Alex Ovechkin is preparing to make his way back to Washington. Per RIA Novosti, Ovechkin will reportedly return to the United States in “early September” ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season.
Though the Capitals have yet to announce a date for the start of training camp, players have already begun to gather for informal skates at MedStar Capitals Iceplex and the team’s first preseason game is scheduled for September 21.
Ovechkin, who is set to turn 40 on September 17, has one year left on his contract with the Caps, though he’s remained vague when asked about his future beyond next season.
Even after two decades in the NHL, Ovechkin has continued to produce. Despite missing 16 games with a fractured fibula, he ranked third in the league in goals (44) last season and recorded 73 points (44g, 29a) in 65 games. He recorded his 895th career goal in April to pass Wayne Gretzky for the all-time goals record, further cementing his legacy in the sport.
After taking a vacation in Turkey in June — complete with a goat on GOAT encounter — Ovechkin and his family have spent most of the summer in Moscow. He brought both the puck and stick from his historic 895th goal back home with him, where he eventually plans to display them in his own museum.
Back in the States, Ovechkin appeared on the cover of Washingtonian magazine and won both an ESPY award for “Best Record-Breaking Performance” and the 2024-25 Mark Messier Leadership Award.
Ovechkin made his first on-ice offseason appearance at the annual “Match of the Year” charity event in July, where he was gifted a car by the event organizers, scored a goal, and operated a t-shirt gun like a pro.
He later participated in the “gala match,” held in honor of him reaching the all-time goals record, at the Ovi Cup youth hockey tournament. While Ovechkin might be the NHL’s best goal scorer, his own son Sergei bested him at the friendly, recording four goals to Alex’s one.
In August, Russian tech company Yandex announced they had acquired the rights to make a documentary film or series based on Ovechkin’s career. The NHL is also reportedly making a “big film” about Ovechkin, barring him from giving exclusive interviews over the summer.
Ovechkin still had several media availabilities in Russia despite the NHL’s restrictions, discussing a variety of topics including:
Ovechkin and the Capitals will look to expand on their their success next season after winning the Eastern Conference in 2024-25 before falling to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the playoffs. Asked about his goals for the campaign, Ovechkin had a simple answer.
“Play well and try to win the Stanley Cup,” he said.