“I’m looking forward for next year. I’m going to try to do my best to play, and my team is going to help me too.” That’s how the Great 8 kicked things off earlier this year, and he meant every syllable. Even after the Capitals wrapped up a strong regular season only to hit the brakes early against Carolina in Round 2, Alex Ovechkin isn’t done. The man with a stick of fire and skates made of thunder confirmed he’s lacing up for year 21 in 2025-26. He turns 40 this September, but don’t let the candles fool you. “First of all, [I have] to make a roster at 40 years old,” he joked. “I have to pass the skating test.” He’s got one more season left on that five-year, $47.5 million deal signed back in 2021, and oh yeah, he broke his leg and still racked up 44 goals and 73 points in 65 games.

Now, while folks were buzzing about his possible goodbye tour, the man himself laughed it off. “I just packed my stuff. I’m going to (the Capitals AHL affiliate team in) Hershey. They have playoffs, so I’ll see you there,” he chuckled, tossing retirement talks. “I just want to come back next year and see the team who’s capable of winning the Stanley Cup.” And now, Alex Ovechkin’s agent has stirred the pot with some mystery; dropping cryptic travel hints right after the Washington Capitals legend shut down all that retirement chatter.

Hockey News Hub hit up X on May 20th with a little Alex Ovechkin update that totally had fans raising eyebrows and sipping tea. “Alexander Ovechkin will fly to Moscow at the end of May,” they posted. The source? None other than his agent, Gleb Chistyakov, who decided to keep things spicy and vague, tossing out this cryptic gem: “There are certain plans, he will tell about them himself if he wants. I would not like to advertise them for now.” Ovi’s not talking just yet, but something’s definitely brewing. One thing’s for sure; the captain’s got something up his sleeve, and it ain’t just his legendary slapshot.

And why Moscow, you ask? Well, that’s not just any pit stop, that’s home base. Alex Ovechkin was born in Russia, and kicked off his whole hockey saga with Dynamo Moscow back in 2001. Before he became D.C.’s eternal captain, he was lighting it up for four seasons in the Russian Superleague, already a star in the making. He was scoring goals like candy at age 11; 56 to be exact, breaking Pavel Bure’s old record like it was no big deal. No wonder he was snatched up first overall in the 2004 NHL Draft by the Caps. Oh, and internationally? He’s been Team Russia’s ride-or-die for years. Olympics, World Juniors, World Championships, you name it, Ovi’s worn that jersey with pride, snatching up three golds in the process.

Now, with his recent travel buzz and those low-key retirement whispers floating in the air, things just got even juicier. The president of Dynamo Moscow has chimed in too; yup, even he’s tossing breadcrumbs into the rumor trail, hinting at the idea of Alex Ovechkin might be coming full circle. Imagine it: the OG Moscow magic, a Dynamo return, and the Great 8 skating back where it all began. Nothing confirmed yet, but let’s just say… the plot’s definitely thickening.

Is Alex Ovechkin heading back to Moscow?

Back in 2023, Alex Ovechkin said it loud and clear; “Still enjoy it. As soon as I’m not going to enjoy it, it’s probably not right for me to stay here and play the game the way I wanted to play.” And honestly? That’s the real heartbeat of his story. At 39, while most players are riding off into the sunset, Ovi’s still skating with fire in his soul. Ever since he inked that five-year, $47.5 million extension in 2021, he’s been putting in that real work, and now, with the contract ticking toward its end in 2026, everyone’s got one question on their mind: what’s next for the Great 8?

Well, the folks back home aren’t staying quiet. Dynamo Moscow’s big boss Viktor Voronin told TASS, “We wish him to reach this milestone, the entire hockey world is discussing it now.” And when asked about throwing a party for Ovi’s Gretzky record, he was chill but hopeful: “There is no talk in the club about any celebration yet. Of course, if he achieves this this season and then comes, we will congratulate him. We will plan some other events together with him, whatever he wishes.” Voronin even said straight up, “Of course, we are ready to accept him with pleasure.” But in classic Alex Ovechkin fashion, the final call? That’s all on him.

But just when retirement rumors started to swirl like a winter storm, Coach Spencer Carbery stepped in to clear the air. “My understanding is he’s under contract. So he’ll be back next year,” he said – no drama, just the facts. And as for Ovi’s playoff hustle? Carbery laid it bare: the man fought through it all; from a broken leg to a comeback mission, still lighting up the regular season with 44 goals in just 65 games and even smashing Gretzky’s sacred record with his 895th snipe. But in the playoffs? It got messy. Just one goal in five games against Carolina; yep, on a 5-on-3, and a minus-3 stat line overall. Still, Carbery saw the deeper story, praising Alex Ovechkin’s quiet leadership and that relentless, burning hunger that stats just can’t capture.