Ovechkin's Final NHL Season
Washington Capitals Captain Alex Ovechkin Announces That 2026-27 Will Be His Final NHL Season
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Key Points
1
Ovechkin’s one-year contract is worth up to $9 million, including a $4.25 million cap hit and a $4.75 million bonus if he plays in 10 games.
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He scored 32 goals and recorded 64 points in 82 games for Washington last season.
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Ovechkin holds or shares numerous NHL career records beyond total goals, including power-play goals (331), game-winning goals (141), overtime goals (27) and road goals (476).
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The announcement came 21 years to the day after Ovechkin made his NHL debut. This season, he and Sidney Crosby also joined a select group of players to spend 22 seasons with one franchise; Ovechkin surpassed Washington Senators pitcher Walter Johnson as the longest-tenured athlete in Washington, D.C., professional sports history.
Alex Ovechkin announced that the 2026–27 season will be his final year in the NHL, telling his Washington Capitals teammates before going public. The 41-year-old superstar said his family helped him make the decision and that he wants to cherish the season while chasing a playoff run NBC Washington.
Ovechkin is the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer with 929 goals and 1,688 points in 1,575 games. He surpassed Wayne Gretzky's record and won the Stanley Cup with Washington in 2018. His career spans 22 seasons with one franchise — a record for Washington, D.C., professional sports CTV News.
A Career Built on One-Team Loyalty
Ovechkin was drafted first overall by Washington in 2004 and never played for another team. He and Sidney Crosby are now part of an exclusive group that spent 22 seasons with one franchise. The announcement came exactly 21 years after Ovechkin made his NHL debut Daily Mail.
This consistency made Ovechkin the longest-tenured athlete in Washington, D.C., professional sports history. He surpassed Walter Johnson, the legendary Senators pitcher, in tenure. No other major league player in the capital has matched his 22-year commitment Clutch Points.
Record-Breaking Numbers That May Never Be Matched
Ovechkin holds or shares numerous NHL records beyond his 929 goals. He leads all players with 331 power-play goals, 141 game-winning goals, and 476 road goals. He also scored 27 overtime goals — a mark few will approach AJC.
Last season, he scored 32 goals and recorded 64 points in 82 games at age 40. His contract for this final season is worth up to $9 million, including a $4.25 million cap hit and a $4.75 million performance bonus NBC Washington.
A Legacy Built on Individual and Team Success
Ovechkin won three Hart Trophies as the NHL's most valuable player and nine goal-scoring titles. He led the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2018, ending the franchise's 44-year title drought. These achievements cement his place among the greatest players ever CTV News.
Now 41 years old, Ovechkin said he wants to make his final season meaningful. "I know in my heart it's the right decision," he told his team. He plans to savor every moment while pursuing one last playoff push with the Capitals Daily Mail.
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