The left wing of the Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin, is on the verge of adding another milestone to his storied NHL career. After surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record last season, Ovechkin will begin the 2025-26 campaign nine games away from becoming the 23rd player in NHL history to reach 1,500 career games with the Capitals.
His path to this achievement was delayed after a leg fracture sidelined him for 16 games during the 2024-25 season. Despite the setback, Ovechkin has clarified that chasing personal milestones is part of his professional journey.
“You just get used to it, you’re ready for it, it’s clear that playing 1,500 games for one team is worth a lot. Very few players in the entire league have played that many, so this figure will be very important for me.” Ovechkin said, according to Russian Machine Never Breaks.
Ovechkin currently ranks 17th all-time among NHL forwards in games played and is set to become the 16th forward to reach the 1,500-game mark. No active forward ranks ahead of him, with Anze Kopitar next in line at 1,454 games. Among all active NHL players, only Brent Burns surpasses him with 1,497 games, and Burns is expected to reach the milestone first after signing with the Colorado Avalanche.
Ovechkin has long wanted to reach 1,500 career games, calling it one of his personal goals after setting the NHL goals record. In previous statements, he highlighted the special meaning of hitting that number, especially as the player with the most NHL games played by a Russian-born player. Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin remain the only active stars with careers spanning a single team.
When he reaches the milestone, Ovechkin will join Jaromir Jagr, Zdeno Chara, and Nicklas Lidstrom as the only European players with over 1,500 career games. If he plays at least 59 games next season, he will enter the NHL’s all-time top 10 for games played, with the potential to climb as high as ninth place. The 2025-26 season also marks the final year of his current contract with Washington, though Ovechkin has not ruled out extending his career.
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin Addresses Potential Reunion with Evgeny Kuznetsov
Evgeny Kuznetsov is eyeing a return to the NHL next season, but don’t count on former teammate and Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin lobbying for a reunion in the nation's capital.
Kuznetsov, who terminated his KHL contract with SKA Saint Petersburg in April, is now an unrestricted free agent. His agent, Shumi Babaev, confirmed ongoing talks with several NHL teams and ruled out any Kuznetsov interest in signing a professional tryout.
According to Babaev, the former NHL forward's focus is solely on inking a one-year guaranteed contract.
“(Kuznetsov) asked for my opinion, and I’ve always said that the NHL is where he belongs,” Babaev told RG Media about the veteran's potential comeback to the NHL for the 2025-26 season.
Despite speculation linking the 33-year-old's NHL comeback with a potential arrival in Washington, Ovechkin was asked about that possibility and made it clear the decision isn’t his to make.
“Can Evgeny return to Washington? This is not a question for me, but for his agent,” Ovechkin said, via Gazeta-ru. “He has his own head on his shoulders. God willing, he signs a contract with a club and shows his level either in the NHL or the KHL.”
Ovechkin also distanced himself from any front office speculation linking him to forcing Washington's hand to land Kuznetsov.
“I’m not a manager,” Ovechkin said. “This is business, this is the NHL. Everyone understands that there might be some trades. But we’ll see. Washington’s scouts and general manager are some of the best. They evaluate whether a player is right for us.”
Kuznetsov played 11 seasons in D.C., winning a Stanley Cup along with Ovechkin in 2018. The Capitals traded Kuznetsov to the Carolina Hurricanes midway through the 2023-24 season, and he left the NHL before the start of last season.
The former Capitals player is coming off a strong showing in Russia, where he posted 37 points in 39 games in the 2024-25 campaign.
According to NHL insider David Pagnotta, the veteran is willing to accept a $1–2 million “prove-it” deal with performance bonuses.
