NHL legend Ovechkin to retire after this season

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin has confirmed he will retire from the NHL at the conclusion of this season.

The 41-year-old Russian made history in April 2025 when his 895th career goal pushed him past Canadian great Wayne Gretzky to become the league's all-time leading regular-season goalscorer. Gretzky had held that record for 31 years, having himself overtaken fellow Canadian Gordie Howe back in 1994.

In a statement, Ovechkin said he still loves the game deeply but knows in his heart that stepping away is the right call. He explained that announcing the decision ahead of the team's first home game mattered to him, giving him the opportunity to thank everyone connected to his career — including family members and others who supported him through both triumphs and difficult losses, without whom he says he could not have achieved what he has.

Across 1,575 games with the Capitals, Ovechkin has racked up 1,688 points — 929 goals and 759 assists — the tenth-highest points total in NHL history. He now sits just 11 goals short of overtaking Gretzky for the most combined regular-season and play-off goals ever scored, and four assists away from surpassing Nicklas Backstrom as the franchise's all-time assists leader.

Ovechkin is set to play his first Western Conference home fixture of the season on Wednesday, when the Pittsburgh Penguins visit Capital One Arena.

He added that he is looking forward to the season with his team-mates and intends to make it a special one, while savouring every moment alongside his family, his sons, the fans and everyone who has been part of his hockey journey.