The Washington Capitals have been very active this summer, adding Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou, while also being aggressive in the free agent market by bringing in Vincent Desharnais, Boone Jenner, and others.
One thing everyone is still waiting for is the answer to whether Alex Ovechkin will continue his NHL career or not. Some recent comments from trusted insider Darren Dreger suggest that his career in the NHL is complete.
In a now-deleted tweet, TSN's Overdrive posted that "all indications" point towards Ovechkin's career being complete. However, it was reported elsewhere.
Darren Dreger: Re Alex Ovechkin future: Just how active Chris Patrick and the Capitals have been, all indications are he's not [coming back], but we don't know that officially yet - OverDrive (7/1)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 1, 2026
This report comes just hours after Elliotte Friedman predicted that Ovechkin will return for the 2026-27 season.
The Capitals have been making a lot of moves this offseason, and have been acting as if they are prepared to enter the new season without the greatest player in their franchise's history. At this point, nothing is official until it is confirmed by Ovechkin himself, but the Capitals' cap space is dwindling, so it is becoming more and more likely that he is finished.
Ovechkin has made it clear in the past he wouldn't play anywhere else in the NHL but for the Capitals, and I find it hard to believe his opinion has changed this offseason. He may want to win and may have considered other options, but I don't think that's something he would seriously consider.
There is a possibility that Ovechkin returns home to Russia and plays out his final season in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) before hanging up his skates for good. When he was younger, he always talked about finishing his career in Russia, and maybe he will standby that before he is completely finished.
There is still plenty of time left in the offseason before Ovechkin has to give an answer either way, but if this is it, he retires as the greatest goal scorer in NHL history, and one of the best players to ever lace up skates.
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