The 41-year-old has 82 games left this season to add to that total, starting on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at home against the rival Pittsburgh Penguins and fellow superstar Sidney Crosby.
For Las Vegas, that distinction carries two memories: the heartbreak of watching the Golden Knights’ remarkable inaugural season end, and the sight of one of hockey’s greatest players finally lifting the trophy that had eluded him.
Now, with Ovechkin announcing Monday that the 2026-27 season will be his last in the NHL, this city occupies a meaningful place in the farewell.
Washington is where he built his career. Las Vegas is where some of its most memorable chapters unfolded.
“My family and I decided this summer that this will be my final year in the NHL,” Ovechkin said in a statement released by the Capitals. “I love this game so much, but I know in my heart it’s the right decision.”
The announcement came exactly 21 years after his NHL debut. At 41, the Capitals captain has 929 goals and 1,688 points in 1,575 games, with one final season to add to those totals.
The night two histories met
On June 7, 2018, Las Vegas hosted the conclusion of two extraordinary hockey stories.
The Golden Knights had turned an expansion season into a run to the Stanley Cup Final. Ovechkin had spent 13 seasons pursuing the championship that would complete his résumé.
Washington’s 4-3 victory in Game 5 brought both journeys to their defining moment.
Ovechkin scored a second-period power-play goal, his 15th of the postseason. Vegas carried a 3-2 lead into the third before Devante Smith-Pelly tied it and Lars Eller supplied the championship-winning goal. Ovechkin received the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP and raised the Stanley Cup in the Golden Knights’ building.
For a city still discovering what NHL hockey could mean, the scene offered an unforgettable lesson in the sport’s emotional extremes. One team’s crushing ending unfolded alongside another’s long-awaited breakthrough.
That image belongs to Washington’s history, but its setting will always belong to Las Vegas.
There was another connection: George McPhee, the executive who drafted Ovechkin first overall for Washington in 2004, was Vegas’ general manager when the Capitals won that championship.
Three goals closer to immortality
More than six years later, Ovechkin returned to T-Mobile Arena and delivered another performance that became part of his legacy.
On Nov. 17, 2024, he scored three times in Washington’s 5-2 victory over the Golden Knights.
Career goals Nos. 864, 865 and 866 made up his 31st NHL hat trick and left him 29 goals from surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894.
A power-play goal, a goal off the rush and an empty-net finish illustrated the different ways Ovechkin could punish an opponent. At 39, he was still producing nights that accelerated a chase once considered nearly impossible.
"It’s gonna stay forever," Ovechkin told The Hockey News that night. "Memories that happen here, (like) back in (2018) - it’s great.
"It was (a) pretty cool atmosphere, like always."
The Golden Knights also figured in another milestone that season. On Oct. 15, 2024, Ovechkin recorded two assists against Vegas in Washington to reach 700 for his career.
Ovechkin ultimately surpassed Gretzky on April 6, 2025, against the New York Islanders. The record fell elsewhere. Las Vegas had witnessed a memorable surge toward it.
A sight we’ve seen 894 times before this and each and every single time has been in a Capitals sweater.
Washington is scheduled to visit T-Mobile Arena on Jan. 30, 2027, giving Las Vegas a chance to acknowledge Ovechkin during his final NHL season.
There is still history available to him. He is 11 goals from passing Gretzky for the most combined regular-season and playoff goals, and 12 points from reaching 1,700.
His farewell will also include a season-long charitable campaign, with monthly initiatives beginning in November supporting causes central to his career.
Addressing his teammates in the locker room, Ovechkin kept his closing message focused on the season ahead.
"Let’s enjoy it and let’s do some special thing this year," he said.
Alex Ovechkin announced to his teammates this morning that this season will be his final in the NHL pic.twitter.com/wnnnkrIl5U
Las Vegas has been part of that career in ways few visiting cities can claim.
It watched him become a champion. It watched him score three times while pursuing immortality.
When he returns, the city will have another opportunity to recognize a player whose greatest celebration remains forever tied to its ice.
PHOTO CAPTION
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) hoists the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in game five of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.
