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Alex Ovechkin Makes Shocking Decision on 'The Tonight Show'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Treppedi | Last updated Apr 7, 2025 11:30 PM ET

Alex Ovechkin has been the trendiest name in sports since becoming the NHL's official all-time leading goal scorer on Sunday.

The Washington Capitals future Hall of Famer scored No. 895 on the power play in the second period in a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders.

Ovechkin's feat, which was once thought of as impossible, has drawn congratulating messages from iconic athletes alike across the nation including Tom Brady, LeBron James, Roger Federer, Simone Biles, Sidney Crosby, Katie Ledecky, Michael Jordan and Michael Phelps.

Next was "The Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon, who invited Ovechkin on to make an appearance this week to discuss the historic accomplishment.

Ovechkin declined the offer and instead chose to focus on continuing to prepare for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“Alex was invited on some television shows and The Tonight Show in New York to build his brand, hype, and celebrate,” Capitals owner Ted Leonsis said. “You know what he said? ‘I’m exhausted. I want to show respect to the coach and my teammates. I want to rest. I want to get ready for Thursday’s game and the sprint of the playoffs. I don’t want to have to fly back to New York and come back. Yeah, it might be good for me, but it’s time.’ And that’s what you want from your captain.”

The Capitals are cruising to clinching the top seed in the Metropolitan Division with an 11-point lead on the second-place Carolina Hurricanes and five games remaining in the regular season.

They are looking to make a deeper splash in the playoffs after getting swept by the New York Rangers in the first round last season.

“Alex knows how much we value him,” Leonsis said. “And, you know, we don’t want him thinking about anything right now other than, ‘I accomplished and broke a record that was never going to be broken.’ But that’s in the rearview mirror for the time being. Now, it’s five games left in the season, and then the playoffs.

“And how the playoffs are, you know, last year we didn’t have a very good playoff. We qualified for the playoffs the last hour, the last moment we could, last play of the season. And Alex didn’t have a great playoffs. And the criticism was high. And so he understands, we all understand, that we’re in this to win – let’s get all of the focus on that. The fans, though, I’m sure will show their undying appreciation. But, you know, there’s more games this year, and hopefully, all of next season. So there’ll come a time when we can really show him how much we love him. But it’s not tomorrow.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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