Alex Ovechkin’s unofficial farewell tour continued at Capital One Arena on Monday night when he swapped game-used jerseys with Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar. The two players have scored 1,346 goals in the NHL combined.
Kopitar inscribed on his sweater in silver Sharpie: To Ovi, You are a goal-scoring machine! Your friend, Anze Kopitar.
Ovechkin also gave Kopitar a blank Capitals jersey. “This one’s a Christmas gift,” Kopitar said, laughing.
Tom Wilson and John Carlson joined Ovechkin during the exchange, and they all posed for photos afterward.
“Hey, thanks for this,” he said to Ovechkin of the game-used sweater.
“See you in LA,” Wilson responded.
Ovechkin scored the 903rd goal of his career in the contest, which ended up being the game winner. Kopitar scored the 443rd of his career in the second period, tipping home a Corey Perry pass on the power play.
Earlier in the night, Kopitar was honored by the Capitals on the jumbotron as he was playing his final game at Capital One Arena.
Kopitar, who has played 20 seasons with the Kings, announced in September he’d be retiring at the end of the 2025-26 campaign. The 38-year-old centerman made his announcement while flanked by his wife and two children.
“After last season, I had a bit of time over the last few months to think and to talk to the family to see where the path is for me and where it’s going, and after lots and lots of thinking, I’ve decided that this year is going to be my last year playing in the NHL,” Kopitar said. “With a heavy heart obviously, I’ve accepted that decision.
“These guys (wife and children) that are sitting here with me, have been with me for the past 20-plus years and now they deserve a husband and a dad to be home and present for the moments that are going to be leading up, especially for these guys (children). They’re soon going to be teenagers and we all know that’s a very important time of their lives and I want to be as present as I can be.”
Ovechkin’s swap with Kopitar marks the third legendary player he’s exchanged jerseys with this season, including Evgeni Malkin and Brad Marchand and Evgeni Malkin.
Ovechkin, 40, is in the final year of his contract and has said he will make a decision on his future after the season.