The Washington Capitals have clarified that an email circulated on Thursday, which stated that the upcoming 2025-26 campaign would be legendary forward Alex Ovechkin's final NHL season, was inaccurate. In a statement posted on social media platform X, the Capitals confirmed that 'no decision' has been made regarding Ovechkin's future beyond the 2024-25 season, noting that the email from a corporate sales department representative referenced next season as Ovechkin's final year due to a misunderstanding.

Earlier, Jacob Billington of The Hockey Writers reported on the email sent to season ticket holders, which contained the line, 'OCTOBER – the start of Capitals hockey and Alex Ovechkin's FINAL NHL SEASON.' Ovechkin, who will turn 40 in September, made headlines this past season by breaking the NHL's career goal-scoring record, finishing with 897 goals and surpassing Wayne Gretzky's long-standing record of 894 goals, set when Gretzky retired in 1999.

Chosen first overall by the Capitals in the 2004 NHL Draft, Ovechkin quickly established himself as a key player, ultimately becoming one of the sport's all-time greats. He holds a variety of franchise records for the Capitals, including goals (897), games played (1,491), points (1,623), shots on goal (6,864), and power-play goals (326), while ranking second in assists with 726. In addition to being recognized as the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, Ovechkin also holds the top spot in power-play goals and ranks 11th in points in league history. Having dedicated his entire 20-year NHL career to the Capitals, Ovechkin is often seen as the emblematic figure of the franchise, boasting an extensive list of accolades. These include 13 NHL All-Star selections, nine Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophies as the league's top goal scorer, one Art Ross Trophy as the leading point scorer, and three Hart Memorial Trophies as league MVP. Ovechkin's contributions were pivotal in leading the Capitals to their only Stanley Cup victory in 2018, during which he earned the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoffs MVP, amassing 15 goals and 12 assists in 24 playoff games.

Aside from their exceptional Cup run in 2018, the Capitals have fallen short of reaching the playoff rounds beyond the second round during Ovechkin's tenure. Nevertheless, Ovechkin has demonstrated consistent postseason performance, accumulating 77 goals and 70 assists for 147 points across 161 playoff games. Over the span of his illustrious career, Ovechkin has achieved the remarkable feat of scoring 40 or more goals in a season 14 times, with nine of those seasons exceeding 50 goals, including a career-high of 65 goals in the 2007-08 season. In the most recent 2023-24 season, Ovechkin recorded 31 goals over 79 games, marking his lowest total since the 2020-21 season when he participated in only 45 games. However, Ovechkin silenced critics by bouncing back this season with a total of 44 goals, despite missing 17 games, along with 29 assists, resulting in 73 points in 65 games and achieving a plus-15 rating, his best since the 2015-16 season.

Under Ovechkin's leadership, the Capitals performed notably well, finishing as the top team in the Eastern Conference with 111 points, signifying their strongest season since 2016-17. Although the Capitals experienced a setback, losing 4-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the playoffs, their performance has instilled optimism for future seasons, with aspirations of contending for the Stanley Cup. With Ovechkin's contract set to conclude next season, there is speculation regarding his potential retirement. However, given his impressive performance this past season, indications suggest that he may have several productive years ahead.