He's the top goal scorer in NHL history with 929 and the only player to surpass 900 goals.
Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky's 894 career goals were once considered an unbreakable record. And then Ovechkin broke it late in the 2024-25 season during a game against the New York Islanders. He added another 32 goals last season at age 40.
Ovechkin, 41, will add to that total in his 22nd and final season, during which he's expected to break another Gretzky record: 1,016 combined regular season and playoff goals. He needs 11 to do that.
Will anyone be able to break Ovechkin's final record? It will be difficult, but here are some potential candidates:
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
He's the most obvious candidate because he already has two 60-goal seasons to Ovechkin's one. He's a pure scorer with four goals in his NHL debut and 429 goals in 692 games. Ovechkin needed 634 to reach 400 goals. Matthews is averaging 0.62 goals a game in his career to Ovechkin's 0.59.
Matthews is 29 and potentially has many years left in his career. However, he missed a total of 34 games over his second and third NHL seasons. He was out on two occasions in 2024-25 with a nagging injury, costing him 15 games. He dropped from 69 goals to 33. In 2025-26, he missed 22 games and dropped to 27 goals.
One of Ovechkin's strengths was his durability. Matthews needs to stay healthy.
Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
He has developed into a regular 50-goal scorer and has signed an eight-year extension that made him the NHL's highest-paid player at the time. Draisaitl has 437 goals and like Ovechkin, he's hard to stop on a one-timer from the faceoff circle (the right one, in his case).
The issue is Draisaitl, 30, didn't become a 50-goal scorer until his fifth season. He has played 858 games, taking more time to hit 400 than Ovechkin and Matthews. And teammate Connor McDavid has only two years left in his contract. Does Draisaitl score as much if McDavid leaves the team?
David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
Pastrnak, 30, has a 61-goal season and four 40-goal seasons. He has 420 goals in 836 games, but he fell to 29 goals last season.
Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks
The 2024 No. 1 overall pick jumped to 115 points in his second season. That includes 45 goals, a 20-goal increase from his rookie season. His 70 goals over his first two seasons are 28 fewer than Ovechkin's total, but Celebrini did it at 19 and Ovechkin was 21 during his second season.
Young player TBA
Don't forget that Ovechkin was 13 when Gretzky retired. One thing to watch is domination at the world junior championships. Ovechkin had 18 goals in 18 games over three tournaments.
He's the top goal scorer in NHL history with 929 and the only player to surpass 900 goals.
Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky's 894 career goals were once considered an unbreakable record. And then Ovechkin broke it late in the 2024-25 season during a game against the New York Islanders. He added another 32 goals last season at age 40.
Ovechkin, 41, will add to that total in his 22nd and final season, during which he's expected to break another Gretzky record: 1,016 combined regular season and playoff goals. He needs 11 to do that.
Will anyone be able to break Ovechkin's final record? It will be difficult, but here are some potential candidates:
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
He's the most obvious candidate because he already has two 60-goal seasons to Ovechkin's one. He's a pure scorer with four goals in his NHL debut and 429 goals in 692 games. Ovechkin needed 634 to reach 400 goals. Matthews is averaging 0.62 goals a game in his career to Ovechkin's 0.59.
Matthews is 29 and potentially has many years left in his career. However, he missed a total of 34 games over his second and third NHL seasons. He was out on two occasions in 2024-25 with a nagging injury, costing him 15 games. He dropped from 69 goals to 33. In 2025-26, he missed 22 games and dropped to 27 goals.
One of Ovechkin's strengths was his durability. Matthews needs to stay healthy.
Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
He has developed into a regular 50-goal scorer and has signed an eight-year extension that made him the NHL's highest-paid player at the time. Draisaitl has 437 goals and like Ovechkin, he's hard to stop on a one-timer from the faceoff circle (the right one, in his case).
The issue is Draisaitl, 30, didn't become a 50-goal scorer until his fifth season. He has played 858 games, taking more time to hit 400 than Ovechkin and Matthews. And teammate Connor McDavid has only two years left in his contract. Does Draisaitl score as much if McDavid leaves the team?
