Washington Capitals superstar captain Alex Ovechkin, the NHL’s all-time leader in goals, said he will wait until the offseason to decide if he’ll continue his playing career.
Ovechkin, 40, is playing in his 21st NHL season. The 2018 Stanley Cup champion and three-time Hart Trophy recipient is playing in the final season of a five-year, $47.5 million contract.
“When you love something, you do it with heart,” Ovechkin said in an interview with Monumental Sports Network. “Obviously, I love playing hockey, I love scoring goals. … We’re going to make a decision in the summer. I have to talk to my family, with Ted (owner Ted Leonsis)” and with other team officials, he said.
“I’m going to be 41 in September. You just have to be smart about it.”
The offseason could begin fairly soon for Ovechkin, as the Capitals (39-30-9, 87 points) reside five points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division with four games remaining. Washington also sits five points in back of the Ottawa Senators for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
With Wayne Gretzky in attendance, Ovechkin surpassed the Hall of Fame member when he broke his NHL goal record with career goal No. 895 in a game against the New York Islanders on April 6, 2025. Ovechkin has upped his goal total to 928 after scoring a team-leading 31 times this season.
Ovechkin has a club-best 61 points this season to push his career total to 1,684, which ranks 10th all-time in NHL history.
He has won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy for leading the NHL in goals a league-record nine times since being selected by Washington with the top overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft.
