Capitals say no decision has been made on Ovechkin’s future after email mistake

The Washington Capitals quickly backtracked on an email regarding the immediate future of the franchise’s biggest superstar.

After sending out an email to season ticket holders on Thursday saying that the 2025-26 season would be Alex Ovechkin‘s last, the team clarified that no decision has been made on the superstar’s future.

The original email sent out to fans read: “OCTOBER — the start of Capitals hockey and Alex Ovechkin’s FINAL NHL SEASON,” per Tony Wolak of The Hockey Writers.

Ovechkin is set to turn 40 before next season and will enter the final year of a five-year, $47 million contract, meaning he’ll become an unrestricted free agent following the 2025-26 season.

Following the Capitals’ loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Ovechkin told reporters that he intended to play next season — his 21st in the NHL — but added that he hadn’t thought about the future beyond that.

“I haven’t thought about it yet, but we’ll see what’s going to happen,” Ovechkin said earlier this month. “I’m going to try to do my best to be able to do well next year, and we’ll see.”

The former No. 1 overall pick had a season for the ages in 2024-25, netting 44 goals to surpass Wayne Gretzky’s all-time mark of 895. He also helped the Capitals to a 51-22-9 record, the best mark in the Eastern Conference.