Is Alex Ovechkin retiring? Capitals fans chant for 'one more year' in Great 8's potential final home game

Is Alex Ovechkin retiring? Capitals fans chant for 'one more year' in Great 8's potential final home game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Alex Ovechkin's age-40 season hasn't been without its difficulties. The Capitals talisman has lumbered across the ice at points, struggling to offer much outside of shooting for a Washington side that has tumbled down the Eastern Conference standings.

And yet, his snap shot remains wicked as ever. With 32 goals (and counting), Ovechkin recorded the third-most goals in a single season after turning 40.

There isn't a lot Ovechkin can do in old age. But what he can do is whip pellets into the back of the cage.

Ovechkin's scoring exploits garner attention. But his dwindling returns indicate he is firmly on the downturn. Will he opt to disappear into the sunset upon the conclusion of the season? Or continue to chase ghosts for a rapidly-changing Washington squad?

With that, here's the latest on Ovechkin's future.

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Will Alex Ovechkin retire?

Predictably, Ovechkin saw his numbers dwindle in his age-40 season. He still was a bagsman, recording his 20th-ever 30-goal campaign.

But he wasn't quite as efficient as in his prior campaign. Ovechkin finished with the third-worst plus/minus of any Capitals skater, his defensive foibles proving all the more noticeable.

Ovechkin's goal-scoring exploits will always command an audience. He possesses perhaps the NHL's greatest-ever one-timer and remained remarkably durable over the course of the year. A seven-goal outburst in seven games in March helped surge Washington up the Eastern Conference table.

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Nevertheless, his future remains undecided at present. Ovechkin told John Walton he would discuss his future with his family before deciding his next steps.

Ovechkin's contract expires at the end of the season. He likely wouldn't command too much money to bring back, although Washington's decision to deal John Carlson at the trade deadline does appear to suggest the franchise is looking to move in another direction sooner rather than later.

Cheers of "one more year" rang around Capital One Arena following the conclusion of Washington's 3-0 win over the Penguins on April 12. The event proved a noteworthy one for Ovechkin, who posed for a picture with fellow old-timers Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby pre-game.

Capitals centerman Dylan Strome deliberately got himself kicked off of the face-off so Ovechkin could line up against Crosby one more time.

Following the game, Pittsburgh attempted to do a ceremonial handshake line with Ovechkin and Washington. Ovechkin declined, leading some to believe he could try his luck at another campaign in 2026-27.

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Alex Ovechkin contract details

Ovechkin inked a five-year, $47.5 million contract with the Capitals ahead of the 2021-22 season. His contract will expire at the end of the 2026 season.

Alex Ovechkin career stats

Ovechkin's career is decked with glitter and gold. As the sport's greatest-ever goal-scorer, he's a lock for first-ballot entry into the Hockey Hall of Fame.