The Washington Capitals have issued a clarification regarding an email sent to season ticket holders that stated the 2025-26 season would be legendary forward Alex Ovechkin's final year in the NHL. In a post on X, the Capitals announced that 'no decision' has been made regarding Ovechkin's future beyond the upcoming season. The email, which was distributed by a member of the corporate sales department, mistakenly referred to the next season as Ovechkin's final year.

Ovechkin, who is set to turn 40 in September, made headlines earlier this season by breaking the NHL's career goal-scoring record, currently standing at 897 goals. This milestone positioned him ahead of Wayne Gretzky, who retired in 1999 with 894 career goals. Drafted first overall by the Capitals in the 2004 NHL Draft, Ovechkin has consistently demonstrated exceptional skills on the ice, standing as one of the greatest hockey players of all time.

Throughout his career, Ovechkin has amassed numerous records and accolades, including being the Capitals' all-time leader in goals, games played, points, shots on goal, and power-play goals. With 13 NHL All-Star selections, nine Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophies, one Art Ross Trophy, and three Hart Memorial Trophies to his name, Ovechkin has proven his prowess. Notably, he played a crucial role in leading the Capitals to their only Stanley Cup championship in 2018, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy for his playoff performance. While the Capitals have struggled to advance past the second round in subsequent playoff appearances, Ovechkin's postseason stats remain impressive, with 77 goals and 70 assists in 161 games. His performance in the regular season has included significant milestones as well, such as surpassing 40 goals in a season 14 times and exceeding 50 goals on nine occasions, peaking with 65 goals in the 2007-08 season. In the 2023-24 season, Ovechkin scored 31 goals across 79 games, the lowest tally of his career when excluding the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season. Nevertheless, he rebounded this season with a noteworthy performance, netting 44 goals in 65 games while also contributing 29 assists, showcasing a plus-15 rating—the best since the 2015-16 season. Under Ovechkin's leadership, the Capitals had a stellar regular season, finishing with 111 points, the highest mark since 2016-17. Despite their defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the playoffs, the team’s overall performance has sparked optimism for potential Stanley Cup contention in the coming seasons. As Ovechkin approaches the final year of his contract, his recent form indicates that he may choose to extend his playing career beyond next season.