Ovechkin greets Capitals teammates ahead of training camp, 22nd season

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Alex Ovechkin is back and gearing up for what could be a memorable 22nd NHL season.

The NHL’s all-time goals leader was all smiles when he returned to MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Friday after flying back from his native Russia the previous day. Ovechkin didn’t arrive in time to join his Washington Capitals teammates on the ice for their informal skate Friday, but a video that the Capitals posted on social media showed him greeting them with hugs and handshakes.

The long offseason since Ovechkin and the Capitals missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season is nearing its end. Training camp practices begin Thursday, which is Ovechkin’s 41st birthday.

“I think he's going to come in really excited,” Capitals general manager Chris Patrick said last month. “He's going to bring that energy, that aura. I know our new players are excited to be on a team with him.”

Ovechkin, the Washington captain, seemed equally excited about the newcomers after the left wing announced he was returning for at least another season, signing a one-year contract on July 2 that carries $1 million in salary, a $4.75 million games-played bonus (10 games) and a $3.25 million signing bonus; the deal has an average annual value of $4.25 million. Washington added two three-time 30-goal scorers in Alex Tuch (trade with the Buffalo Sabres after signing an eight-year, $84 million contract with a $10.5 million AAV) and Jordan Kyrou (trade with St. Louis Blues), a versatile forward in Boone Jenner (signed a four-year, $23 million contract with a $5.75 million AAV) and an imposing stay-at-home defenseman in the 6-foot-7, 225-pound Vincent Desharnais (signed a four-year, $16.8 million contract with a $4.2 million AAV).

“When you look at our roster, it's a Stanley Cup contender,” Ovechkin declared at his welcome-back news conference on July 6.

Having a chance to win the Stanley Cup again, after lifting it for the first time in 2018, was undoubtedly a significant factor in Ovechkin’s decision to come back. Adding to his NHL-record total of 929 goals was a lure as well.

Ovechkin also sounded aware, though, that, with the Capitals’ improved forward depth, he’ll need to work to earn his ice time and opportunities to play in key situations like everyone else. Although he led Washington with 32 goals and 64 points and didn’t miss a game last season, he seemed determined to prove he can still produce at a high level, acknowledging “I have to be better” and talking about changing his offseason training to make that happen.

“That always drives ‘O,’” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said last month. “He always has that burning fire in him that he wants to go out and show that he's still one of the great players in the world. That wouldn't change at 45. He's just so driven and so motivated, so I think this year and the offseason and what's gone on with the team and some of the additions, I think it's given him and our whole organization a little bit of added enthusiasm, energy, excitement about what this could be.

“He sounds so excited to get going, to get back to D.C., to put the necessary work in training-wise. So, I have no doubt when we see him back and the work that he put in that he's highly, highly motivated and excited about the upcoming year.”

What can a highly motivated Ovechkin accomplish at 41 years old? When Gordie Howe was 41 in 1969-70, he scored 31 goals in 76 games for the Detroit Red Wings, which are the most in NHL history by a player 41 or older.

Longtime rival Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who is also entering his 22nd season but is 39, has learned never to discount what Ovechkin is capable of, even in the latter stages of his career.

“How many goals did he have last year?” Crosby said at the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour in Las Vegas last week. “He knows how to score goals. You don’t lose that. Maybe as you get older you might have to adjust a little bit. But his shot is his shot, and that’s not going anywhere.”

And there’s still some history for Ovechkin to chase. His combined total of 1,006 goals, including 77 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, are 10 fewer than Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record of 1,016.

Ovechkin surpassed Gretzky’s League record of 894 regular-season goals by scoring his 895th goal on April 6, 2025, against the New York Islanders. He tied for third in the NHL with 44 goals that season.

“What I do know is his passion, his drive, his resiliency is like something that I've never seen before in my life,” Capitals forward Tom Wilson said at the Player Media Tour. “And when you have a guy like that leading the way, it's always going to be something special. So, obviously, every player's role changes from year to year.

“He's showing he can still score. He can still put the puck in the net.”

Carbery wouldn’t discuss specifics about his plans for Ovechkin’s role this season but said, “I think he's going to be a huge part of our team, as per usual.”

Carbery has talked about spreading the ice time out among all four lines to utilize Washington’s depth, though, which would mean Ovechkin and other forwards could see their ice time trimmed.

Ovechkin played an NHL career-low 17:27 per game last season. Regardless, he always seems to find a way to make the most of his opportunities.

“It's going to be a lot of fun to watch,” Patrick said. “I am really excited to watch it. I think not just him, but for a lot of the guys, there’s a renewed energy here, there’s an excitement level here. He scored (32) goals last year, and maybe he can touch close to that again this year.

“If he does that, that's fantastic.”

NHL.com columnist Nicholas J. Cotsonika and staff writer Mike Zeisberger contributed to this report