The future of Alex Ovechkin’s career has been the elephant in the room for the Washington Capitals all season. The legendary winger’s contract with the Capitals expires in July, and he’s admitted that he plans to play out the entire 2025-26 campaign before deciding on his future.
Throughout his career, Ovechkin has made it clear that after his time with the Capitals is over, he’d like to explore a return to where his professional career started: the KHL’s Dynamo Moscow. With that potential occurring sooner rather than later, the KHL’s President, former NHLer Alexei Morozov, recently discussed with RIA Novosti’s Andrey Senchenko where the league stands regarding Ovechkin.
“We’re not bothering him right now, because he has an NHL contract,” Morozov said, as translated via Google Translate. “Sasha is very focused on the game. They’re currently on a break in the [regular season], and Alexander is relaxing with his family and preparing for the important part of the season. We’ll certainly discuss everything with him this summer.
“We talk often, see each other in the summer, and discuss various topics. A few years ago, he asked me how things are going in the KHL. He knows everything that’s going on in the league. If he decides to continue his career in the KHL, we’ll be delighted.”
Ovechkin was brought up through Dynamo’s academy and played four years with the club in what was then called the Russian Super League. Ovechkin, who currently serves in an advisory role with the club, even returned to play for the team during the 2012-13 NHL lockout, bringing Capitals star center Nicklas Backstrom with him.
Dynamo’s President, Viktor Voronin, said last year that he is prepared to negotiate with Ovechkin after his contract with the Capitals ends. On the other side of the Atlantic, Caps general manager Chris Patrick stated last month that he hasn’t talked with Ovechkin about potential retirement plans.
“Haven’t really had that conversation,” Patrick said. “We talked a little bit, just about where the team is and what he feels we need, and what I feel we need. But it didn’t really get too much into his future outside of this year.”
Although he hasn’t made a firm call on his plans, Ovechkin has spent parts of this season taking walks down memory lane, participating in jersey exchanges with stars and foes around the NHL like Evgeni Malkin, Brad Marchand, Anze Kopitar, Brady Tkachuk, Connor McDavid, Marie-Philip Poulin, and even NBA legend LeBron James.
So far this season, Ovechkin has recorded 48 points (22g, 26a) in 59 games, not yet missing a single game for injury. If he keeps up the same scoring pace, he’ll hit 67 points (31g, 36a), which will top his age-38 season (65 points in 79 games).
Outside of winning another Stanley Cup, Ovechkin has little left to accomplish in the NHL. Earlier this season, he ticked off both the 900-goal and 1,500-game milestones.
