Alex Ovechkin 'pretty sure' he hasn't played his last game with Capitals

Alex Ovechkin remains undecided if he’ll be back for a 22nd NHL season with the Washington Capitals, but he sure sounds as if he’s leaning towards returning for at least one more year.

The Capitals captain and NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer met with reporters during Thursday’s locker room clean-out day. Ovechkin reiterated he will consult with his family and team management in his decision-making process.

"To be honest with you, I'm pretty sure it's not my last game. I hope it's not my last game, against Columbus," Ovechkin said. "I have to make a decision to see where we're at. The team, family. The kids are already asking me, 'Dad, are you staying or no?' And I tell them, 'We'll see.' They want me to come back. They love the city, they love the team, they love the boys."

Ovechkin, who will turn 41 in September, said he would not return if he couldn’t play for the Capitals. He even joked about what he’d like to hear from team general manager Chris Patrick this summer.

“We want you for two more years,” Ovechkin said. “Here's your contract, sign it."

The Capitals missed out on the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season by four points in the Eastern Conference. The team’s direction heading into 2026-27 and Ovechkin’s own health will be factors in whether he returns.

"In the summer, you have to work your ass off to get better and be in shape. When you're 20, it's no big thing. When you're 40, it's harder and harder," said Ovechkin.

Ovechkin led the Capitals with 32 goals this season and played all 82 games for the first time since the 2017-18 season. He enters this offseason with 929 career goals in 1,573 games played.

If Ovechkin decides he's done with the NHL, he has spoken in the past about playing for Dynamo Moscow of Russia's KHL. The nine-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner played there before being drafted by Washington No. 1 overall in 2004. He also spent a season with the club during the 2012 NHL work stoppage.