The Washington Capitals have issued a clarification regarding an email sent on Thursday that stated the 2025-26 season would be legendary forward Alex Ovechkin's final campaign in the NHL. In a statement posted on X, the Capitals emphasized that "no decision" has been made about Ovechkin's future beyond the upcoming season. The email, which originated from a member of the corporate sales team, erroneously referred to the next season as Ovechkin's last.

Jacob Billington, a reporter for The Hockey Writers, highlighted that the communication to season ticket holders included the phrase, "OCTOBER – the start of Capitals hockey and Alex Ovechkin's FINAL NHL SEASON." The announcement stirred speculation about Ovechkin's plans, especially as he approaches a significant age milestone of 40 in September. This past season, Ovechkin set a remarkable record by surpassing Wayne Gretzky to claim the NHL's career goal-scoring title, ending the year with 897 goals.

Drafted first overall by the Capitals in the 2004 NHL Draft, Ovechkin has established himself as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. His record with the franchise includes being the all-time leader in goals, games played, points, shots on goal, and power-play goals. Ovechkin's accolades encompass a staggering 13 NHL All-Star selections, nine Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies as the leading goal scorer, and a significant contribution to the Capitals' lone Stanley Cup victory in 2018, where he was also awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP. Despite some ups and downs in the playoffs throughout his career, Ovechkin has maintained a strong postseason performance, accumulating 147 points in 161 playoff games. As he enters the final year of his current contract, Ovechkin's performance in the previous season, where he scored 44 goals in 65 games, indicates he may have more to contribute in the future.