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Ovechkin returning for 22nd season with Capitals

ESPN · Jul 2, 2026, 5:54 PM

Key takeaways

  • Alex Ovechkin, the NHL's career leader in goals, has decided to return for the 2026-27 season, his 22nd with the Washington Capitals.
  • The Capitals announced Thursday that Ovechkin has signed a one-year contract with an AAV of $4.25 million.
  • Ovechkin -- who led the Capitals to the Stanley Cup in 2018 -- announced he would decide on his future this offseason after consulting with his family and the Capitals.

Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.

Alex Ovechkin, the NHL's career leader in goals, has decided to return for the 2026-27 season, his 22nd with the Washington Capitals.

The Capitals announced Thursday that Ovechkin has signed a one-year contract with an AAV of $4.25 million.

Ovechkin -- who led the Capitals to the Stanley Cup in 2018 -- announced he would decide on his future this offseason after consulting with his family and the Capitals. He was in the final season of his contract which carried a $9.5 million cap hit.

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