Alex Ovechkin is set to return to Washington in early September ahead of his 21st NHL season with the Capitals. At 40, with one year left on his contract, Ovi remains one of the league’s elite goal scorers, tallying 44 goals in just 65 games last season despite missing time with injury. In April, he passed Wayne Gretzky with his 895th career goal, cementing his place as the greatest goal scorer in NHL history. The summer saw him in Moscow with family, appearing at charity events, and gifting custom Hublot watches to the entire organization to commemorate the milestone.

Washington also reshaped its blue line depth, parting ways with 2018 first-round pick Alex Alexeyev—who signed with Pittsburgh—and adding Declan Chisholm from Minnesota to serve as the seventh defenseman. The rest of the defensive core remains intact, with John Carlson entering the final year of his deal. Coming off an Eastern Conference title and looking for one more Cup run, the Capitals enter 2025–26 with veteran leadership, strong depth, and the spotlight firmly on Ovechkin’s potential last ride.

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