Last week, Alex Ovechkin officially decided to return for his 22nd NHL season with the Washington Capitals. On 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman said Ovechkin’s decision was not only about unfinished business. 

Friedman explained that Alex Ovechkin was very upset after the Capitals traded longtime teammate John Carlson at the deadline. His comments brought more attention to Ovechkin’s thoughts before the 2026–27 season.

"I heard he was really down at the deadline when John Carlson got traded...but then when I think he saw like Cole Hutson...Ilya Protas; some of the moves they made; I had a feeling he was coming back," Friedman said on 32 Thoughts.

Friedman’s comments were also shared by the NHL Rumour Report on their X. He felt that young players like Cole Hutson and Ilya Protas, along with the team’s offseason moves, helped convince Ovechkin that the Capitals still have a chance to be competitive.

This is important because Ovechkin did not officially say he would return until last week. The 40-year-old did not confirm whether the 2026–27 season will be his last.

He simply said, “We’ll see.”

Instead of talking about retirement, he said he still believes he can help the team on the ice and compete for the Stanley Cup.

Washington has given him good reasons to feel positive. The Capitals added experienced scorers Jordan Kyrou, Alex Tuch, and Boone Jenner. The team also kept an important group of players, including Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome, Jakob Chychrun, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Logan Thompson.

Washington's offseason may have changed the equation

On 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman said Alex Ovechkin returned because of the Capitals’ changing roster, not only because of memories from the past.

Ovechkin also gave a similar view. In an Associated Press report shared by Sportsnet, he said Washington has built a team that can truly compete for the Stanley Cup. He said the team’s better depth and strong offseason moves played a big role in his decision to keep playing.

His new contract also shows that the Capitals want to stay competitive. Ovechkin signed a one-year deal with a $1 million base salary.

Performance bonuses could raise the total value to $9 million. This contract gives Washington more salary-cap flexibility while keeping the franchise’s biggest star on the roster.

Even at his age, Ovechkin is still producing goals. He scored 32 goals last season after scoring 44 goals in 2024–25, the season when he passed Wayne Gretzky for the NHL all-time goals record.

With Carlson no longer on the team and young players starting to arrive, the Capitals are moving into a new era. At the same time, they still depend on Ovechkin for leadership and goal scoring.

Friedman’s report gives more insight into Ovechkin’s decision to return. Carlson’s trade may have made him unsure about coming back, but the rise of young prospects, the addition of experienced veterans, and Washington’s effort to stay competitive seem to have changed his mind.

The Capitals will enter the 2026–27 season with a mix of veteran experience and young talent, which could help the team remain competitive even as the Ovechkin era moves toward its final years.

What do you think? Could Ovechkin's return lead the Capitals to another Stanley Cup before he decides to retire? Let us know in the comments. 

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason