Alex Ovechkin announces retirement to Capitals teammates to start 22nd season

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin announced on Monday that the 2026-2027 season will be his final in the NHL. The 22-year veteran informed his teammates during a locker room meeting, informing them that it was important to share the news with them first as it deeply affected him and his family. Ovechkin later posted a statement on social media, expressing his desire to share the news before the Capitals' first home game of the season, which is scheduled for Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Ovechkin has participated in both of Washington's games this season, including a victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night and a loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. In Friday's win, he recorded an assist and played for nearly 13 minutes on the ice. Conversely, he played for about 14 minutes in the Saturday game against Tampa Bay.

Last season, Ovechkin surpassed Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record, scoring his 895th goal in a game against the New York Islanders in April. Currently, Ovechkin has scored 929 goals in his NHL career, making him the only player in league history to reach the 900-goal milestone.