David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
Pastrnak, 30, has a 61-goal season and four 40-goal seasons. He has 420 goals in 836 games, but he fell to 29 goals last season.
Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks
The 2024 No. 1 overall pick jumped to 115 points in his second season. That includes 45 goals, a 20-goal increase from his rookie season. His 70 goals over his first two seasons are 28 fewer than Ovechkin's total, but Celebrini did it at 19 and Ovechkin was 21 during his second season.
Young player TBA
Don't forget that Ovechkin was 13 when Gretzky retired. One thing to watch is domination at the world junior championships. Ovechkin had 18 goals in 18 games over three tournaments.
He's the top goal scorer in NHL history with 929 and the only player to surpass 900 goals.
Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky's 894 career goals were once considered an unbreakable record. And then Ovechkin broke it late in the 2024-25 season during a game against the New York Islanders. He added another 32 goals last season at age 40.
Ovechkin, 41, will add to that total in his 22nd and final season, during which he's expected to break another Gretzky record: 1,016 combined regular season and playoff goals. He needs 11 to do that.
Will anyone be able to break Ovechkin's final record? It will be difficult, but here are some potential candidates:
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
He's the most obvious candidate because he already has two 60-goal seasons to Ovechkin's one. He's a pure scorer with four goals in his NHL debut and 429 goals in 692 games. Ovechkin needed 634 to reach 400 goals. Matthews is averaging 0.62 goals a game in his career to Ovechkin's 0.59.
Matthews is 29 and potentially has many years left in his career. However, he missed a total of 34 games over his second and third NHL seasons. He was out on two occasions in 2024-25 with a nagging injury, costing him 15 games. He dropped from 69 goals to 33. In 2025-26, he missed 22 games and dropped to 27 goals.
One of Ovechkin's strengths was his durability. Matthews needs to stay healthy.
Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
He has developed into a regular 50-goal scorer and has signed an eight-year extension that made him the NHL's highest-paid player at the time. Draisaitl has 437 goals and like Ovechkin, he's hard to stop on a one-timer from the faceoff circle (the right one, in his case).
The issue is Draisaitl, 30, didn't become a 50-goal scorer until his fifth season. He has played 858 games, taking more time to hit 400 than Ovechkin and Matthews. And teammate Connor McDavid has only two years left in his contract. Does Draisaitl score as much if McDavid leaves the team?
David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
Pastrnak, 30, has a 61-goal season and four 40-goal seasons. He has 420 goals in 836 games, but he fell to 29 goals last season.
Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks
The 2024 No. 1 overall pick jumped to 115 points in his second season. That includes 45 goals, a 20-goal increase from his rookie season. His 70 goals over his first two seasons are 28 fewer than Ovechkin's total, but Celebrini did it at 19 and Ovechkin was 21 during his second season.
Young player TBA
Don't forget that Ovechkin was 13 when Gretzky retired. One thing to watch is domination at the world junior championships. Ovechkin had 18 goals in 18 games over three tournaments.
Alex Ovechkin is playing in his 22nd consecutive season in the NHL [Getty Images]
National Hockey League all-time leading goalscorer Alex Ovechkin says he will retire at the end of the season.
The 41-year-old Russian, who plays for the Washington Capitals, claimed the record in April 2025 when he scored his 895th career goal to surpass the legendary Wayne Gretzky's NHL regular season tally.
Canadian Hall of Famer Gretzky held the record for 31 years having previously overtaken compatriot Gordie Howe in 1994.
Ovechkin said in a statement that he "loves this game so much" but knew that in his "heart it's the right decision".
"It was important for me to make this announcement before our first home game, so I have the chance to thank all the people around the game," Ovechkin said.
"Everyone who has been so important to me and my family and helped me through good times and tough losses.
"I wouldn't have been able to achieve everything I have in my life without them."
Ovechkin has 1,688 career points (929 goals, 759 assists) in 1,575 games for the Capitals, the 10th-most points in NHL history.
He's 11 goals away from passing Gretzky for most total goals (regular season and play-offs combined) in NHL history and four assists away from passing Nicklas Backstrom for the franchise career assists record (762).
