Alex Ovechkin Gets Honest About NHL Retirement While Wayne Gretzky Record Chase Nears Reach

The GR8 Chase is reaching turbo mode! Alex Ovechkin, a few days ago, pitted goal No. 886 with an empty-net dagger in the Capitals’ 4-2 win over the Kraken, inching within nine goals of shattering Wayne Gretzky’s legendary 894-goal record. The hype? Oh, it’s about to hit a whole new level. As the Capitals prepare for a three-game West Coast trip that begins Tuesday in Anaheim, all the focus is on Ovi as he approaches history. The 39-year-old sniper is rewriting the record books, and at this point, it’s not a matter of if—it’s when.

But hold up—while Ovechkin is chasing down one of the most iconic records in hockey, there’s another storyline brewing. The Great 8 got real about his future, and let’s just say, it’s got everyone talking. With each goal bringing him closer to Gretzky’s throne, the question lingers: What happens after? Alex Ovechkin is taking it all in stride, but the conversation about what’s next won’t go away as he racks up milestones.

Hockey insiders Puck Empire took to X on March 10 to drop a bombshell that’s got the NHL world buzzing—Alex Ovechkin just heavily hinted at his next move after his current deal runs out in 2026. And let’s just say, it might not be what Caps fans wanna hear. When asked by reporter Ilya Shevchenko if he’d consider signing another NHL contract after 2026, Ovi kept it short and real, saying, “I don’t think so.” Yeah… let that one sink in.

But don’t worry just yet, Alex Ovechkin is not finished with hockey, just maybe done with the NHL. If his body holds up, he’s got his eyes on a homecoming, probably to Dynamo Moskva, the team that he played for from 2001 through 2005 and during the lockout season of 2012-2013. It has all the elements of a fairytale comeback, but for now, Caps fans should enjoy the last chapters of the GR8 one’s NHL career.

Even before he turned into the goal-scoring sensation of the NHL, Alex Ovechkin was making a name for himself in Russia. At just 11 years old, Ovi was out there shattering records, lighting up the scoreboard with 56 goals, surpassing none other than Pavel Bure’s mark of 53. At the age of 16, he was not just a boy with a talent, he played for the Russian Super League and made his professional debut in the 2001-2002 season.

In three seasons, he scored 36 goals and 32 assist and played 152 games before the NHL came for him and what happened next is history. But here’s the kicker—this isn’t the first time Alex Ovechkin has teased a return to his old stomping grounds. The thought of wearing that Dynamo jersey again? He has had it in mind for quite some time now. And now, as his NHL contract is nearing its last days, the chatter of his return to Dynamo are growing louder.

Alex Ovechkin drops another hint!

Looks like the GR8 one has been setting the stage for his next chapter for quite a while now. Back in May 2024, Alex Ovechkin didn’t just hint—he straight-up declared that when his NHL days are done, he’s heading back to Dynamo Moskva to close out his legendary career. And just a month ago? Dynamo’s President Viktor Voronin basically rolled out the red carpet, saying the team is ready and waiting to welcome Ovi back the second his Capitals contract runs out. Ovechkin has always kept a strong bond with his hometown squad, and it looks like that connection is about to come full circle. Over the years, he’s waffled a little on how he wants his career to end, but the Dynamo dream has always been in the mix.

From tearing it up as a teenager in their hockey academy to playing his first four pro seasons there, Dynamo is woven into Ovi’s hockey DNA. And it’s not just a nostalgia trip—Ovechkin never really left. Even while rocking a Capitals jersey, he’s stayed tight with the Dynamo family, serving as an advisor, popping in for offseason training, and even helping with their junior squad’s jersey presentation last August. Voronin made it crystal clear: when Ovi comes back to Moscow, he’s not just another former player—he’s royalty. So while the NHL countdown is ticking, Ovechkin’s next chapter already has a Dynamo-blue welcome party waiting.