Alexander Ovechkin has confirmed plans to return to Moscow’s Dynamo hockey club following the conclusion of his National Hockey League (NHL) career. The veteran forward is expected to make the move to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in September 2027, when he will be 42 years old.
Ovechkin, who has starred for the Washington Capitals since being drafted, first publicly contemplated ending his professional career in 2020. At the age of 35, he expressed a desire to finish playing in Russia, specifically with Dynamo Moscow, one of the two teams he has represented. He emphasized that his return was motivated not by financial considerations but by principle and the wish to conclude his career on a personal note.
In 2025, a year ahead of his then-current contract expiration with Washington, Ovechkin again addressed his future intentions in an interview. When asked about the prospect of signing a new deal with the Capitals, he suggested that extending his NHL career beyond the existing contract was unlikely. Instead, he hinted at a probable return to Dynamo Moscow, provided his health allowed it.
Despite ongoing considerations about his future, Ovechkin recently signed a one-year contract extension with Washington worth $9 million, including performance bonuses. Nevertheless, he reiterated his commitment to ending his professional journey with Dynamo during an appearance on the travel program FONtour, stating unequivocally that his final game will be played for the Russian club.
At 42, many hockey players remain competitive, particularly in the KHL, where the overall level of competition is generally regarded as lower than in the NHL. Examples include Pavel Datsyuk, who scored 38 points playing for Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg at a similar age. Ovechkin’s durability is notable, as he has missed only 51 games due to injury over 21 seasons, including a significant recovery from a broken leg sustained during the 2024–25 NHL season.
Ovechkin’s return to Dynamo will also allow Russian hockey fans who missed his earlier performances—especially during the shortened 2012–13 NHL lockout season—to witness him play domestically. Former teammates, such as Stanley Cup winner Evgeny Kuznetsov, have publicly expressed hopes that Ovechkin will come back to Russia sooner. Kuznetsov has stated that Ovechkin should not remain in the NHL but rather return home.
Though Ovechkin extended his NHL contract once more, it appears clear that this will be his final season with the Capitals, with a transition back to the KHL set to follow. His upcoming return to Moscow’s Dynamo is highly anticipated by fans and teammates alike.