Apr 12, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) salutes the fans after being named number one star of the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Capitals' season home finale at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Apr 12, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) salutes the fans after being named number one star of the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Capitals' season home finale at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
While hockey icon Alex Ovechkin is ready to kickstart his 22nd NHL season, NHL Journalist Eric Friesen couldn’t help but notice what this return meant to the Washington Capitals captain.
The 40-year-old signed a one-year, $4.25 million contract with the Capitals on July 2, leading to a celebratory fanfare on July 7, including a press conference titled “The Gr8ness Continues.” There, The Hockey News reporter Friesen noticed Ovechkin’s gestures closely.
“Just a general takeaway from Alex Ovechkin’s presser: Had the biggest smile on his face,” he took to X on July 6. “You can just tell he lives and breathes hockey but is also so excited to see what this Caps team can do and to be a part of it for another run.”
After all, deciding to return after last season’s heartbreaks was a tough one. According to The Washington Times writer Liam Griffin, the Capitals missing the playoffs and trading away long-term members Nic Dowd and John Carlson was hard for Ovechkin.
But Caps general manager Chris Patrick made up for it by adding former Columbus Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner and ex-San Jose Sharks defenseman Vincent Desharnais this year. The Capitals now have 11 players, each with 20-goal seasons on their résumés.
Now this is a team with the potential to become a contender, and Ovechkin echoed the same sentiment.
Alex Ovechkin Believes This Team Can Win Now
The 40-year-old has spent his entire NHL career with the Capitals, becoming the league’s all-time leading goal scorer (911 goals). Surely this return will make him the longest-tenured athlete in the District’s history, but collecting accolades wasn’t why he returned.
“When you look at our roster, it’s a Stanley Cup contender,” Ovechkin said during the same presser, per Griffin. “I can still play and bring energy to the locker room, energy on the ice … Right now, I’m focusing on coming back to D.C. and show that I’m still a good player and still can help the team win.”
The captain closed last season with age-defying 30+ goals and 64 points.
With this contender roster, as he called it, do you think Alex Ovechkin will dish out the same performance this season too? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Deblina Roy