On Monday after a team practice, Alexander Ovechkin made an announcement in the Capitals locker room that this will be his final season. Before anything was revealed to the media, he wanted to make sure he told his teammates and coaches that his 22nd season will be it. It was a nice gesture with a personal touch from the NHL’s all-time goalscorer.

“This is going to be my last year. For me, and for my family, it’s very important for you guys to know first. It’s sad, but it is what it is.

We have an unbelievable team this year. And you know, 82 games left. Let’s make the playoffs. Let’s have fun. And enjoy the moment because you know, times fly for guys who are first year or experience guys. … I remember that moment, and enjoy the time because how I said, and times fly. It seems like yesterday, I was here my first year and right now, this is my 22nd year. … It’s hard, but let’s enjoy it, and let’s do some special thing this year.”

In all my time watching Ovechkin over the years, he’s always been one of my favorite hockey players. From Day One, the energy and passion that he’s brought is a big reason for all of his success. When he first arrived, he played the game with so much joy that it was infectious for both teammates and fans. It was similar to Ilya Kovalchuk, who joined Ovechkin in Washington at the end of his career. At least the two Russian stars got to play together before Kovalchuk retired from the NHL in 2020.

The astonishing thing about Ovechkin is how he took the league by storm as a 20-year-old rookie following the lockout. The 2004 first overall pick scored 52 goals with 54 assists for 106 points to win the Calder Trophy over Sidney Crosby in a memorable 2005-06 rookie class that included Dion Phaneuf and Henrik Lundqvist.

By his third season, he won the Hart Trophy by leading the NHL in goals (65) and points (112). He also paced all skaters in even-strength goals (43), power-play goals (22), game-winners (11), and shots-on-goal (446). Ovechkin repeated as the Hart winner in 2008-09 by scoring a league-leading 56 goals with 54 assists and 110 points. That same year, he led the Capitals out of a 3-1 first round deficit to beat the Rangers in seven.

After advancing, that set the stage for the first installment of the Crosby versus Ovechkin rivalry in the playoffs. The Eastern Conference Semifinals lived up to its billing with the two superstars scoring and setting up big goals in a hard fought seven-game series.

Three games needed overtime to decide, including Games 5 and 6. Following Evgeni Malkin winning the fifth game, the Caps got a goal from David Steckel to force a deciding seventh game. Backed by a Crosby goal on the power play, the Pens chased Semyon Varlamov en route to a 6-2 win. Although Ovechkin got one back on the power play, it was too late. Crosby added another power-play goal in the third period as the Pens reached the Eastern Conference Finals. Ultimately, the deeper Pens won the Stanley Cup by avenging a six-game loss to the Red Wings by defeating them in a classic seventh game, which required a great Marc-Andre Fleury save at the buzzer to preserve the victory.

For a while, the Ovechkin Caps went through some disappointing postseasons that continued to see them get eliminated early. That included consecutive series defeats to the Rangers in 2012 and 2013. After failing to qualify for the postseason in 2013-14, Barry Trotz took over behind the bench. A no-nonsense head coach who had success with the Predators, he got Ovechkin to buy into a more defensive minded system. He still continued to score goals, winning the Rocket Richard with 53 goals in 2014-15.

Despite having the Rangers close to the brink in Game 5, the Caps couldn’t close them out, losing in sudden death on a Ryan McDonagh overtime winner. After a furious third period rally fell short at home, they took the Rangers to overtime in the deciding seventh game. Ovechkin scored in the opening period. But Kevin Hayes tied it in the second on the power play. With nothing decided due to both Lundqvist and Braden Holtby going save for save, the Caps iced the puck before a stoppage. When play resumed, Derek Stepan won the game to once again break Washington hearts.

As he continued to score 50 or more, Ovechkin was still without a Cup. Once again, the Caps lost to the Crosby Pens in the second round. History repeated itself with the Pens winning the Cup in 2015-16. Unfortunately, it happened again the following year in the same round. Only this time, the Caps had home ice advantage due to winning the Presidents’ Trophy despite Ovechkin’s production falling to 33 goals and 69 points. He didn’t have a good series against the Pens, who went into Washington and won the deciding seventh game 2-0 behind a 29-save shutout from Fleury. Ovechkin had five points and finished minus-5. The Pens repeated as champs with Crosby winning the Conn Smythe for a second straight year.

