Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin re-signs with the team on a one-year contract, returning for what will be his 22nd NHL season. Multiple outlets report that Ovechkin’s previous contract expires and that his plans for the 2026-27 season were not announced before the renewal. The Capitals formally announce the agreement, with Yahoo Sports and others describing it as a bonus-laden one-year deal. Reported financial terms vary by outlet but generally cite a cap hit of $4.25 million and a salary of $1 million, with additional performance bonuses that can total roughly $8 million.
Ovechkin, widely recognized as the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, reached the milestone by recording his 895th career goal in April 2025, surpassing Wayne Gretzky. At age 41, he is set to turn 41 in September. The decision keeps him under contract for another season with Washington rather than retiring as many had anticipated following his expiring deal.
