Washington forward Alexander Ovechkin stated that he will make a decision about his future in hockey based on his physical condition.
“I’m 40 years old, and it’s hard for me to compete with young guys, you know? But the most important thing is health. I don’t want my knee, elbow, or back to start hurting in a year or two. I don’t want to feel uncomfortable for the rest of my days. So this decision needs to be approached wisely,” Ovechkin said, as reported by RMNB.
At the same time, the captain of the Washington Capitals emphasized that he still enjoys playing and the atmosphere in the team.
In the 2025/26 season, Ovechkin recorded 50 points (24+26) in 64 games of the NHL regular season. In total, the Russian has scored 998 goals, including playoffs. To reach Wayne Gretzky's all-time record of 1,016 goals, Ovechkin needs to score 18 more goals.
The 40-year-old Russian's contract with Washington runs until the summer of 2026.
