Alex Ovechkin Shuts Down ‘Nonsense’ Retirement Rumors Ahead of 2025-26 Season

This past Sunday, Ovechkin took part in the “Match of the Year“, a contest between the best from the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and the Russian stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). In this, Ovi scored a goal in his side’s 15-3 victory.

Following the game, he spoke with some reporters who would bring up the topic of him retiring from the NHL next season. The Russian-language comments from him, as translated into English, suggest that he could play beyond next season in the NHL if everything goes well.

My wife never confirmed anything. She said we might play in Russia — anything is possible. No date was mentioned. This is nonsense… We’ll see. Could I stay in the NHL for another season? Anything is possible.

Ovechkin had been in the spotlight during the entirety of the 2024-25 season. The Russian international turned back the clock and finally chased down the goal-scoring record of Wayne Gretzky in April.

He eventually finished the regular season with 44 goals and 29 assists (73 points) from 65 games. He and his team would suffer a 2nd round exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Alex Ovechkin makes cheeky comment regarding possibility of Capitals acquiring Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin

In the offseason, trade rumors regarding Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have sparked up once again. On Sunday, Alex Ovechkin would make a cheeky comment regarding the possibilities of his team acquiring either one of the two Pittsburgh Penguins’ stars.

The Penguins have been going through a difficult time. The team missed out on the playoffs for a third successive season last time out. After another disappointing campaign, the team would part ways with head coach Mike Sullivan.

As the team tries to rebuild and get back to its best, there have been talks that the team could engage in a trade and give away some of their veteran players in exchange for young talents.

The Capitals, on the other hand, were once again knocked out of the playoffs. Despite a first-place finish in the Eastern Conference standings, the Caps were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs.

On Sunday, a reporter in Russia would ask Ovechkin whether adding Crosby or Malkin would boost the team’s chances of winning another Stanley Cup. The 39-year-old expressed that it would be ‘wonderful’ if that happens otherwise the team would fight on it’s own.

If this happens, it would be wonderful. If not, we will fight on our own.

Reports earlier claimed that the Penguins will not offer a contract extension to Malkin. The 38-year-old will be in the final year of his contract next season and could play in Pittsburgh for the final time.

Meanwhile, Crosby will enter the first year of the two-year contract extension that he signed last September. The Penguins’ captain recorded 91 points (33 goals and 58 assists) last season, making it the 3rd successive year where he recorded more than 90 points. Only time will tell what the future has in store for Crosby and Malkin.