Capitals Legend Alex Ovechkin Reveals Timeline for Decision on NHL Future, Retirement in Video

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin says he has not yet decided whether this season will be his final campaign in the NHL.

"We're going to make a decision in the summer," Ovechkin told Monumental Sports Network's John Walton in an interview published Wednesday by the Capitals. "I have to talk to my family, with Ted, with KP, Mac. I have to make a decision in the summer."

Ovechkin continued, "Health-wise, I'm going to be 41 years old in September. We just have to be smart about it."

Ovechkin, who is currently set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, has extended his record as the NHL's all-time leading scorer by recording 31 goals in 78 games of his 21st season with the Capitals.

No NHL player has ever recorded more 30-goal seasons than Ovechkin, who has reached the plateau 20 times in 21 years.

The Capitals, which sit five points back of the last Eastern Conference with four games remaining in the regular season, are likely to miss the playoffs despite Ovechkin's consistent production.

That means there could be just four games left in Ovechkin's NHL career, starting with a Wednesday road game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Ovechkin is then set to play what could be his final home game on Sunday as part of a home-and-home set against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The lack of confirmation that Ovechkin will be returning to the NHL next fall could spike ticket prices in that game to record prices. The contest is already set to be the most expensive home game in Capitals history at an average third-party price of $377, per TickPick and Axios' Anna Spiegel.

The Capitals are set to close out the season next Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Ovechkin is heading into this final four-game stretch having extended his lead over Wayne Gretzky's 894 career goals to a record 928 total goals.

He also has a Stanley Cup ring after leading the Capitals to the franchise's first championship win in 2018. After the trade of John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks at the deadline, Ovechkin and Tom Wilson are the only remaining players from the Cup team still in D.C.

Ovechkin is one of just four 40-year-old players in the league this season, joining the Colorado Avalanche's Brent Burns, Tampa Bay Lightning's Corey Perry and New York Rangers' Jonathan Quick. None of those players are currently signed for next season.

The Capitals have prepared for the post-Ovechkin era by retooling around him with younger talent, including goaltender Logan Thompson, defensemen Jacob Chychrun and Martin Fehérváry and forwards Dylan Strome, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Aliaksei Protas.

Those players are set to be led by Wilson, who is currently signed through the 2030-31 season, once Ovechkin retires.

If Ovechkin is interested in returning to D.C., however, the Capitals could get at least one more season of their longtime captain on their top line and first power play unit as this team looks to make it back into the playoff picture next spring.