Alex Ovechkin on potential retirement after Capitals beat Columbus in season finale: ‘I hope it’s not my last game. I don’t know what’s going to happen.’
RMNB • • sports
Key Points:
- Alex Ovechkin, 40, may have played his final game for the Washington Capitals, finishing the season with an assist in a 2-1 win over the Blue Jackets, though his retirement decision remains undecided.
- Ovechkin plans to evaluate his future during the offseason, discussing options with Capitals management and his family before deciding whether to return to the NHL or possibly rejoin Dynamo Moscow in the KHL.
- The Capitals have requested a decision from Ovechkin by the 2026 NHL Draft to aid roster planning but are not pressuring him, recognizing his career achievements and giving him the right to decide on his own timeline.
- Washington will have significant salary cap space this summer with Ovechkin and six other players on expiring contracts, and the team is exploring trade options to strengthen the roster.
- Fans showed strong support for Ovechkin during the game, chanting “One more year,” and he expressed gratitude for their loyalty despite leaving the ice quietly after the win.
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