Alexander Ovechkin confirms his retirement plan: He's leaving North America

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Felip Gosselin
July 27, 2024 (8:44 PM)

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Perhaps the greatest goalscorer this game has ever known, Ovechkin now sits only a few goals behind Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record.

The clock is ticking for Ovy, and he recently commented on the continuity of his career. In a recent interview, Mr. Ovechkin addressed questions about his retirement plans, indicating that he has no immediate intentions to hang up his skates. Still, he will be leaving North America when the time comes.

He mentioned that if he ever stopped enjoying the game, he would retire regardless of his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record. Ovechkin, currently just 41 goals away from tying the record, emphasized his focus on the present and his enjoyment of the sport.

«As long as I enjoy [playing], as long as I get a thrill out of it, there's no point in finishing,» Ovechkin said per a transcription by sports.ru and a translation by Google Translate. «The hardest period is after vacation. You've played volleyball, gone to the gym for fun, and when you come out [from vacation], you need to run cross-country, lift heavy weights, go on a diet. And then you think: �Why do I need this, I have everything, I have enough of everything.' But after three to four days of suffering like that, you get into a routine and realize you still love this business. If I didn't love it, I would have finished a«As long as I enjoy [playing], as long as I get a thrill out of it, there's no point in finishing,» Ovechkin said per a transcription by sports.ru and a translation by Google Translate. «The hardest period is after vacation. You've played volleyball, gone to the gym for fun, and when you come out [from vacation], you need to run cross-country, lift heavy weights, go on a diet. And then you think: �Why do I need this, I have everything, I have enough of everything.' But after three to four days of suffering like that, you get into a routine and realize that you still love this business. If I didn't love it, I would have finished already.»lready.»

In his interview, Ovechkin stated his eventual plans to return to Russia upon retirement, with no intention of staying in North America. He expressed that he would deeply miss the Washington community and the broader hockey world when that day arrives. For now, fans can continue to watch Ovechkin's quest to surpass Gretzky's legendary goal tally.

«In Russia, all my friends, relatives, Nastya's relatives are here too,» Ovechkin said. «I feel more comfortable in Russia at the moment than there. [When] our season is ending, and we want to fly home right away because we miss home, our family, our friends.»

Source: Russian Machine Never Breaks

Alex Ovechkin explains when he'll retire from hockey and what he might do after his career is over: �It will be hard for me to change'