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Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin over rising green arrow
Alex Ovechkin recently kicked off his 22nd NHL season, and on Monday, we learned it will be his last. He’ll be playing what could be his final game in April, and prices for that contest (and his last one at home) went through the roof after he announced his plans to retire.
In 2004, the Capitals scooped up Alex Ovechkin with the first overall pick in the NHL Draft, and it’s safe to say he lived up to the hype that surrounded him when he arrived in the nation’s capital.
Ovechkin has been the face of the franchise for more than two decades, and the man who played a pivotal role in helping them secure their first Stanley Cup in 2018 entered the 2026-27 season as a 13-time All-Star who’s led the NHL in goals on nine occasions and surpassed Wayne Gretzky’s record for the most career tallies in 2025.
Some people speculated the 41-year-old would hang up his skates following the conclusion of last season, but he decided to come back for one more ride with the only team he’s ever played for when he inked a one-year deal worth $4.25 million over the summer.
It will end up being his final season, and if you want to attend a couple of potential send-offs, you’ll have to shell out significantly more than you would have this time last week.
Tickets for Alex Ovechkin’s last home and final regular season NHL game went through the roof after he announced he’s retiring
Ovechkin doesn’t really have anything left to prove at this point, and on Monday, he announced this season will be a farewell tour after informing his teammates he’ll be retiring upon its conclusion.
Alex Ovechkin announced to his teammates this morning that this season will be his final in the NHL https://t.co/wnnnkrIl5U
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 5, 2026
There’s no way to know when he’ll actually suit up for the Capitals for the last time, as the team is hoping to bounce back this year after missing the playoffs.
However, the last regular season game at Capital One Arena will unfold when his squad hosts the Penguins on April 4th. The cheapest tickets to that game were hovering at just under $400 last Monday, but according to TicketData, the current get-in price has spiked to $829 as of this writing (a 68% increase from three days ago).
Washington will wrap up its season against the Flyers in Philadelphia, and while you could snag a ticket for $96 a week ago, you’ll now have to fork over a minimum of $257 (a 161% pop over a three-day span).
Congratulations to any ticket holders who were ahead of the curve.