In April, before Alex Ovechkin had decided between retiring from the NHL or returning for a 22nd season with the Washington Capitals, his head coach was prepared for both possibilities.“Whether he’s back next year, he’ll be welcomed with open arms from my standpoint as the head coach and as our captain,” Spencer Carbery said. “And if this is it, we’ll support him that way, and I’ll celebrate him and give him a big hug and have a cold beer with him.”Those beers will have to wait. On Thursday, the Capitals announced that Ovechkin, nearly 41 years old and already the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, had signed a one-year contract with Washington worth $4.25 million.“I’m back!” Ovechkin said in a release. “Thank you to everyone for giving me and my family the time to make this decision. I’m healthy. I love playing hockey and competing to win. I’m excited to come back and join my teammates so we can fight for a playoff spot and have a chance to win. See you in September, DC!”According to the team, the contract has a $1 million base salary plus a $3.25 million signing bonus and another $4.75 million bonus if Ovechkin plays 10 games.Ovechkin, who in April 2025 broke Wayne Gretzky’s career record for regular-season goals with his 895th, added 32 more last season for the Capitals, but his contract status and age-related decline in other areas of his game turned the prospect of another season in Washington into an open question.