In 2017-18, the pressure was on the Caps to win led by their captain. Once again, they finished first in the Metropolitan Division. Ovechkin bounced back to win the Rocket Richard with 49 goals, and had 87 points.

After getting past the Blue Jackets in the first round, the stage was set for Ovechkin to square off against Crosby for a third consecutive postseason. Unlike the previous two meetings, it was the Caps who prevailed in six. Despite Crosby doing what he usually does, Washington took the series due to having the better goalie. Holtby outperformed Matt Murray to backstop the Caps to the Conference Finals. After using a four-goal third period to come back and take Game 5 at home, they defeated the Pens 2-1 in Game 6 thanks to Evgeny Kuznetsov’s goal in overtime, which Ovechkin set up.

Facing the Presidents’ Trophy winning Lightning in the Eastern Conference Finals, they came back to defeat them in seven. It was a strange series that saw the road team take the first four games. Following a Lightning 3-2 win to hold serve in Game 5, the Caps got back-to-back shutouts from Holtby to win the series. That included a 3-0 victory at home and a 4-0 triumph on the road to stun the Bolts. Holtby stopped all 29 shots in the elimination game. Ovechkin set the tone with a goal 62 seconds in. Andre Burakovsky tallied twice and Nicklas Backstrom scored the empty netter to finally send the Caps to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Facing the upstart Golden Knights, the Caps’ experience proved to be the difference. After falling behind in the series, they took the next four to win their first ever Stanley Cup. Ovechkin scored three goals and added two helpers for five points in the Cup triumph. He had plenty of help from Kuznetsov, Backstrom, T.J. Oshie, and John Carlson. It was truly a team victory with Holtby besting Fleury, who joined Vegas as a their first ever draft pick.

Ovechkin led the playoffs with 15 goals and six power-play goals. He finished with 27 points, which ranked second behind Kuznetsov, who finished with a remarkable 32 points to lead all scorers. Ovechkin won the Conn Smythe.

Despite being in his thirties, he continued to score at a frenetic pace by winning two more Rocket Richards the following two seasons. Following a Covid shortened 2020-21, Ovechkin came back to score 50 goals at age 36 in 2021-22. It likely was the final time in his brilliant career that he hit the 50-goal mark. He’s scored 50 or more in nine seasons.

In 2024-25, he was dialed in. With Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record 894 goals within range, the 39-year-old Ovechkin started that season on fire. Even a broken foot couldn’t prevent him from healing quickly and returning to impeccable form. Nothing was going to stop him from tying and breaking Gretzky’s record.

It finally happened versus the Islanders at UBS Arena on April 6, 2025. Fittingly, it came on the power play where he made his living. On a play in transition started by Dylan Strome, Tom Wilson gained the Islanders zone and found a trailing Ovechkin for a wrist shot that beat Ilya Sorokin at 7:26 of the second period. Ovechkin went into a slide to celebrate the 895th goal of his remarkable career while fans cheered him.

The record came while the Caps played the Islanders on the NHL on TNT. Kenny Albert had the call of the record breaking goal. Ovechkin received a standing ovation from the crowd that included Gretzky and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. His wife and son were in attendance as the Islanders honored him with a video tribute that included career highlights and congratulations from Crosby and Malkin for the special occasion. He was congratulated by the entire Islanders roster at center ice as “Ovi, Ovi, Ovi!” chants filled the arena.

Despite missing a month, Ovechkin finished the season with 44 goals and 73 points in 65 games. For his effort, he won the Mark Messier Leadership Award.

For the 21st time in his career, the Great Eight scored at least 30 goals or more in 2025-26 by finishing with 32. He entered his final season with an NHL record 929 goals, along with a record 331 power-play goals, and 141 game-winners. There’s never been a better goalscorer in hockey history.

Whatever happens over the remainder of the season, Ovechkin will one day take his place in the Hockey Hall of Fame alongside the greats.