Alex Ovechkin may be unsure how much longer he’ll play in the NHL, but he now knows how he will end his career.
“My last game in hockey will be for Dynamo Moscow,” Ovechkin said on FONBET’s “FONtour 2026 World Cup,” as translated by Google Translate.
The comments come just over two weeks after Ovechkin signed a one-year extension with the Washington Capitals. Ovechkin flew over from Russia this weekend to the New York/New Jersey area for Fanatics Fest and the 2026 World Cup Final.
Ovechkin grew up in Dynamo’s academy, playing the first four years of his professional career with the team in the then-Russian Super League. Since leaving for the NHL in 2005, Dynamo has never strayed too far from Ovechkin’s heart.
He brought the Stanley Cup to the Moscow complex on his Cup Day in 2018 and even played for the team during the 2012-13 NHL lockout, where he was credited as part of their eventual Gagarin Cup team that season.
Ovechkin has participated in Dynamo events most summers and serves in an advisory role with the club.
Ovechkin first suggested the idea of finishing his career with Dynamo in November 2020 while speaking to Russian Television International, before signing a five-year extension with the Capitals that brought him through the 2025-26 season.
“I have a certain goal I am trying to achieve after my career ends, but it is not over yet,” Ovechkin said then. “I am still at the top of my game. I think I will continue playing for at least a few more years, and, of course, I hope my health is good, I would like to finish it here, with Dynamo Moscow.”
He added later in the conversation, “It is not a question of money. It is just a matter of principle. I have only played for two teams, Dynamo and Washington. Obviously, I will stay with Washington for another two… three… four… five years. And then I would like to finish on a high note, to play my final game with Dynamo.”
Specifically suggesting a “final game” gives Ovechkin wiggle room if he does not want to play a full season in the KHL while being in his mid-40s. Ovechkin has also suggested that he could play another year with the Capitals beyond 2026-27.
During the FONtour chat, Ovechkin was also asked by Andrey Arshavin and Nikita Filatov, somewhat ridiculously, if he would just come back to Russia once he broke Wayne Gretzky’s combined goals record of 1,016. Ovechkin has 1,006 regular-season and playoff goals heading into the year.
“First, I need to beat him first, and then I’ll see. But I have a year-long contract. How can I just give it all up?” Ovechkin said. “I won’t allow myself to do this.”
The 2026-27 season will mark Ovechkin’s 22nd in the NHL. When the puck drops on the Capitals’ new campaign, Ovechkin will join Sidney Crosby as the 24th and 25th players in history to suit up in 22 or more NHL seasons, per Stat Muse. Ovechkin will be 41 on Opening Night.
