What Happened to Alex Ovechkin?
Alex Ovechkin, widely regarded as one of the greatest ice hockey players of all time, continues his illustrious career as captain of the Washington Capitals. He made history in April 2025 by surpassing Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer and reached 900 career goals in November 2025. As of March 2026, Ovechkin's future in the NHL beyond his current contract, which expires at the end of the 2025-26 season, remains a significant topic of discussion.
Quick Answer
As of March 22, 2026, Alex Ovechkin is the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, having surpassed Wayne Gretzky's record in April 2025 and reaching 900 career goals in November 2025. He currently has 922 regular-season goals. The 40-year-old captain of the Washington Capitals is in the final year of his five-year contract, and his decision regarding continuing his NHL career or potentially returning to the KHL is a major storyline in the hockey world.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Drafted First Overall by Washington Capitals
Alex Ovechkin was selected as the first overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals, marking the beginning of his illustrious NHL career.
Wins Calder Memorial Trophy
In his rookie season, Ovechkin scored 52 goals and 54 assists, earning him the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie.
Wins First Hart Memorial Trophy
Ovechkin won his first Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player, showcasing his early dominance in the NHL.
Leads Capitals to First Stanley Cup
Captain Alex Ovechkin led the Washington Capitals to their first-ever Stanley Cup championship, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights. He was also awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP.
Signs Five-Year Contract Extension
Ovechkin signed a five-year, $47.5 million contract extension with the Washington Capitals, committing him to the team through the 2025-26 season as he pursued Gretzky's goal record.
Surpasses Gordie Howe for Second All-Time Goals
Ovechkin scored his 801st and 802nd career regular-season goals, moving past Gordie Howe into second place on the NHL's all-time goal-scoring list.
Suffers Broken Fibula
Ovechkin suffered a broken fibula, sidelining him for 16 games during the 2024-25 season, a significant setback in his pursuit of the all-time goal record.
Ties Wayne Gretzky's Goal Record
Alex Ovechkin scored his 893rd and 894th career goals against the Chicago Blackhawks, tying Wayne Gretzky for the most in NHL history.
Breaks Wayne Gretzky's All-Time Goal Record
Ovechkin scored his 895th NHL goal against the New York Islanders, officially surpassing Wayne Gretzky's 31-year-old record to become the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer.
Scores 900th Career NHL Goal
Ovechkin reached another historic milestone by scoring his 900th career NHL goal against the St. Louis Blues.
Reacts to John Carlson Trade
Ovechkin described the trade of long-time teammate John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks as 'probably the toughest day in my career, I'm talking about personal-wise,' reflecting on the changing Capitals roster.
Scores 922nd Career Goal
Ovechkin scored his 922nd career goal in a 4-1 victory against the Ottawa Senators, continuing to extend his all-time NHL goal record.
Discusses Post-Playing Career Coaching Role
Ovechkin stated he would agree to be an assistant coach if Evgeni Malkin were hired as a head coach someday, indicating thoughts about his post-playing career.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Alex Ovechkin's career has been a relentless pursuit of offensive excellence, culminating in him becoming the National Hockey League's all-time leading goal scorer. Drafted first overall by the Washington Capitals in 2004, Ovechkin quickly established himself as a dominant force, earning the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's top rookie in 2006. His powerful shot and physical play have defined his 'Great 8' persona, leading the Capitals to their first-ever Stanley Cup championship in 2018, where he was also awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
The most significant turning point in his recent career came on April 6, 2025, when Ovechkin scored his 895th career goal against the New York Islanders, officially breaking Wayne Gretzky's long-standing record of 894 regular-season goals. This monumental achievement, which many pundits once believed impossible, solidified his place in hockey history. Despite suffering a broken fibula in November 2024 that sidelined him for 16 games, Ovechkin returned strong, netting 22 goals in 39 games during the 2024-25 season to achieve the record.
Continuing his historic run, Ovechkin reached another significant milestone on November 5, 2025, by scoring his 900th NHL goal against the St. Louis Blues. As of March 18, 2026, he has extended his record to 922 career regular-season goals. Beyond goal-scoring, Ovechkin holds numerous other NHL records, including most power-play goals, most goals in away games, and most goals with one team.
Currently, as of March 22, 2026, Ovechkin is 40 years old and in the final year of the five-year, $47.5 million contract he signed with the Capitals in 2021. His future beyond the 2025-26 season is a subject of intense speculation. While he has expressed interest in potentially finishing his career in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia, he has also stated that a decision on a contract extension with the Capitals will involve his family and team owner Ted Leonsis, likely after the current season concludes. The recent trade of long-time teammate John Carlson in March 2026 was described by Ovechkin as 'probably the toughest day in my career, I'm talking about personal-wise,' highlighting the emotional toll of roster changes as the Capitals look to the future.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Alex Ovechkin made different choices?