Alex Ovechkin says he 'doesn't know' if 2025-26 season will be last with Capitals: 'I just came back almost a week ago, we have lots of time to talk'

"The league's all-time leading goal scorer is headed into the final year of his contract with the Capitals and has yet to begin talks with the club about playing further seasons in the nation's capital. "No, not [thinking about another contract] yet," Ovechkin said Thursday. "So, we'll see what's going to happen. I just came back almost a week ago, so I'm pretty sure we have lots of time to talk.""

"Rumblings about Ovechkin's potential final NHL season began in late May when a sales department email from the Capitals was erroneously sent out to a select group of season-ticket holders, claiming that the 2025-26 season would be Ovi's last in the NHL. When pressed further about his future, Ovechkin declined to give a clear answer. "I don't know," he said. "Do you know? I don't know if it's going to be last. We'll see.""

Alex Ovechkin returned to media availability at MedStar Capitals Iceplex after leaving the team's first practice early with a lower-body injury, which he indicated does not concern him. Ovechkin enters the final year of his contract with the Capitals and has not begun extension talks. He is not thinking about another contract yet and expects there will be time to address it after returning. He became extension-eligible on July 1 and intends to play out the season before deciding whether to sign. A mistaken sales email suggested 2025-26 would be his last, and the general manager is leaving the decision space to Ovechkin.

Read at RMNB