Alex Ovechkin will return to the Washington Capitals for a 22nd NHL season after ending months of uncertainty by signing a one-year contract in July.
The 40-year-old will be focused on competing for another Stanley Cup before hanging his skates and after missing the playoffs last season, but the nature of his short-term deal has naturally raised questions about whether the 2026-27 campaign could become the final chapter of his career.
The uncertainty also means Ovechkin has not decided how he would handle the league-wide celebrations typically afforded to departing legends, and thus has not informed the NHL about whether or not to stage a year-long farewell tour next season.
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Asked by RIA Novosti’s Andrey Senchenko whether he would accept farewell ceremonies and postgame handshake lines from opposing teams, Ovechkin left the possibility open.
“Anything is possible,” Ovechkin said, as translated by Google. “We’ll see. It’s hard to say right now. Only God knows how the season will go.”
Ovechkin added that even he does not yet know whether he would accept those tributes, or if they'll happen next season.
“Will I agree to a handshake ceremony if the opponents offer it after the games? I can’t say anything right now. I don’t even know myself,” Ovechkin said. “We’ll discuss it when I get to Washington with my family.”
Ovechkin has repeatedly declined to set a date for his retirement, and he left the door open for another season after next one when discussing his future at the start of July.
“When you look at our roster, it's Stanley Cup contender,” Ovechkin said Monday. “I was talking to my family, my wife, first of all, and she's like, ‘OK, let's play one more year.’ Or maybe two years. I don't know.”
For now, Ovechkin's priority remains proving he can still contribute to a Capitals team looking to bounce back and trying to make the postseason for the third time in the four seasons.
“We will see,” he said. “Right now, I'm focusing on coming back to D.C., and show that I'm still a good player and I can still help the team to win.”
