Alex Ovechkin has put a finish line on his NHL career, and the timing leaves him with one more season to chase down the kind of numbers that have defined his run in Washington. The Capitals captain said the 2026-27 season will be his last in the league, making the announcement before the team’s first home game and then speaking to teammates again before their workout.
He said the decision was made over the summer and explained that he knows “in my heart it’s the right decision.” Ovechkin also thanked the people who have backed him and his family through the years, adding that he wants to soak in every bit of his final season. His message to teammates was simple: enjoy it, because time moves fast.
The 40-year-old is entering his farewell year after signing a one-year, $4.25 million extension this summer. He remains the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer and still has several milestones within reach. Ovechkin did not address what comes next after this season, though he could eventually finish his playing career in Russia.
His announcement also arrived with renewed attention on his ties to Vladimir Putin, including his appearance in a United Russia campaign advertisement. He did not mention that in his retirement statement.
In Detroit, Simon Edvinsson’s contract situation has become more uncomfortable than routine. Elliotte Friedman reported that the defenseman is frustrated by how long the negotiations have dragged on. Edvinsson reportedly expected a deal to be done and was “pretty mad” when it wasn’t, eventually heading back to Sweden and asking for some space.
The Red Wings had initially leaned toward a bridge deal, but there’s now more openness to a longer-term arrangement. Friedman said Detroit has made longer-term offers, though he doesn’t expect a five-year contract.
The bigger sign of how far this has gone is that the Red Wings have started asking around the league about Edvinsson’s value. That doesn’t mean a trade is imminent, but it does show the talks have reached a more complicated stage.
Connor Hellebuyck’s situation is also drawing interest, and Winnipeg may not have an easy path if it decides to move him. Friedman said the Jets and Sharks have talked about a possible trade, though the conversations never got very far. Hellebuyck would consider San Jose, but the question is whether the Sharks are really inside the competitive window he wants.
According to Friedman, Hellebuyck is looking for a team that can contend over the next three seasons, and that focus could shrink Winnipeg’s options. San Jose is still in the mix, but the timing is the issue.
Edmonton, meanwhile, is looking at a smaller move that could help its forward group. Friedman said the Oilers have explored a “lateral trade” that would send out one of their depth defensemen for a forward. Spencer Stastney looks like the most natural candidate after starting the season as the Oilers’ eighth defenseman, while Shakir Mukhamadullin and Ty Emberson are also possibilities.
The need up front has grown because of injuries, but Edmonton isn’t rushing. Friedman said the Oilers are not in a panic, especially with Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Jason Dickinson potentially close to returning. Matt Savoie is also expected back in the next couple of months.
In Other News...
Sharks Line Is Turning Into More Than Just An Early Surprise
A line built around Igor Chernyshov, Michael Misa and Tyler Toffoli has given the Sharks an early spark by mixing two promising young forwards with a veteran who has already done this deep into the spring. Toffoli, a Stanley Cup winner, has brought the kind of calm presence that can steady a new-look trio, and he has already made his mark with a key breakout pass that turned into a goal. With two members of the line producing at or above a point-a-game pace, the group has quickly become one of the more interesting parts of San Joses start.
Ryan Warsofsky has also pointed to the value Toffoli provides beyond the scoresheet, especially for younger players still learning how to handle the grind shift to shift. His composure has given the Sharks a more reliable option in the middle of their forward mix, and the early results suggest this could be more than a hot opening stretch. The bigger question now is whether the combination keeps growing as opponents get a better read on it and the season settles into its longer test. [Read more 🡒]
Sharks Hot Start Faces Its First Real Test This Week
The Sharks have built some early momentum with two home wins to open the 2026-27 season, and now the schedule turns a lot less forgiving. This week brings three games in six days, with road trips mixed in and a home date against a stronger opponent, a stretch that should say more about where this group really stands than the first couple nights did. Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith have helped fuel the upbeat start, giving San Jose reason to believe the top end of the roster can carry real weight.
Depth is where the test gets trickier. Adam Gaudettes upper-body issue has already pushed him onto injured reserve, and Alex Barr-Boulet is also sidelined, leaving the Sharks thinner while the games come fast. In net, Yaroslav Askarov has gotten the initial starts and the plan is to manage that workload carefully through the busy stretch, which makes every night a little more interesting as San Jose tries to protect its start and keep the early noise from turning into an early grind. [Read more 🡒]
Sharks Make A Blue Line Change That Says Plenty About This Start
The Sharks are making another early-season adjustment on the blue line, and this one will give Sam Dickinson his season debut Monday while Nolan Allan comes out of the lineup. For a team still sorting out its best mix at the back end, the move is a small but telling snapshot of how San Jose is handling the first stretch of the schedule, especially with a two-game road trip ahead and practices still on deck.
The roster picture has also shifted around the edges. Adam Gaudette remains on injured reserve even as he travels with the team, while Patrick Giles cleared waivers and was sent to the Barracuda. None of it is dramatic on its own, but together it suggests the Sharks are willing to keep shuffling pieces as they try to settle into a workable rhythm before the trip gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]