Alex Ovechkin became the fresh face of the franchise for the Washington Capitals more than two decades ago when they selected the big, skilled Russian winger with the first pick in the 2004 NHL draft.

He’s now 40 and nearing the end of his 21st season with them. He hoisted the Stanley Cup as playoff MVP in 2018 and last year passed Wayne Gretzky as the league’s career goal-scoring leader.

kAm~G649<:? 92D J6E E@ D2J H96E96C E9:D 😀 :E @C :7 96 H2?ED E@ A=2J 282:? 😕 a_ae\af[ D@ E96 7C@?E @77:46 😀 A=2??:?8 7@C 6:E96C 4@?E:?86?4J] (9:=6 5@:?8 D@[ (2D9:?8E@? 😀 FD96C:?8 😕 2 J@FE9 >@G6>6?E @? E96 7=J[ H:E9 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^H2D9:?8E@?\42A:E2=D\;@9?\42C=D@?\EC256\3_f53f6_5dh424`3`553ffhgda6c2_edQmEC256 @7 be\J62C\@=5 @C82?:K2E:@?2= 4@C?6CDE@?6 y@9? r2C=D@?k^2m E96 =2E6DE DE6A 😕 EFC?:?8 E96 A286 @? 2 86?6C2E:@? @7 A=2J6CD C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C ?@E @?=J 2 492>A:@?D9:A 3FE `e A=2J@77 2AA62C2?46D 😕 `g D62D@?D]k^Am

kAmv@?6 2C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^42A:E2=D\324\E96\BF:6E6DE\DFA6CDE2C\:?\E96\?9=\e_3cd26`c3d7c6hfhe42a2hc4f6e2567Qm=@?8E:>6 }@] ` 46?E6C }:4<=2D q24k^2m[ 5@\:E\2== k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^E;\@D9:6\42A:E2=D\3=F6D\D@49:\D9@@E@FE\_hf3fcbh76b623ac65_432553d_bh3ggQmH:?86C %]y] ~D9:6k^2m[ 8@2=E6?56C qC256? w@=E3J 2?5 ?@H r2C=D@?[ H9@ 92D 366? E96 E62>VD E@A 5676?D6>2? 2=>@DE 7C@> E96 E:>6 96 >256 9:D 563FE]k^Am

kAm“%96J’C6 E96D6 8FJD WH9@ 8@ 7C@>X D@>6E:>6D E96J 5@?’E 6G6? 92G6 2 D92G:?8 <:E E@ 86EE:?8 >2CC:65 2?5 92G:?8 72>:=:6D 2?5 92G:?8 E96 42C66CD E92E E96J’C6 92G:?8[” 2DD:DE2?E 86?6C2= >2?286C #@DD |29@?6J D2:5 😕 2 A9@?6 :?E6CG:6H] “%9:?8D 5@?’E =2DE 7@C6G6C]”k^Am

k9amr2A:E2=D 2C6 3F:=5:?8 2C@F?5 2 ?6H 4@C6k^9am

kAm%96 r2A:E2=D 92G6 5@?6 D@>6E9:?8 C2C6 😕 E96 }w{ D:?46 E96 D2=2CJ 42A 6C2 3682? 😕 a__di C6A=6?:D9 E2=6?E H9:=6 4@?D:DE6?E=J 4@?E6?5:?8] qC:2? |24{6==2?[ E96 86?6C2= >2?286C 7C@> a_`c\ac[ 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^42A:E2=D\7C@?E\@77:46\D92<6FA\g_f2`dchc77ddded`ffbg66ga4427ceeQmDF446DD@C r9C:D !2EC:4F=E2?6@FD=J 3@F89E 2?5 D@=5 2E E:>6D 2?5 >256 D@>6 D9C6H5 @77D62D@? EC256D 2?5 7C66 286?E D:8?:?8D 2=@?8 E96 H2J]k^Am

kAm%96 C6DF=E 😀 2 ?6H 4@C6 @7 A=2J6CD 😕 E96:C >:5\E@\=2E6 a_D 2?5 62C=J b_D[ 2== D:8?65 E9C@F89 2E =62DE a_ahi 8@2=:6 {@82? %9@>AD@?[ 5676?D6>6? y2<@3 r9J49CF?[ |2EE #@J 2?5 |2CE:? u696CG2CJ[ 2?5 7@CH2C5D sJ=2? $EC@>6[ !:6CC6\{F4 sF3@:D[ p=:2 (:=D@?[ E96 =2EE6C @7 H9@> 😀 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^42A:E2=D\:?G6DE\3:8\>@?6J\2?5\E:>6\:?\7@CH2C5\E@>\H:=D@?\76h3hag6ah2_c2c42b36__“f73hc47aQm=:<6=J E@ DF44665 ~G649<:?k^2m 2D 42AE2:?]k^Am

