Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin said he and the team are in a "wait and see" approach when it comes to potentially signing a new extension.

Ovechkin spoke to RIA Novosti on the possibility of re-signing with Washington with the five-year contract extension he signed in 2021 set to expire next summer, and said they haven't begun talks yet.

"We’re not negotiating yet,” Ovechkin said, per a DeepL translation. “Would I like to stay with Washington? A year will pass, we’ll think, we’ll wait, we’ll see.”

There has been no shortage of speculation surrounding the 39-year-old, who turns 40 ahead of this coming training camp, and his NHL future. A marketing email sent in error by the Capitals at the end of May mistakenly alluded to 2025-26 as his final NHL season, and his wife, Nastya, was misquoted in Russia as saying that the family would return to Russia after his contract expires. In the past, Ovechkin has said he plans to play for his hometown team, Dynamo Moscow, in the KHL after his NHL career comes to an end.

Ovechkin called all the rumors "pure nonsense," and said that he has not made any decision regarding his playing future at this time. Instead, he's planning to enjoy the pressure-free season ahead after having broken Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record this past year, while working to win another Stanley Cup.

The Russian had 44 goals — the third-most in the league — and 73 points in 65 games this past season. He sits three goals away from 900 and would be the first player in NHL history to hit that mark.