Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) looks on during a break in the first period of an NHL preseason hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Thursday, October. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) looks on during a break in the first period of an NHL preseason hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Thursday, October. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
The Washington Capitals captain, Alex Ovechkin, is slated to enter unrestricted free agency on July 1. But he has yet to decide his future with them.
Ovechkin was attending the 2026 Russian Cup final on May 24 at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow when his NHL career trajectory was discussed in an interview with FONBET on their YouTube channel. He spoke on the matter to the ex-Russian soccer players Dmitri Alenichev, Vladislav Radimov, Yegor Titov, and Andrey Tikhonov.
Since the interview was in the Russian language, the Russian Machine Never Breaks (RMNB) website translated it.
"You’ll play there for another year, right?” Alenichev asked Ovechkin,
“I haven’t decided," replied the 40-year-old.
The Russian winger has played 21 consecutive seasons with the Capitals, attaining great success after they selected him as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft.
Apr 14, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) salutes the fans as he leaves the ice after the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
Apr 14, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) salutes the fans as he leaves the ice after the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
“When will you decide if it’s not a secret?” read Alenichev’s counter question.
“It’s not a secret. What’s a secret? In July, for sure,” replied Ovechkin.
While he has intended to make his decision by this July, the Capitals would want him to make his decision soon. As reported by ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, the franchise wants to learn from him before the 2026 NHL Draft in June, which would give them a better chance to bolster their roster with the help of trade deals.
The 40-year-old had suggested a potential return in April, though he also indicated he would take time before deciding, with the Capitals’ competitiveness being one of the key factors in his consideration.
“If I want to come back, it have to be a decision on, first of all, we’re going to make the playoffs and we have to fight for a Cup. That’s the biggest thing,” said Ovechkin. “Otherwise, if you take different scenarios, like family-wise, health-wise, but team-wise, this is the most important thing for me.”
With Ovechkin taking time about his return to Washington, he also dropped an update on fielding NHL offers.
Alex Ovechkin Said “No” to Entertaining Contract Offers From NHL Teams
Free agency is looming large, and Ovechkin is taking time till July 1. It marks the perfect moment for other teams to line up bearing contract offers to him if he decides not to retire from the NHL.
Last month, Ovechkin was asked about whether he would entertain contract offers from other teams to play for them after entering free agency.
“Probably not, no,” he said, as per the NHL website.
Before playing his last game of the 2025-26 season against the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 14, the one-time Stanley Cup champion gave an eye-opening interview to the media.
“I hope it’s not my last game,” he said.
The Capitals and Ovechkin could pursue a contract structure similar to the one Evgeni Malkin agreed to with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. The team signed a one-year deal worth $5.5 million.
Will Alex Ovechkin retire from the NHL as a Washington Capitals player? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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Written by
Arjun Sharma
Edited by
Soheli Tarafdar