Alex Ovechkin returns for 22nd NHL season

sportsJul 2, 202622587

Alex Ovechkin signed a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals for the 2026-27 season with an average annual value of $4.25 million, the team announced Thursday. The 40-year-old will earn a $1 million salary, a $3.25 million signing bonus and can collect up to a $4.75 million games-played bonus after 10 games; the Capitals have $975,000 in cap space remaining. Ovechkin, who posted 32 goals and 64 points while playing all 82 games last season, said in the team release, "I’m back!" and a team video showed him signing the deal while on vacation in Turkey, saying "I’m back, babes." Capitals owner Ted Leonsis praised Ovechkin as the NHL’s greatest goal scorer and GM Chris Patrick tied Ovechkin’s return to the offseason additions of Jordan Kyrou, Alex Tuch, Vincent Desharnais and Boone Jenner. Ovechkin enters 2026-27 with 1,006 career combined goals, ten shy of Wayne Gretzky’s 1,016 combined total, and team statements emphasized his on-ice production and locker-room role shaping younger players as reasons his return matters for Washington’s push toward the playoffs and another Stanley Cup run.

RMNB

@rmnb.blog

ALEX OVECHKIN IS BACK! The Washington Capitals announced that Ovechkin signed a one-year contract for the 2026-27 season, deciding against ending his legendary NHL career.

17945d ago

countryfan93.bsky.social6

FUCK ALEX OVECHKIN Send his FUCKING ASS back 2 RUSSIA

calgaryrds.bsky.social5

Another Putin ass-licker allowed to live in Amerikkka, and in Washington no less!

One More Year haver Adam5

Such a nice boy to not make us wait too long

Wally Kibler🇨🇦5

Why are there Russians playing in the NHL while Russia has troops invading Ukraine a sovereign nation?

Peter Gabriel's Monkey 🇨🇦🇺🇦3

Go back to Russia scum.

Ashli-Meabh3

PIZZA IS HERE FOR ONE MORE YEAR!!!!!!!

Quoting this

screamlet4

YAY i will cry every game

James O'Hara3

Excellent news mostly because it would have really sucked if he just bounced. Incidentally, I'm still very glad that Ryan Zimmerman's wife told him to stop being a doofus and tell everyone he was going to retire before the season ended.

Mallory3

Front office did their job, they don’t make those moves he disappears to Russia 100%. Let’s go.

Ronnie Wu-Tang2

Russian machine does not break.

The Athletic

@theathletic.com

No. 8 isn't done yet 🐐 At nearly 41 years old, Alex Ovechkin has signed a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals worth $4.25 million to play his 22nd NHL season, the team announced. Details: nyti.ms/4gi5OTt

12645d ago

Marvin Fabulous1

It includes a $1M bonus if he actually backchecks more than 10x in the year.

They call me Jimothy ~1

You mean PUTIN ain’t done with the greatest spy ever~

Tom Gulitti

@tomgulittinhl.bsky.social

Alex Ovechkin is coming back for 22nd season. Signed one-year contract: $1 million in salary, a $4.75 million games-played bonus (10 games) and a $3.25 million signing bonus. Ovechkin’s contract will carry an average annual value of $4.25 million.

4645d ago

Quoting this

Japers' Rink57

I know people's heads may vary on this announcement, but if your heart doesn't love it, what are you even doing here?

One More Year haver Adam5

Finally get to wear this one tomorrow (if it still fits)

Greg Young4

I’m very very in on the Caps this year

Jon C4

This makes me wonder, what's the lowest AAV to ever have a 30+ goal season (adjusted for cap % I guess)?

sargent.major 🔴🏆⚫️2

just retire old man, damn trying to see my Stanley Cup Champions for less than like $200 a ticket

Rick City2

That's awesome. Go Ovi (who am I??)

Douglas Reyes-Ceron

@dreyesceron.bsky.social

how it feels watching one man play hockey when you were 15 years old and knowing you get to see him play as you turn 37 this year

Home Simpson meme of him as a kid in front of a TV and him as an adult but it's Alex Ovechkin in 2005 and 2026

4945d ago

NHL (Bot)

@notnhl.bsky.social

THE GR8 IS STAYING ANOTHER YEAR‼️ Alex Ovechkin has signed a one-year deal with the /Capitals! #NHLFreeAgency

3745d ago

Quoting this

Ches - STANLEY CUP CHAMPS!!!!!!6

As I predicted, he’s going to stay for another year so that the media coverage can be as obnoxious as possible as he goes on a big loud public retirement tour, coach K style #NHL

Doug!2

$4.25 million will look really good at the deadline when they trade him to a contender for futures

Becca

@beccahjr.bsky.social

Thing that just occurred to me: Alex Ovechkin is a UFA for the first time EVER. I know the options are either he re-signs in DC or retires but man, is that weird to think about him just out there, unsigned.

2846d ago

Peter Baker

@peterbakernyt.bsky.social

"I'm back!" Alex Ovechkin, the 40-year-old all-time NHL leading scorer, announces he will forgo retirement for now and play again this coming season with the @capitals.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...

2645d ago

Toby Applegate2

His workout is to stand just outside the dot and wave his stick for pucks. Great players need to know when to let go.

youvotedforthis2.bsky.social1

I have to wonder if it's about getting his citizenship. He does not yet have it. He is Russian but his children were born here. Hope it works out for him!

Andrew Heimert1

The only Russian Machine that doesn’t break.

Sammi Silber

@sammisilber.bsky.social

The Capitals are going all in. Here's a look at their moves to open free agency, how Boone Jenner and Vincent Desharnais fit and what they bring to the table, how it impacts Alex Ovechkin and more on the depth adds. Latest @TheHockeyNews: thehockeynews.com/nhl/washingt...

1545d ago

Japers' Rink

@japersrink.bsky.social

Yeah. Alex Ovechkin is currently not a Washington Capital. wtf.

1546d ago

ARLnow

@arlnow.bsky.social

JUST IN: Former Arlington resident Alex Ovechkin to continue frequenting Ballston practice facility after signing one-year contract with the Capitals, per team press release

945d ago

Stephen Whyno

@swhyno.bsky.social

Alex Ovechkin declares, "I'm back!" for a 22nd NHL season with the Capitals, another shot at the Stanley Cup and a chance to put his career goal-scoring record further out of reach for the next player who chases it: apnews.com/article/alex...

1045d ago

NBC4 Washington

@nbcwashington.com

🏒 “I’m back.” Alex Ovechkin is returning for a 22nd NHL season after re-signing with the Capitals.

945d ago

LNH

@lnh-fr.bsky.social

IL EST DE RETOUR 🤩 Alex Ovechkin signe un nouveau contrat d'une saison avec les Capitals!

445d ago

countryfan93.bsky.social

@countryfan93.bsky.social

FUCK ALEX OVECHKIN Send his FUCKING ASS back 2 RUSSIA

645d ago

NHL Public Relations (Bot)

@notprnhl.bsky.social

Alex Ovechkin will officially return for his 22nd NHL season with the /Capitals. Take a look back at some of Ovechkin's Gr8est career achievements with #NHLStats.

345d ago

3 sources

washingtonpost.comAlex Ovechkin, NHL’s all-time goals leader, will return to Washington Capitals nytimes.comAlex Ovechkin delays NHL retirement, re-signs with Washington Capitals on 1-year deal russianmachineneverbreaks.comAlex Ovechkin returning to Capitals for 2026-27 season after deciding against retirement

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Alex Ovechkin returns for 22nd NHL season

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