Washington Capitals captain and NHL living legend Alex Ovechkin is set to enter the final year of his contract with the Capitals next season.
After becoming the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer earlier this month, breaking Wayne Gretzky's goals-scored record, Ovechkin now faces growing questions about his impending retirement.
The 39-year-old, who will earn $9.5 million next season, addressed those questions during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Monday, days after scoring goal No. 896 to surpass Wayne Gretzky’s long-standing record.
“Well, I have one more year, and we’ll see what’s gonna happen,” Ovechkin said. “I love the team, I love being around the boys, and as long as I can, I will try to stick around and put my great body in the NHL.”
Ovechkin, however, admitted his ultimate decision to retire at the end of his current contract could come down to how his body responds from this year to next season.
“Of course, you have to adjust a little bit," Ovechkin said when asked about how he's adapted his game as he's grown older. "As soon as the season is over, you know how many times you have to prepare your body, to prepare your mind for next year? When you're young, it's one thing. But when you get older, it’s a different thing.”
Ovechkin signed a five-year deal in 2021 that carries a $9.5 million cap hit through the end of next season. He has remained a key contributor, leading the Capitals to the top of the Eastern Conference standings in 2024–25.
As things stand, with two games left in Washington's regular-season schedule, Oveckin sits at 896 goals and 1,621 points through 1,489 games. He also has 72 goals in 151 postseason games.
"Nobody thought that I could break the record, but I just kept getting closer and closer," Ovechkin said about breaking Gretzky's record. "It's been crazy, and it was great for hockey. Without my teammates and family, I would have never reached that milestone."
Alex Ovechkin Admits Major Change in Relationship With Sidney Crosby
Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin has spent more than a week as the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer and will have one last meeting with fellow superstar and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby during their season finale.
Ahead of Washington’s and Pittsburgh's final game of the season, Ovechkin discussed his relationship with the Pens captain.
Appearing on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Monday, Ovechkin reflected on the evolution of his relationship with the longtime Penguins legend.
“The first couple of years was not that good, but right now we talk, congratulate each other if we hit some milestones,” Ovechkin said.
Ovechkin described how their once-heated rivalry has matured into mutual respect, given their achievements as professional hockey players performing at the top of the game in the NHL.
“Those relationships is like, you know, from the battle to like in hockey and outside of hockey, it’s total different thing,” Ovechkin said. “After the game we always talk, we always chatting and yeah we have respect to each other.”
“What we did to NHL, it’s a tremendous thing," Ovechkin said. "People gonna talk about Crosby and Ovechkin, Pittsburgh and Washington for maybe 20 or 50 more years, and it’s great.
”So yeah, it’s a battle, but it’s a friendship right now.”
Now 39, Ovechkin enters the final week of the regular season with 896 career goals after scoring his latest one on Sunday. He’ll close the campaign in Pittsburgh, fittingly against Crosby.
Meanwhile, Crosby, 37, has scored 89 points in 79 games this season and clinched his 20th consecutive season of averaging a point per game, breaking Wayne Gretzky's streak of 19, on March 27.
