Alex Ovechkin tells his Washington Capitals teammates this is his final NHL season

Arlington, Va. (AP) — Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin informed his team that this will be his last season in the NHL. In a video message shared by the team on social media, Ovechkin expressed the importance for his family to share this news with his fellow players. While acknowledging the sadness of the situation, Ovechkin emphasized the need to make the most of it.

In his locker room address, Ovechkin lamented the difficulty of the decision but urged his teammates to savor the experience and seize the opportunity to achieve something special this season. Ovechkin recently inked a one-year contract, marking his 22nd season with the Capitals and his 41st year of professional play. Notably, Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky's long-standing record for career goals in April 2025, tallying a total of 929 goals.

Ovechkin expressed optimism about the team's prospects, stating that they have an "unbelievable team" this year and promising the team to "make the playoffs, let’s have fun and enjoy the moment because times fly."