Apr 4, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Wayne Gretzky speaks during a press conference with Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (not pictured) after the game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Capital One Arena. Ovechkin scored the 893rd and 894th goals of his career, tying Gretzky for most all-time goals in NHL history at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Apr 4, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Wayne Gretzky speaks during a press conference with Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (not pictured) after the game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Capital One Arena. Ovechkin scored the 893rd and 894th goals of his career, tying Gretzky for most all-time goals in NHL history at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
The future of Alex Ovechkin with Washington has become unclear again, as questions about his retirement continue into the 2026 offseason. The Capitals captain will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and the team is still waiting to see if he will return or retire after his long and successful career.
Even though there is uncertainty, Capitals GM Chris Patrick said talks with Ovechkin have already helped the team understand possible contract plans. This has also helped Washington plan their offseason spending and roster decisions.
As reported by TheHockeyNews.com, Chris Patrick, speaking after the 2026 NHL Draft, said, "From my conversations with Alex before he left, I had an understanding of if he does come back, kind of what he's looking at contract-wise."
Patrick added that Ovechkin’s contract expectations helped the Capitals understand how much money they can spend overall on roster moves and planning.
"That kind of gave me some clarity as far as what we can do spending-wise."He said in the same interview that the team expects a decision soon.
Patrick also made it clear the decision will not take too long and will not go deep into the summer, as the Capitals continue building their roster. According to The Hockey News, Washington is staying flexible but still wants to keep the option open for their franchise star.
Capitals Push Forward While Ovechkin Weighs Future Decision
Even though the future of Alex Ovechkin is still unclear, Washington has been very active in changing its roster. Patrick has already made moves, including trading for Jordan Kyrou and signing Alex Tuch to an eight-year deal worth $10.5 million AAV. These moves show the team is trying to win now while also planning for life after Ovechkin.
Alex Ovechkin is still playing well. In the 2025-26 season, he scored 32 goals and had 64 points in 82 games. This brings his career total to 929 goals, putting him close to Wayne Gretzky’s record.
Patrick also said Ovechkin’s strong competitive spirit could play a role in how he decides his future, especially depending on what the team does this offseason.
"Alex, as you guys all know, is a really competitive person, and he wants to win," Patrick said according to the same report by TheHockeyNews.com . "He definitely wanted to see kind of what we did here in this offseason to help inform his decision, so I think this will help give him some more information to make a decision on."
The Capitals are now waiting for a decision that could shape the team’s next chapter, while also getting ready for both possible outcomes. Washington has built a strong team but still has space for Ovechkin to return. In the end, the final call now belongs to their captain.
What do you think? If Ovechkin returns, can this revamped Capitals roster truly chase another deep playoff run? Comment down below.
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Written by
Kapil Manghnani
Edited by
Kaamna Dwivedi