Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin regularly returns to his native Russia during NHL offseasons. His family’s flight east next summer might not feature a return ticket, though.
Ovechkin’s wife, Nastya, told Russian news site Arguments and Facts, also known as Aif.ru, that Washington’s captain would likely not return to the U.S. after the 2025-26 season.
“Alexander still has a contract for a year,” Nastya Ovechkin said, according to a translation by Google Translate. “So we will play the next season and then fly back to live in Moscow, to our homeland. We will stay in Russia, yes.”
Ovechkin’s planned retirement is far from breaking news. The NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer has long said that he plans to return to Russia when his current contract expires in 2026. There, he’d likely sign with his hometown Moscow Dynamo, the team that jump-started his hockey career in 2001.
The Russian currently serves as an advisor for the KHL club and suited up for the squad during the NHL lockout in 2012.
The long-time Capital turns 40 in September.
Retirement rumors intensified last week when the Capitals sent a marketing email to select fans claiming that next season would be Ovechkin’s last. The message encouraged fans to reserve their seats for the “Great Eight” farewell tour.
Capitals officials quickly retracted the email.
“No decision has been made on Alex Ovechkin’s future following the 2025-26 NHL season,” the team’s public relations staff said on social media. “An email was sent from an individual within the corporate sales department that mistakenly alluded to next year being Alex Ovechkin’s final year.”
Ovechkin himself has been noncommittal about his future since breaking Wayne Gretzky’s goals record in April.
“I haven’t thought about it yet, but we’ll see what’s going to happen,” he told reporters after Washington’s second-round postseason exit. “I’m going to try to do my best to be able to do well next year and we’ll see.”
The “Russian Machine” hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. The 39-year-old led the Capitals with 44 goals last season, ranking third in the NHL. He posted those numbers despite missing six weeks in November and December with a fractured left fibula.
After scoring his 895th goal, Ovechkin joked with Capitals owner Ted Leonsis about another extension.
“I can sign right now for 13 more years,” he said at a ceremony honoring his achievement.
The three-time MVP doubled down in an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” a week later.
“I’ll be honest with you, I love the team. I love being around the boys,” Ovechkin said. “As long as I can, I’ll try to stick around with my great body, how you said, in NHL. So we’ll see.”
The Russian will technically be eligible for a contract extension on July 1.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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