According to The Independent - Main, Alex Ovechkin described that a decision will be made in the summer, with health cited as the most important factor in his choice. Ovechkin is 40 years old, and his current contract expires on June 30, adding financial considerations to his deliberations. The Capitals' playoff situation also looms large, as they have just three games left after playing at Toronto on Wednesday night and face an uphill climb to secure a postseason berth, though it remains unclear how this might influence his decision.
Ovechkin's career has been marked by significant milestones, including Monday's one-year anniversary of his 895th goal at the New York Islanders, which broke Wayne Gretzky's record. Since then, he has scored 33 more goals, with 31 this season, bringing his regular-season total to 928. Additionally, he ranks third on the career hits list with 3,871, underscoring his physical impact on the game.
We're going to make a decision in the summer.
Upcoming games carry potential significance as Ovechkin's final appearances. The Capitals visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, then host them Sunday, with the home finale in Washington sold out and tickets selling for way above face value in anticipation of it being his last game there. On Tuesday, the Capitals visit Columbus in what could be Ovechkin's final game in North America, though whether he will retire or return for another NHL season is still unknown.
Historically, Ovechkin played his first career game in Washington against the Blue Jackets on Oct. 5, 2005, marking the start of his NHL journey. If he opts to continue playing, he could return to the KHL, where he started as a professional, having played there from 2001-05 and during the 2012-13 NHL lockout with Dynamo Moscow. The exact timeline for his decision after the season ends and whether he would choose the NHL or KHL if he returns remain open questions.
Health is the most important factor.