Arya News - No one has scored more regular-season goals in NHL history than Ovechkin.
Washington Capitals icon Alex Ovechkin, the NHL"s all-time leading scorer, has announced that the 2026-27 campaign will be the final season of his prolific career.
"My family and I decided this summer that this will be my final year in the NHL," Ovechkin, 41, said in a statement the Capitals released on Monday .
"I love this game so much, but I know in my heart it"s the right decision. It was important for me to make this announcement before our first home game, so I have the chance to thank all the people around the game, everyone who has been so important to me and my family and helped me through good times and tough losses. I wouldn"t have been able to achieve everything I have in my life without them.
"I am excited about this season with my teammates, and we will do everything we can to make this year special. I am going to enjoy every moment with my family, my boys, our fans and everyone who has been part of my hockey career."
Ovechkin added, alluding to the Capitals" Wednesday night home opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins: "See you Wednesday, babes!"
The Capitals also posted a message Ovechkin shared with the team Monday morning.
He told his teammates in person that this is going to be his last season in the league.
"For me, for my family, it"s very important that you guys know first," Ovechkin said . "And yeah, it"s sad, but it is what it is. … Let"s make the playoffs, let"s have fun and enjoy the moment because times fly.
"For young guys who [it"s your] first year, or experienced guys, remember that moment and enjoy the time because of how I said times fly. It seems like yesterday I was here my first year, and right now this is my 22nd year, and it just goes like this."
Ovechkin snapped his fingers and then concluded: "So yeah, it"s hard, but let"s enjoy it, and let"s do some special things this year."
The beloved Russian superstar, affectionately nicknamed "Ovi," was then met with a standing ovation in the locker room.
Ovechkin will wrap his NHL career with 22 seasons played, all with the Capitals. After this go-around, he will hang up his skates and put the bow on a record-filled NHL career — one that will undoubtedly see him earn entrance into the Hockey Hall of Fame when he is first eligible.
The top record Ovechkin holds is total NHL goals scored , which he set in April 2025 with his 895th tally to break a tie with Wayne Gretzky . Since, he"s added 34 more goals to increase that total to 929.
Ovechkin put NHL goaltenders on alert beginning with his first season in 2005-06, when he scored 52 times — the first of nine times he"s reached the 50-goal mark in his career. His regular-season goals have helped him earn nine Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies as the league"s top goal scorer.
Ovechkin, the No. 1 overall pick by the Capitals in the 2004 NHL Draft, also holds the record of most 40-goal seasons with 14 and is tied with Gretzky and Mike Bossy with nine 50-goal seasons.
Goal-related marks haven"t been the only accomplishments in Ovechkin"s career. He was the 2005-06 Calder Memorial Trophy winner as rookie of the year, and he"s won one Art Ross Trophy as the league"s top point-getter, earned eight NHL First-Team All-Star honors and appeared in nine NHL All-Star Games, in addition to becoming a three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner as league MVP.
In 2017, Ovechkin was named one of the 100 greatest NHL players of all time .
For the first decade-plus of his NHL career, while Ovechkin scored consistently, one thing was missing: a Stanley Cup title.
After failing to advance past the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 1998, the Capitals exorcised their postseason demons by not only beating the Penguins for the first time in nine series but also winning the first championship in franchise history in 2018.
Ovechkin was voted Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP after scoring 15 goals and recording 27 points in 24 games for the Capitals that postseason. He would celebrate accordingly that summer.
While the Capitals have yet to match that postseason success, Ovechkin continued his goal-scoring exploits. Over the next eight seasons, he notched two 50-goal and three 40-goal campaigns.
One accomplishment that has eluded Ovechkin has been an Olympic gold medal. Russia failed to medal in the three tournaments he was a part of, including 2014 in Sochi. He found other success internationally, though, with three gold medals at the World Championship and World Junior Championship gold in 2003, one year before he was drafted by the Capitals.
Ovechkin"s résumé is long, and his impact on the game of hockey and the NHL is immeasurable. His influence on the game can be seen in the skill sets of today"s younger players. The Hall of Fame will be there for him three years after the 2026-27 season ends, unless the Hall decides to (rightly) make an exception and allow early entry, as it did for the likes of Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Bobby Orr, among others.