Bilder des Tages - SPORT Eishockey, WM Spiel um Platz 3, Russland - USA 160522 Rysslands Alexander Ovechkin far bronsmedaljen efter bronsmatchen i Ishockey-VM mellan Ryssland och USA den 22 maj 2016 i Moskva. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxONLY Copyright: LUDVIGxTHUNMAN BB160522LT036 Images the Day Sports Ice hockey World Cup Game to square 3 Russia USA 160522 Rysslands Alexander Ovechkin Far efter bronsmatchen I Ishockey VM Periods Ryssland och USA the 22 Maj 2016 I Moskva PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxONLY Copyright LUDVIGxTHUNMAN
Bilder des Tages - SPORT Eishockey, WM Spiel um Platz 3, Russland - USA 160522 Rysslands Alexander Ovechkin far bronsmedaljen efter bronsmatchen i Ishockey-VM mellan Ryssland och USA den 22 maj 2016 i Moskva. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxONLY Copyright: LUDVIGxTHUNMAN BB160522LT036 Images the Day Sports Ice hockey World Cup Game to square 3 Russia USA 160522 Rysslands Alexander Ovechkin Far efter bronsmatchen I Ishockey VM Periods Ryssland och USA the 22 Maj 2016 I Moskva PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxONLY Copyright LUDVIGxTHUNMAN
Not only is NHL phenom Alex Ovechkin back in the game, but the 40-year-old’s latest admission was about chasing a new career milestone. Is the 1000-goal streak coming?
“We will try,” the Washington Capitals captain admitted in a recent interview with Russian media outlet Match TV, published on July 14, 2026. “Everything will depend on my desire and health. Time will tell. It gets harder and harder with each passing year.”
The NHL icon signed a one-year, $4.25M AAV contract with the Capitals, kickstarting his 22nd NHL career to play out his passion once more.
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin 8 during the third period timeout of the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 win at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on Thursday, November 6, 2025. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUSA PIT2025110617 ARCHIExCARPENTER
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin 8 during the third period timeout of the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 win at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on Thursday, November 6, 2025. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUSA PIT2025110617 ARCHIExCARPENTER
And returning to his home for 21 seasons wasn't probably too hard. DC is where Ovechkin has become the NHL’s all-time goals leader with 929 goals, defeating hockey legend Wayne Gretzky’s 894-goal record.
A 1000-goal record technically should be the logical next step, but age has started to catch up.
“Certainly,” answered the captain when asked if he felt the weight of being 40 yet, during the same interview. “I don’t really enjoy training (smiling). After vacation is the hardest time for an athlete. You have to push yourself again.”
But despite what he said about training, there's a bigger goal for him to chase than any individual records.
The Cup Matters More Than Records
A 1000-goal record post-40 would be grand, but that’s definitely going to take Ovechkin more than just a season. At 22, he recorded a career-high 65-goal season. At 40, the seasoned captain knows what lies at the crux of the sport, and that isn’t chasing individual records.
“A team sport doesn’t depend on just one player,” Ovechkin said during the same interview. “I want to win the trophy again. That desire outweighs the possibility of breaking another Gretzky record… I’m happy with the team as captain… Our goal is the title.”
Surely the break or set of records is a part of this, but Alex Ovechkin is hitting the ice with the desire to chase his 2nd Stanley Cup, not another Gretzky record.
How do you think his season will play out? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Deblina Roy