Alex Ovechkin still isn't ready to decide how many more seasons he can play. The Washington Capitals captain met with reporters on Monday, just a few days after signing a new one-year contract extension for a 22nd NHL season. 

Ovechkin said the decision came only after discussing with his wife about whether to keep playing.

Ovechkin, in September, said that the last season took an emotional toll as the Capitals worked through a roster rebuild. According to ESPN, He admitted to being dependent on his wife to help him decide his next step.

"You never know. The last season was hard emotionally, with all the trades and situations with the team," Ovechkin said in the interview, . "But I was talking to my wife, and she's like, 'OK, let's go one more year.'"

Ovechkin said that his wife also gave the idea of playing even longer, saying she mentioned "maybe two years" as a possibility. He is clear that his plans are still fluid, although on paper he’s committed to playing only one season.

When asked directly whether 2026-27 will be his last season, Ovechkin did not give a straight answer: "We'll see. Right now, I'm focusing on coming back to D.C. and showing that I'm still a good player and I can help the team to win," he said.

He was also dodging around questions about wanting a farewell tour like the ones recently given to veteran players Marc-Andre Fleury and Anze Kopitar. Ovechkin said he would rather stay focused on the season and playing right now rather than thinking about the future.

"It's OK. I'm going to be 41 years old. I have had lots of pressure on my shoulders through the years. I'm not going to think about it and just focus on the game and how to help my team win," he said.

Ovechkin's New Contract Marks New Milestone

Ovechkin's return became official on July 2, when the Capitals announced a one-year contract. It would be worth around the average of $4.25 million.

This deal, as per NHL.com, includes a $1 million salary and a $3.25 million signing bonus. And also a $4.75 million bonus for the games played, right after his 10th appearance.

The extension keeps Ovechkin still in the Capitals uniform for an 18th season as captain. He is the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer with 929 goals. This would be the third-longest run in the league behind Sidney Crosby and Steve Yzerman. 

Last season, Ovechkin played in all of the 82 games and led the team with 32 goals and 64 points. They became the first player in NHL history to reach 900 regular-season goals. 

Even the General Manager Chris Patrick said the Capitals' offseason additions, like Jordan Kyrou, Alex Tuch and free-agent signings such as Boone Jenner, were made to support Ovechkin.

Read more at NHL Fan Central!

Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi