Alex Ovechkin delays retirement decision until Capitals season ends
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin will wait until the end of the current NHL season before deciding whether to retire or play another year.
The 40-year-old’s current contract expires on 30 June and he has faced mounting questions regarding his future in the sport.
Speaking in a pre-recorded interview with Capitals radio broadcaster John Walton, the NHL’s all-time leading goalscorer confirmed his timeline.
“We’re going to make a decision in the summer.” Alex Ovechkin
The veteran forward cited his physical health as the primary factor in determining his next step.
Record-breaking legacy and final games
Washington face an uphill battle to qualify for the playoffs, with just three regular-season games remaining after their Wednesday fixture against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Anticipation is building ahead of the team’s home finale against Sidney Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday.
Tickets for the encounter in the US capital are selling for significantly above face value as fans prepare for what could be the franchise cornerstone’s farewell appearance.
The Russian superstar will then visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday in what might be his final game in North America.
A trip to Columbus would poetically mirror his NHL debut, which took place against the exact same opposition in October 2005.
An unmatched offensive powerhouse
It has been exactly one year since the prolific winger scored his 895th goal to surpass Wayne Gretzky’s seemingly insurmountable career record.
The six-foot-three player has continued to find the net regularly, tallying 31 goals this season to extend his regular-season tally to 928.
He recently celebrated scoring his 1,000th total NHL goal, which combined his regular season and playoff finishes, in late March.
Beyond his unprecedented scoring ability, the dynamic attacker holds league records for power-play goals and game-winning strikes, while also ranking third on the all-time hits list.
Should he choose to depart North America, the Moscow native could opt for a final stint in the KHL with Dynamo Moscow, where he began his professional career.
