Alex Ovechkin is back in DC for his 20th NHL season.
The Capitals captain flew back from Russia on Wednesday ahead of Washington’s Training Camp which is set to begin on September 19.
Sport-Express’ Michele Antonov first reported the travel plans and Ovechkin’s wife, Nastya Ovechkina, documented the family’s journey back stateside on her Instagram story.
Ovechkin returns to Washington after a four month break home. In late May, he kicked off his offseason, participating in Dynamo Moscow’s alumni game before spending several weeks in Turkey with his family where he played beach volleyball and padel.
Later in the summer, Ovechkin was one of many NHL players to star in the “Match of the Year,” scoring a goal and being named MVP. He reportedly dealt with a minor offseason knee injury that kept him out of KHL legend Sergei Mozyakin’s farewell game but retained plans to start his regular training in early August.
The Great Eight also attended his youth hockey tournament, the Ovi Cup, and participated in a gala match where his son Sergei scored one of the goals. Shortly before departing he helped present the 2024-25 MHC Dynamo Moscow junior team and met with top 2025 draft prospect Ivan Ryabkin.
Ovechkin was also quite active with Russian media outlets for a second straight summer, discussing a variety of topics including:
- His hate for the preseason and hockey-less workouts
- His now famous road trip diet which includes Flamin’ Hot Cheetos
- How he really did not like playing under Dale Hunter during the 2011-12 season
- Evgeny Kuznetsov leaving the NHL to sign with the KHL’s SKA Saint Petersburg
- How he would have already broken Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring record without lockouts and the pandemic
- What he plans on doing after he retires from professional hockey
- The role alcohol plays in NHL locker rooms and the beer fridge in the Capitals coach’s room
- Washington’s offseason moves and plans to make some noise in the playoffs
- Wanting to play the last game of his career with the KHL’s Moscow Dynamo
Ovechkin is just 42 goals shy of taking sole ownership of the NHL’s all-time goals record, amassing 853 career markers over the past 19 seasons. He has two years remaining on his contract with the Capitals.
Much of the Capitals’ roster has already been participating in informal practices at MedStar Capitals Iceplex over the past several weeks. Washington’s first preseason game is scheduled for September 22 against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Capitals will open their regular season Saturday, October 12 against the New Jersey Devils.
September 6 update: Alex Ovechkin returned to the ice and participated in an informal skate with his teammates on Friday — his first since flying back to town.
