The Washington Capitals quickly retracted an email concerning the immediate future of the franchise`s most prominent player.
Following the distribution of an email to season ticket holders on Thursday, which incorrectly stated that the 2025-26 season would mark Alex Ovechkin`s final year, the team issued a clarification asserting that no definitive decision has been reached regarding the superstar`s future plans.
The organization explained via social media channels that the erroneous email was inadvertently sent by an individual within the corporate sales department.
According to reports, the original email sent to the team`s fanbase read: “OCTOBER — the start of Capitals hockey and Alex Ovechkin`s FINAL NHL SEASON.”
Ovechkin is scheduled to reach the age of 40 before the commencement of the next season. He will then be entering the concluding year of his current five-year, $47 million contract, which would make him eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2025-26 season.
After the Capitals` elimination by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Ovechkin informed journalists that he intended to play the following season, which would be his 21st in the NHL. However, he added that he had not contemplated his future beyond that point.
“I haven’t thought about it yet, but we’ll see what’s going to happen,” Ovechkin stated earlier this month. “I’m going to try to do my best to be able to do well next year, and we’ll see.”
The former first overall draft pick had an outstanding season in 2024-25, scoring 44 goals. This achievement allowed him to surpass Wayne Gretzky`s all-time record of 895 goals. He also played a key role in the Capitals achieving a dominant 51-22-9 record, the best in the Eastern Conference.
Tristan Blackwood