Capitals' Alex Ovechkin to retire from NHL after this season, star forward tells teammates

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Alex Ovechkin told his Washington Capitals teammates that this will be his final season in the National Hockey League.

41-year-old says 'Let's make the playoffs, have fun and enjoy the moment'

The Associated Press

· Posted: Oct 05, 2026 11:24 AM EDT | Last Updated: 6 minutes ago

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Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin skates towards the team's bench following a goal scored by teammate Alex Tuch during an October 2, 2026 NHL regular-season game against the hometown Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Alex Ovechkin told his Washington Capitals teammates this will be his final season in the National Hockey League.

In a video posted by the team on social media, Ovechkin said it was important to his family to let his fellow players know first.

"It's sad, but it is what it is," Ovechkin said in his locker room address. "It's hard, but let's enjoy it and let's do some special things this year."

Ovechkin signed a one-year contract and is playing at age 41 after breaking Wayne Gretzky's career goal-scoring record in April 2025.