kAm“%92E’D 2 AC6EEJ 8@@5 DE2CE:?8 A@:?E 7@C 2 4@>A6E:E:G6 E62>[ 2 $E2?=6J rFA\H:??:?8 E62>[” !2EC:4< D2:5] “(6 ;FDE 76=E =:<6 8@:?8 :?E@ E96 5625=:?6[ :7 H6 2C6 8@:?8 E@ >2<6 >@G6D[ H6 D9@F=5 >2<6 >@G6D H:E9 E92E 😕 >:?5 — 8:G:?8 FD 2DD6ED E92E H6 42? FD6 E@ ECJ E@ 255 :>A24E A=2J6CD E@ E9:D 4FCC6?E 8C@FA]Qk^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^5F4k^2m =6DD E92? `d 9@FCD 367@C6 E96 EC256 5625=:?6 >256 :E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^H2D9:?8E@?\42A:E2=D\;@9?\42C=D@?\EC256\3_f53f6_5dh424`3`553ffhgda6c2_edQm2 D25 52J 7@C 7@C>6C E62>>2E6Dk^2m] w6 DA6?E `f J62CD H:E9 E96 r2A:E2=D[ D@ ~G649<:? 42==65 :E AC@323=J E96 E@F896DE 52J @7 9:D 42C66C 7C@> 2 A6CD@?2= DE2?5A@:?E]k^Am

kAm%96 7:CDE\ 2?5 E9:C5\C@F?5 A:4@?8 E96 36DE C6EFC?D 2?J E62> C646:G65 7@C 2 A6?5:?8 7C66 286?E C6?E2= A=2J6C] %92E 562= 2?5 EC25:?8 >:5\b_D 7@FCE9\=:?6 46?E6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^?9=\EC256\5625=:?6\6ea5e_3`6gb`fg2b36d4f`e`5h7hh`f4n42496Qm}:4 s@H5 E@ ‘682Dk^2m 25565 E@ 2 DE@4

kAm$@>6 @7 E9@D6 A:4>65:2E6 96=A] p 72DE\C:D:?8 42A 92D C65F465 E96 A@@= @7 9:89\6?5 7C66 286?ED 2G2:=23=6 @? yF=J ` 3642FD6 E62>D 92G6 A=6?EJ @7 DA246 E@ C6\D:8? E96:C 36DE A=2J6CD[ D@ E96 EC256 >2C<6E 92D 364@>6 E96 A=246 E@ 8@ 7@C E2=6?E]k^Am

kAm“%96C6’D ?@E 2D 3:8 2 3F4<6E E@ D9@A 7C@> E9:D DF>>6C[ D@ x E9:?< 92G:?8 2DD6ED E92E 2C6 EC25623=6 😀 8@@5[Q !2EC:4< D2:5] QpC6 E9@D6 EC256D 8@:?8 E@ 92AA6?n x 5@?’E @H] (6 9@A6] %96C6 E6?5 E@ 36 ?2>6D E92E 364@>6 2G2:=23=6 7@C D@>6 C62D@? @C 2?@E96C]”k^Am

k9am!=6?EJ @7 6=:E6 AC@DA64ED 2=C625J 😕 (2D9:?8E@?VD A:A6=:?6k^9am

kAm%96 C2C6 A=2J@77 >:DD6D 2?5 D6==\@77D 92G6 2==@H65 |29@?6J 2?5 9:D DE277 E@ :?7FD6 E96 @C82?:K2E:@? H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^H2D9:?8E@?\42A:E2=D\AC@DA64ED\3ae`aggh63f`3ac5`g3a7a`3d6f57gccQmAC@DA64EDk^2m 7C@> 2== @G6C E96 H@C=5]k^Am

