Tretiak: Ovechkin's Future Is His Own Decision
Russia's hockey federation chief says the 40-year-old Ovechkin, chasing Gretzky's all-time goal record, could keep playing as long as he wants, citing Jagr and Howe.
Vladislav Tretiak, president of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, says there is no fixed point at which Alexander Ovechkin should stop playing, and that the decision rests entirely with the 40-year-old himself.
Ovechkin signed a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals in the off-season. He has scored 1,006 goals in his NHL career including play-offs, second only to Wayne Gretzky's 1,016.
Tretiak said Ovechkin could still break Gretzky's all-time mark, including play-offs, this season. He pointed to Jaromir Jagr and Gordie Howe as players who kept performing at a high level at 50, framing Ovechkin's own future the same way: down to desire, not age.
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