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Ovechkin Announces NHL Retirement After 2026-27 Season

By Drooid · Oct 8, 2026, 2:49 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Alex Ovechkin Retires

Alex Ovechkin announced he will retire from the NHL after the 2026-27 season.
He said his family decided the retirement over the summer and he feels it is the right decision.
He entered the season with 929 career goals, the NHL all-time record and 35 more than Wayne Gretzky.
His final regular-season home game will be against Sidney Crosby’s Penguins on April 4.

Summary

Ovechkin Launches Charity

Ovechkin launched a season-long charitable campaign with monthly events supporting pediatric cancer and adaptive hockey.
Ovechkin pledged to donate a portion of every goal to THE GR8 CHASE, matched by Monumental Sports, raising over $256,000.
Ovechkin’s “Ovi’s 8’s” initiative provides eight Capitals tickets each season to ASHA participants and families.
Since his involvement, ASHA grew from 45 programs in 30 cities to 140 programs serving over 8,750 athletes.

History

Historical Context

When Wayne Gretzky retired from the NHL in 1999, the league marked the end of an era with his record-setting 894 career goals. The NHL and Washington Capitals launched the Hockey Fights Cancer partnership in 1993, raising $2.5 million in its inaugural season. Ovechkin’s 2026-27 retirement announcement and his $256,000 GR8 CHASE pledge mirror Gretzky’s farewell, both pairing career milestones with expansive charitable drives. These linked legacies compel future NHL stars to embed philanthropy into retirement narratives, reinforcing community impact beyond on-ice achievements.

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Alex Ovechkin Retires

Alex Ovechkin announced he will retire from the NHL after the 2026-27 season.
He said his family decided the retirement over the summer and he feels it is the right decision.
He entered the season with 929 career goals, the NHL all-time record and 35 more than Wayne Gretzky.
His final regular-season home game will be against Sidney Crosby’s Penguins on April 4.

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