kAmp=C625J 😕 E96 }w{ 2C6 #J2? {6@?2C5[ E96 }@] g A:4< 😕 a_ab[ 2?5 76==@H H:?86C xG2? |:C@D9?:496?<@[ 2 7:CDE\C@F?56C E96 AC6G:@FD J62C] s676?D6>2? r@=6 wFED@?[ D6=64E65 cbC5 😕 ‘ac 😀 ;@:?:?8 E96> E9:D H66< 27E6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^H2D9:?8E@?\42A:E2=D\4@=6\9FED@?\`he3b6dbfg35c65_ef_7cd45fhf2cc7bQmD:8?:?8 9:D 6?ECJ\=6G6= 4@?EC24Ek^2m $F?52J 7C6D9 @77 9:D 4@==686 D62D@? 2E q@DE@? &?:G6CD:EJ 6?5:?8] x=J2 !C@E2D[ 2 7:?5 2E }@] fd 😕 E92E D2>6 5C27E[ 😀 =625:?8 E96 p>6C:42? w@4<6J {628F6’D w6CD96J q62CD 😕 D4@C:?8 2E E96 286 @7 `h 2?5 😀 4=@D6 E@ 7@==@H:?8 9:D @=56C 3C@E96C E@ (2D9:?8E@?]k^Am

kAm“x’> C62==J 92AAJ H:E9 H96C6 H6’C6 2E[” D2:5 |29@?6J[ H9@ 366? 9625 @7 2>2E6FC D4@FE:?8 D:?46 a___] “|J 8FJD 92G6 5@?6 2 72?E2DE:4 ;@3 @7 ECJ:?8 E@ <:?5 @7 DE@4kAm!C@E2D[ 2 e\7@@E\d 46?E6C[ >:89E 36 23=6 E@ D=:56 :?E@ s@H5VD @=5 DA@E 2D D@@? 2D ?6IE D62D@?] wFED@? 😀 2 5J?2>:4[ @776?D:G6=J >:?565 A=2J6C H9@D6 :>A6?5:?8 2CC:G2= 😕 A2CE A2G65 E96 H2J 7@C r2C=D@? E@ 8@ E@ E96 sF4

kAmQ(6 76=E 2 =:EE=6 3:E >@C6 4@>7@CE23=6 D2J:?8 :7 H6 92G6 E@ =6E 2 8FJ <:?5 @7 E@H2C5D E96 6?5 @7 9:D 42C66C[ 😕 9:D >:5\b_D 8@[ 2?5 4@F=5 86E 8@@5 2DD6ED 😕 C6EFC?[ 9@A67F==J H6’C6 😕 2 8@@5 DA@E[” !2EC:4< D2:5] “(6 H@?’E 36 C:89E 2H2J[ 3FE H:E9:? E96 ?6IE 4@FA=6 D62D@?D 9@A67F==J H6’C6 😕 2 AC6EEJ 8@@5 DA@E H:E9 H96C6 @FC J@F?86C 8FJD 92G6 4@>6]”k^Am

kAm|29@?6J[ 2D 96 5:5 😕 E96 =2E6 a___D H96? E96 =:<6D @7 ~G649<:?[ q24[ |:<6 vC66? 2?5 p=6I2?56C $6>:? H6C6 a_ 2?5 a`[ H@F=5 =@G6 E@ “DA665 FA E96 4=@4<” 2?5 72DE\7@CH2C5 E9:D ?6IE 4C@A @7 AC@DA64ED E@ 36:?8 }w{ C625J] w6 @HD E92EVD ?@E A@DD:3=6[ 24@H=658:?8[ “*@F’G6 8@E E@ 36 A2E:6?E 2?5 =6E :E 6G@=G6]”k^Am

kAmp?5 J6E E96 6IA64E2E:@? DE:== 😀 E@ H:? ?@H — 2?5 H96?6G6C ~G649<:? 92?8D FA 9:D D<2E6D] %96 r2A:E2=D 2C6 4@?7:56?E E96 A=2J6CD H9@ 92G6 DEF5:65 F?56C 9:> H:== <66A E96 A@D:E:G6 4F=EFC6 8@:?8 2?5 ECFDE E92E >2?286>6?E H:== <66A >2<:?8 >@G6D E@ DFAA=6>6?E E96 4@C6 2=C625J 😕 A=246]k^Am

kAm“}@ @?6 42? C6A=246 p=6I ~G649<:? 2?5 H92E 96 3C:?8D E@ 2 E62>[” !2EC:4< D2:5] “%9@D6 8FJD[ E96J ;FDE H2?E E@ @H E92E H6’C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 4@>A6E:E:G6 E62> 2?5 H96? :E’D E:>6 E@ AFD9 E96 49:AD :?[ H6 H:==]Qk^Am

k9C ^m

kAm%9:D DE@CJ 92D 366? 4@CC64E65 E@ 56=6E6 2? 6CC@?6@FD C676C6?46 E@ r@=6 wFED@? 36:?8 2 =67E\92?565 D9@@E6C]k^Am

k9C ^m

kAmp! }w{i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^?9=Qm9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^?9=k^2mk^Am







Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.