ARLINGTON, Va. -- Alex Ovechkin will be back for a 21st NHL season with the Washington Capitals to add to his League-record goal total and chase the Stanley Cup again, but he doesn’t know if it will be his last.

Alex Ovechkin said Saturday he intends to return to the Washington Capitals for his 21st NHL season after breaking Wayne Gretzky's career goal-scoring record earlier this spring. Ovechkin joked about joining the minor league Hershey Bears for their playoff run and indicated the question wasn't whether he'd be back but rather if he had what it takes to earn a spot.

One day after his head coach said they expected him back next season, Alex Ovechkin confirmed he will return to the Washington Capitals for the 2025-26 campaign.