The Washington Capitals quickly retracted an email concerning the immediate future of the franchise`s biggest star.
After an email was mistakenly sent to season ticket holders on Thursday indicating that the 2025-26 season would be Alex Ovechkin`s last, the team clarified that no final decision has been made regarding the superstar`s playing future.
The team stated on social media that the erroneous email was sent by someone in the corporate sales department.
The original email distributed to fans reportedly read: `OCTOBER — the start of Capitals hockey and Alex Ovechkin`s FINAL NHL SEASON.`
Ovechkin is set to turn 40 before the next season begins and will be entering the final year of his five-year, $47 million contract. This means he is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.
Following the Capitals` second-round playoff elimination by the Carolina Hurricanes, Ovechkin informed reporters that he intends to play next season, which would be his 21st season in the NHL. However, he added that he had not given thought to his plans beyond that point.
Earlier this month, Ovechkin commented, “I haven’t thought about it yet, but we’ll see what’s going to happen. I’m going to try to do my best to be able to do well next year, and we’ll see.”
In the 2024-25 season, the former first overall draft pick had a remarkable year, scoring 44 goals. This achievement allowed him to surpass Wayne Gretzky`s all-time goal record of 895. He also played a key role in the Capitals` successful season, which saw them finish with a 51-22-9 record, the best in the Eastern Conference.
