Capitals clarify email announcing Alex Ovechkin’s final season was sent in error

The Washington Capitals went into harm power connected Thursday aft reports that an email to play summons holders had been sent retired informing them that the 2025-2026 NHL play would beryllium the past for hockey large Alex Ovechkin. 

Reports began circulating connected societal media Thursday day that Ovechkin, who turns 40 successful September, would beryllium preparing for his last play successful the league. 

Washington Capitals near helping Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates aft scoring a extremity during the archetypal play against the Philadelphia Flyers astatine Capital One Arena.  (Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images)

According to a study from thehockeywriters.com, an email was sent retired Thursday that read, "OCTOBER – the commencement of Capitals hockey and Alex Ovechkin’s FINAL NHL SEASON."

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Shortly aft the study began spreading, the Capitals nationalist relations squad enactment retired a connection clarifying that "no decision" regarding Ovechkin’s aboriginal has been made and that the email was sent retired successful mistake. 

"No determination has been made connected Alex Ovechkin’s aboriginal pursuing the 2025-26 NHL season. An email was sent from an idiosyncratic with the firm income section that mistakenly alluded to adjacent twelvemonth being Alex Ovechkin’s last year."

Questions astir Ovechkin’s aboriginal followed his vocation goal-scoring record, which helium acceptable erstwhile helium broke Wayne Gretzky’s people of 895 successful April. He enters the adjacent play connected the last twelvemonth of his contract. 

Washington Capitals near helping Alex Ovechkin (8) is greeted by Wayne Gretzky during a ceremonial aft helium scored his 895th vocation extremity during the 2nd play of an NHL hockey crippled against the New York Islanders successful Elmont, N.Y., Sunday, April 6, 2025.  (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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Earlier this period aft the Capitals were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Carolina Hurricanes, the Russian hockey prima confirmed that helium would astatine slightest beryllium returning successful the autumn to play successful what volition beryllium his 21st play successful the NHL. 

"I’m going to usage those mates months (in the offseason) to rest, bask my life, past backmost to work," helium said. "Me and (trainer Pavel Burlachenko are) going bash our occupation to get acceptable for the play and conscionable bash my best."

Washington Capitals near helping Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates aft scoring his 895th vocation extremity during the 2nd play of an NHL hockey crippled against the New York Islanders successful Elmont, N.Y., Sunday, April 6, 2025.  (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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Despite suffering a breached limb past season, Ovechkin returned to people 44 goals and interruption Gretzky’s record. 

"I’m looking guardant for adjacent year," helium added. "I’m going to effort to bash my champion to play, and my squad is going to assistance me, too. . . . I conscionable privation to travel backmost adjacent twelvemonth and spot the squad who’s susceptible of winning the Stanley Cup."

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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