovechkin played his final NHL game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Capitals' season finale Tuesday night. He was asked the question on Thursday morning. And his answer, while not the exact response we've all been hoping for, certainly dropped a strong hint:

“I’m pretty sure it’s not my last game. I hope it’s not my last game, against Columbus.”—Alex Ovechkin in his final media availability of the 2025-26 season. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/dQ4MM1dscm
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) April 16, 2026

“I’m pretty sure it’s not my last game. I hope it’s not my last game, (the one) against Columbus. (Like) I said, I have to make a decision, to see where we're at. Team, family..."

Of course, no official decision has been made, but let's just say his kids have their preference on what dad should do:

Alex Ovechkin said sons Sergei and Ilya keep asking, “Dad, are you coming back?” Said he tells them the same as everyone else: “We’ll see.”

“They’re excited. They want me to come back because they love the city, love the team, love the boys.”
— Sammi Silber 🏒 (@sammisilber) April 16, 2026

His young sons have asked him, "'Dad, are you staying or not?'... They’re excited. They want me to come back because they love the city, love the team, love the boys.”

We got another little clue earlier this week, after the Capitals' final game against the Pittsburgh Penguins this season, that would seem to lean in the same direction of wanting to come back:

Take this as you will 👀

Alex Ovechkin waves off the Penguins, who wanted to stay on the ice for a postgame handshake. pic.twitter.com/2L5s1I5ErZ
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 12, 2026

Ovi was having none of this 'so long, farewell' handshake stuff from the Pens.

Another sign that he's coming back?

No definitive answers yet, but the only thing we can gather from these responses so far, is that he has not chosen retirement as yet. But the 40-year-old living legend is certainly entitled to take his time to make the right decision for himself and his family.

The NHL's all-time goal-scoring king is officially an unrestricted free agent as of July 1.