Now that the Washington Capitals are eliminated from the playoffs, the franchise’s fans and those around the league are pining for closure from Alexander Ovechkin. Could it be that we have seen the last of him? As Ovi’s five-year contract inches towards its conclusion, the sensitive yet inevitable subject of his retirement arises. Unfortunately, the NHL’s greatest goal scorer has maintained a painful silence on the subject, not just in public but also at home.
Alexander Ovechkin Keeps Future Plans a Mystery from Sons
Even after all these years, Capitals fans want more of Ovechkin. The 40-year-old is almost synonymous with the franchise, which in turn has come to be fashioned around him in a way. When Ovi was chasing the elusive Wayne Gretzky record for the most goals in NHL history, the Capitals played a critical role in Ovechkin’s pursuit of the unparalleled personal milestone.
When he finally toppled Gretzky in April last year, many believed that Ovi had peaked and there was nothing more to look forward to from him. The Capitals icon proved them wrong by dethroning Gordie Howe to become the player with the most goals in a single venue and joining Gretzky in the 1,000-career-goals club. Ovechkin has achieved enough in his career, and retirement plans make utter sense.
Unfortunately, the 40-year-old refuses to divulge much. His sons, Sergei and Ilya, are as much in the darkness as we are. The two love Washington and the team, and want Ovechkin to play just as badly as any Caps fan. But Ovi offers them the same two-word answer he gives the rest of the world: “We’ll see,” shared Capitals journalist Sammi Silber.
Alex Ovechkin said sons Sergei and Ilya keep asking, “Dad, are you coming back?” Said he tells them the same as everyone else: “We’ll see.”
“They’re excited. They want me to come back because they love the city, love the team, love the boys.”
— Sammi Silber 🏒 (@sammisilber) April 16, 2026
There is certainly a chance that Ovechkin comes back for the sake of his sons. Moreover, with the Capitals not making the playoffs this season, the veteran center might believe there is unfinished business in the NHL. If he is retiring, Ovi would like to bid farewell on a better note than a failed postseason chase.
“The season is over. Obviously, you don’t want to end like that, but it’s a learning process for young guys,” Ovechkin had said, as reported by Tom Gulitti of the NHL, after the Capitals’ 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Despite four consecutive wins, including two massive victories over the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington ultimately failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Penguins veteran Evgeni Malkin has squarely refused to buy the theory that Ovi could be out after this season. In a rare media interaction with Taylor Haase, Malkin stated that Ovechkin is bound to return next season, claiming he is hungry for more.
As rumors and speculation surrounding Ovechkin continue to grow, it is widely expected that he will arrive at a decision during the offseason.
