Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin skates in the third period against the Blue Jackets on April 14 in Columbus, Ohio. (AP file photo)

Alex Ovechkin is not ready to skate away from the NHL, not yet, and now he gets a chance to make his career goal-scoring record even more difficult to break.

Ovechkin signed an incentive-laden deal Thursday to return for a 22nd season while also giving the Washington Capitals a chance to build a Stanley Cup contender and its longtime captain the opportunity to add to his jaw-dropping total of 929 goals.

“I’m back!” Ovechkin said.

Ovechkin, who turns 41 on Sept. 17, inked a deal with a $1 million salary and bonuses worth an additional $8 million. He receives a $3.25 million signing bonus and makes the additional $4.75 million if he plays 10 games, but the contract structure allows him to count just $4.25 million against the cap. All of that will help the Caps put a team together that could send Ovi out on a high note should this really be it.

After scoring 32 goals at age 40, Ovechkin is 35 clear of now second-place Wayne Gretzky, whose mark of 894 he passed on April 6, 2025, completing the so-called “GR8 Chase” that captivated hockey. He had said in recent months he was waiting until the offseason to decide whether to return or retire from the only NHL team he’s ever played for, and management was working on contingency plans either way.

“Thank you to everyone for giving me and my family the time to make this decision,” Ovechkin said. “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.”

The Capitals missed the playoffs this spring but qualified 16 times in a stretch of 18 years, which included winning the franchise’s only Stanley Cup in 2018 when Ovechkin was playoff MVP.

A teammate for 16-plus seasons, fellow Cup champion John Carlson said he was not surprised by Ovechkin’s decision.

“I knew that he was coming back for a long time,” Carlson said on a video call with reporters after signing with Tampa Bay. “I’m sure that there was conversations to be had and decisions to be made on his end, too, but it just was always my gut feeling that he wasn’t ready to give it up and good for him.”

Ovechkin also holds the NHL records for the most power play goals with 331 and game-winning goals with 141. He scored 30 in a season 20 times, joining Hall of Famers Gordie Howe, Johnny Bucyk and Teemu Selanne as the only players to hit that mark at 40 or older.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL