For the first time in his NHL career, Alex Ovechkin doesn’t have a clear next step.
After a season that sees the Washington Capitals and the NHL's all-time leading goalscorer at a crossroads, Ovechkin isn't ready to give a definitive answer on his playing future.
“I don’t know,” Ovechkin said when asked during the Capitals' end-of-season availability Thursday about a timeline for his decision. “I’m not going to tell you how I’m going to feel in the next two weeks… after two weeks, yeah, I’ll figure out timeline-wise.”
The 40-year-old winger is coming off another productive campaign, scoring 30 goals while playing all 82 games, but the season was marked by inconsistency for both him and the Capitals.
Despite the uncertainty about whether he will return with the Capitals, Ovechkin pushed back on the idea that his NHL career is nearing a definitive end.
“I’m pretty sure it’s not my last game,” he said. “I hope it's not my last game against Columbus. And like, how I said, like, I have to make a decision, to see where we're at."
Washington ultimately fell short of the playoffs, leaving Ovechkin to balance competitive ambitions with personal considerations.
“If I want to come back… first of all, we’re going to make the playoffs, and we have to fight for (the Cup),” he said.
That desire to contend appears central to his decision. Ovechkin made it clear that any return would hinge not just on his own readiness, but on the direction of the roster — something he has yet to discuss with management.
At the same time, factors beyond hockey are also in play.
“Family-wise, health-wise… but team-wise, I think this is the most important thing for me,” he said.
Ovechkin acknowledged that conversations with his family will weigh heavily. His children, he said, are already asking whether he’ll return — and hoping the answer is yes.
“My wife and kids, they want me to come back because they love the city, they love the team, they love the boys,” Ovechkin said.
Still, all options appear to be on the table — including the possibility of playing in Russia — though he emphasized any decision abroad would come only after determining his NHL future.
Physically, Ovechkin admitted the grind is only getting tougher. While he managed to suit up for a full season, he dealt with injuries and acknowledged the increasing challenge of maintaining elite form at his age.
“When you’re 20, it’s a normal thing. When you’re 40, it’s harder and harder every year,” he said.
Even so, he believes he can still contribute — provided he commits to the work required in the offseason.
“It’s up to me how I’m going to handle my body, how I’m going to train,” he said.
If this does turn out to be the beginning of the end, Ovechkin made sure to highlight one lasting memory from the season: reaching the 900-goal milestone — a mark no player in NHL history has hit before.
“Probably 900 goal… no one in history did it,” he said.
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