Sports

Washington Capitals Accidentally Spoil News Of Alexander Ovechkin’s Retirement In Email To Fans

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Alexander Ovechkin, who recently surpassed Wayne Gretzky as the NHL‘s all-time leading goal-scorer, is set to retire following the 2025-26 season. But rather than Ovechkin or the Washington Capitals announcing Ovechkin’s impending retirement with the pomp and circumstance it deserves, fans found out in a far more benign way.

According to multiple season-ticket holders, fans received an email with a subject line reading:  “OCTOBER – the start of Capitals hockey and Alex Ovechkin’s FINAL NHL SEASON.” The Capitals quickly took to social media in an attempt to debunk the claim.

Washington Capitals Refute Email Stating That Alexander Ovechkin Is Retiring

“No decision has been made on Alex Ovechkin’s future following the 2025-26 NHL season,” the team said in a post on X from its PR department. “An email was sent from an individual with the corporate sales department that mistakenly alluded to next year being Alex Ovechkin’s final year.”

Now, maybe that’s the truth. It’s possible Ovechkin has not made a decision. But it sure feels like the PR department is trying to put out a fire after someone mistakenly broke the news.

After all, Ovechkin will be 40 years old following the 2025-26 season and is entering the final year of the five-year, $47.5 million extension he signed with the Capitals in 2021. So it seems as if 2026 is a pretty logical time for him to end a legendary career.

But there are reasons to believe otherwise. For one, the Caps maintain that no decision has been made. Additionally, Ovechkin is coming off a 44-goal, 73-point season in just 65 games. That means he’s better than a point-per-game player still, and the 44 goals ranked third in the entire NHL. Why hang it up when you’re still playing a superstar level?

So it’s entirely possible Ovechkin isn’t done. But it sure seems as if someone just let the cat out of the bag in the worst possible way.