Alex Ovechkin’s future is one storyline that will grab some eyeballs as we enter the 2026 NHL offseason. After completing his 21st NHL season and reaching the end of the five-year, $47.5 million contract he signed in 2021, the question is whether the 40-year-old Capitals captain will return for another year.
Going by one of Ovechkin’s longtime former teammates’ opinions, the NHL legend has a little something left in the tank after all.
Ex-Teammate Predicts What’s Next for Alex Ovechkin
Ovechkin has already cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players in NHL history. Last season, he surpassed Wayne Gretzky to become the league’s all-time regular-season goals leader and now has 929 career goals, along with 1,006 combined goals in the regular season and playoffs.
Even so, questions remain about what comes next. The Capitals would like an answer sooner rather than later. General manager Chris Patrick has reportedly asked Ovechkin to make a decision before the NHL Draft, so the team can better plan for the offseason. Ovechkin, however, has said he intends to wait until July before deciding on his future.
Former Capitals forward Brooks Laich, who spent 11 seasons alongside Ovechkin, believes the superstar will be back for at least one more season.
“He’s a rock star in North America. In Russia, he’s a king,” Laich said in an interview with RG Media. “I think for sure he plays one year. Physically, I think he could play more. It’s just, does he want to?
“He’s got a couple of young kids. Does he continue to want to play? He’s certainly made enough money to just retire and do whatever he wants. But I think he’ll want to at least play one year over there.”
One major reason could be another Gretzky record that remains within reach. Ovechkin still trails Gretzky’s combined regular-season and playoff mark of 1,016 career goals.
If he returns for another season, he has a strong chance of surpassing that total.
“I think Alex wants to have his name as the No. 1 goal scorer across all records in the NHL. Currently, he’s No. 1 in the regular season, but if you add the regular season and playoffs, he’s No. 2, and he’s not far from being No. 1… I think he comes back to solidify himself across the record books,” Laich opined.
Around the league, many expect Washington and Ovechkin to eventually agree on a short-term contract if he decides to continue playing. For now, though, the hockey world is still waiting for his decision.
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Ovechkin’s legacy is already secure, but one more season could allow him to add another historic milestone in a remarkable swan song.
