Alex Ovechkin has never wavered when it comes to sticking with the Washington Capitals, the franchise that made him the first overall selection at the 2004 NHL Draft.

The 40-year-old superstar winger would have had suitors across the NHL willing to pay him an inordinate amount of money if he had ever wanted to leave the Capitals, but instead, he is in the middle of his 21st season with the club. Ovechkin recently explained to Jeff Marek and Bruce Boudreau why he has felt such a strong loyalty towards the Capitals and Washington, DC, in general.

“This is obviously my second family,” Ovechkin said on the Hockey Lifers Podcast. “This is my second home. The relationship that we have, me, this team, ownership, it’s great. Obviously, we’ve been through ups and downs, but most important thing, if you’re a hockey player, if you’re spending so much time, we won the Stanley Cup. That’s the most important thing, and you want to win more and more, but sometimes s*** happens.

“Last year, we was unbelievable in the regular season, but we have some issues in the playoffs. But that experience, those guys that make it the first time in the playoffs, won the first round, it’s going to help us and them in the future, for sure. Overall, the city, the organization, the fans, and everybody. I feel like this my second home.”

Throughout Ovechkin’s tenure with the Capitals, the team has compiled a 867-528-189 record, tallying the second-most standings points (1,923) in the league during that span. They have won their division 11 times, claimed three Presidents’ Trophies, and won the 2018 Stanley Cup.

Individually, Ovechkin has claimed the Calder Memorial Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, Rocket Richard Trophy (9x), Hart Memorial Trophy (3x), Ted Lindsay Award (3x), Conn Smythe Trophy, Mark Messier Leadership Award, and is a 13-time NHL All-Star. He has also been captain of the Capitals since January 5, 2010.

Ovechkin is currently uncommitted to playing another NHL season beyond the 2025-26 campaign. The Great 8’s contract with the Capitals expires next summer, and he’s admitted that he plans to play out the entire year before deciding on his future.

“I still love game,” Ovechkin said last month. “I still have passion. You just enjoy it because you never know when you’re going to get hurt or when you’re going to be retired.”

Given the uncertainty, Ovechkin has fans and teammates alike trying to appreciate every single thing he does this season for the Capitals. Ovechkin, who broke the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring record last season, recently hit both the 900-goal and 1,500-game milestones on home ice at Capital One Arena.