Alex Ovechkin fuels retirement rumors: no contract talks with Capitals, wife hints at move to Russia

Alex Ovechkin, in the final year of his Capitals contract, isn't discussing an extension yet, choosing to adjourn future decisions. He recently surpassed Wayne Gretzky's goal record and nearly 1,500 NHL games.

His wife's prior comments about a Moscow move were downplayed by Ovechkin as speculative, keeping his next steps open.

Alex Ovechkin breaks silence on future with Capitals

The hockey world is buzzing with speculation surrounding Alex Ovechkin's playing future as he enters the concluding year of his current agreement with the Washington Capitals. The iconic forward remains unhurried in committing to his next career chapter, despite the swirling rumors. He conveyed, "We are not in negotiations yet."

Emphasizing his thoughtful approach, he stated, "Would you like to stay at the club? A year will pass and we will think about it. We will live and see."Ovechkin, set to reach forty in September, is taking his time with this vital decision, and the Capitals organization has also maintained silence on whether this upcoming season marks his final stint in the NHL.

Fresh off a remarkable season where he scored 44 goals and 29 assists, the formidable goal-scorer now stands at 897 regular-season goals, having recently eclipsed Wayne Gretzky's long-standing record of 894.

He is on the steep of becoming the first player in history to achieve 900 regular-season goals and is also just nine games shy of a significant milestone: 1,500 career NHL appearances.Earlier this year, his wife, Anastasia Ovechkina, provoked considerable discussion when she mentioned their family's potential mobility. She articulated, "Alexander still has a contract for a year. So we will play the next season, and then fly back to live in Moscow, to our homeland.

We will stay in Russia, yes."

Alex Ovechkin dismisses retirement chatter but leaves future wide open

Nevertheless, Ovechkin later clarified, elucidating that her remarks were not a definitive assertion. He elaborated, "Maybe we will come and play in Russia, but anything can happen," and firmly phrased, "This is pure nonsense that [media] flipped things and put Nastya in that position.”Regarding his imminent 1,500th NHL game, all played with the Capitals, Ovechkin conveyed profound sentiment.

"You just get used to it, you're ready for it," he remarked. He further articulated the significance, saying, "It's clear that playing 1,500 games for one team is worth a lot. Very few players in the entire league have played that many, so... important for me."He currently ranks eighth in NHL history for games played with a single franchise and is also pursuing Wayne Gretzky’s combined goal record of 1,016, with 974 total goals, including playoffs.Also Read: Time to walk away? NHL analyst stirs controversy by claiming Sidney Crosby could be 'aged out' of Penguins rebuild

FAQs

Q: Is Alex Ovechkin retiring after this season?

Alex Ovechkin hasn't confirmed retirement and says he'll decide on his future next year.

Q: Is Ovechkin negotiating a contract extension with the Capitals?

No, Ovechkin confirmed that he is not in contract talks with the Capitals at this time.

Q: Did Ovechkin's wife say they’re moving back to Russia?

Yes, she mentioned a possible return to Moscow, but Ovechkin called media reports “nonsense.”