NHL star Alexander Ovechkin is reportedly planning to return to Russia in 2026 after completing the final season of his contract with the Washington Capitals. His wife, Anastasia Shubskaya, has told Russian media that the family will move back to Moscow following the 2025โ26 NHL season.
โOvechkin still has a year left on his contract. So, we will play next season and then fly back to Moscow, to our homeland,โ Shubskaya said in an interview with Argumenty i Fakty. โWe will stay in Russia,โ she added.
It follows reports that the upcoming season would be Ovechkinโs last in North America. Earlier in May, some Capitals season ticket holders received an email suggesting 2025โ26 would mark the end of the Russian forwardโs career with the franchise. However, the team later stated that the message was sent in error by a corporate sales employee, and no official retirement decision had been made.
Despite that, several statements from Ovechkinโs wife have indicated the couple intends to settle in Russia permanently after his NHL career ends.
Ovechkin, 39, recently became the all-time leading goal scorer in NHL history. On April 6, 2025, he scored his 895th regular-season goal in a game against the New York Islanders, breaking Wayne Gretzkyโs long-standing record of 894. Ovechkin has since added two more goals, bringing his tally to 897. He is now aiming for a personal milestone of 900 regular-season goals โ an achievement reportedly encouraged by Gretzky himself.
Following his historic achievement, Ovechkin received congratulations from both Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. Putin called it โa true celebration for fans in Russia and beyond,โ while Trump hailed the Russian star as โgreat.โ
Ovechkin has yet to publicly confirm his retirement or post-NHL plans. However, in an interview in March 2024 with Russian media, he acknowledged he was considering leaving Washington and even mentioned a possible return to Moscowโs Dynamo, where his professional career began.
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