The 2025-26 NHL season is a contract year for Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin, who will be 40 years old in September.
Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin has accomplished a lot in his legendary hockey career, and he can continue adding to his resume in the NHL, with a new season ahead for the Russian. However, there is only a year left on his current contract, a fact that is feeding rumors about the 2025-26 NHL campaign being his last before retiring.
Adding more fuel to the rumors is the lack of movement on the negotiation table between Ovechkin and the Capitals.
“We are not in negotiations yet,” Ovechkin shared to Andrey Senchenko of rsport.ria.ru (h/t Antonio Losada of Athlon Sports). “Would you like to stay at the club? A year will pass, and we will think about it. We will live and see.”
Ovechkin, who will turn 40 years old in September, put pen to paper for a five-year, $47.5 million contract extension with the Capitals back in 2021.
The Capitals have not won a Stanley Cup since, nor have they gone past the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but there is no denying the big impact that Ovechkin continues to have on the team, on and off the ice.
Ovechkin's chase for Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL record for career goals garnered the Capitals a ton of attention, even beyond the realm of the sport, particularly during the 2024-25 season, when the seemingly ageless forward led his team with 44 goals despite missing plenty of time because of an injury and being held to only 65 games.
There is perhaps no rush for Ovechkin and the Capitals to get things done regarding his contract situation, as the all-time great appears to be taking his time to decide on his future.
At his age, it doesn't seem that Ovechkin will be in the NHL for many more years, but at the same time, there's clearly plenty of gas left in his tank, given the way he played last season. His total goals output in the previous campaign was third overall in the league and more than what the likes of David Pastrňák, Brayden Point and Kyle Connor each produced. In addition, the three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner had 29 assists for a total of 79 points. Another motivation for Ovechkin to keep it going is his pursuit of becoming a member of the rare 1,500-games club in the NHL. So far in his career, he's skated in 1,491 games.
Capitals Hoping This Isn't Ovechkin's Final Year
Washington Capitals forwards Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson are hoping that this coming season won't be the last for captain Alex Ovechkin.
Wilson and Strome spoke to NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger at the Smilezone Celebrity Golf Tournament about Ovechkin and his future as the 39-year-old enters the final year of the five-year extension he signed back in 2021, saying they wouldn't put it past Ovechkin to stick around a while longer.
"Look, we don't know if it's going to be his final year," Strome said. "You kind of see what he said a couple of days ago, that it's preposterous that people would talk about that this will be his last year... It's his decision, obviously, but I wouldn't rule anything out. I certainly hope (he stays)."
There has been some uncertainty surrounding Ovechkin's future following speculation surrounding the final year of his contract, including a marketing email sent in error that referred to the upcoming season as being Ovechkin's last.
However, Washington said he has made no decision, and Ovechkin also shut down the talk by calling it "pure nonsense" and again stressing he'll take the time to consider all of his options. He also told The Hockey News in February that as long as he loves the game, he will continue to play.
Tom Wilson echoed Strome, explaining to Zeisberger that "you can never doubt" Ovechkin.
"Who knows what he's going to do? I mean, if it's his last year, I don't know. You can never doubt the guy," Wilson said. "He could play two, three more years. He's a guy who loves to score. He loves hte game of hockey."