Ovechkin will play his first Western Conference home game of the new season on Wednesday when the Pittsburgh Penguins are the visitors to the Capital One Arena.
"I am excited about this season with my team-mates, and we will do everything we can to make this year special," he added.
"I am going to enjoy every moment with my family, my boys, our fans and everyone who has been part of my hockey career."
Who is Alex Ovechkin?
Alex Ovechkin was at the heart of Washington's 2017-18 Stanley Cup triumph [Getty Images]
Ovechkin has been a mainstay for the Washington Capitals since his NHL debut in October 2005.
He was selected first overall by the Capitals in the 2004 NHL Draft after establishing himself as one of the brightest young talents in Russian hockey.
He moved to North America from Dynamo Moscow at the age of 20 and scored twice on his NHL debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Ovechkin helped the Capitals to their only Stanley Cup victory in 2017-18 and has scored at least 40 goals in 14 of his 21 NHL seasons, an NHL record.
Known for his passionate celebrations and relaxed attitude towards the strict diets expected in the modern game, his face is plastered across the league's marketing material.
Alex Ovechkin is playing in his 22nd consecutive season in the NHL [Getty Images]
National Hockey League all-time leading goalscorer Alex Ovechkin says he will retire at the end of the season.
The 41-year-old Russian, who plays for the Washington Capitals, claimed the record in April 2025 when he scored his 895th career goal to surpass the legendary Wayne Gretzky's NHL regular season tally.
Canadian Hall of Famer Gretzky held the record for 31 years having previously overtaken compatriot Gordie Howe in 1994.
Ovechkin said in a statement that he "loves this game so much" but knew that in his "heart it's the right decision".
"It was important for me to make this announcement before our first home game, so I have the chance to thank all the people around the game," Ovechkin said.
"Everyone who has been so important to me and my family and helped me through good times and tough losses.
"I wouldn't have been able to achieve everything I have in my life without them."
Ovechkin has 1,688 career points (929 goals, 759 assists) in 1,575 games for the Capitals, the 10th-most points in NHL history.
He's 11 goals away from passing Gretzky for most total goals (regular season and play-offs combined) in NHL history and four assists away from passing Nicklas Backstrom for the franchise career assists record (762).
Ovechkin will play his first Western Conference home game of the new season on Wednesday when the Pittsburgh Penguins are the visitors to the Capital One Arena.
"I am excited about this season with my team-mates, and we will do everything we can to make this year special," he added.
"I am going to enjoy every moment with my family, my boys, our fans and everyone who has been part of my hockey career."
Who is Alex Ovechkin?
Alex Ovechkin was at the heart of Washington's 2017-18 Stanley Cup triumph [Getty Images]
Ovechkin has been a mainstay for the Washington Capitals since his NHL debut in October 2005.
He was selected first overall by the Capitals in the 2004 NHL Draft after establishing himself as one of the brightest young talents in Russian hockey.
He moved to North America from Dynamo Moscow at the age of 20 and scored twice on his NHL debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Ovechkin helped the Capitals to their only Stanley Cup victory in 2017-18 and has scored at least 40 goals in 14 of his 21 NHL seasons, an NHL record.
Known for his passionate celebrations and relaxed attitude towards the strict diets expected in the modern game, his face is plastered across the league's marketing material.
Alex Ovechkin is playing in his 22nd consecutive season in the NHL [Getty Images]
National Hockey League all-time leading goalscorer Alex Ovechkin says he will retire at the end of the season.
The 41-year-old Russian, who plays for the Washington Capitals, claimed the record in April 2025 when he scored his 895th career goal to surpass the legendary Wayne Gretzky's NHL regular season tally.
Canadian Hall of Famer Gretzky held the record for 31 years having previously overtaken compatriot Gordie Howe in 1994.
Ovechkin said in a statement that he "loves this game so much" but knew that in his "heart it's the right decision".
"It was important for me to make this announcement before our first home game, so I have the chance to thank all the people around the game," Ovechkin said.
"Everyone who has been so important to me and my family and helped me through good times and tough losses.
"I wouldn't have been able to achieve everything I have in my life without them."
Ovechkin has 1,688 career points (929 goals, 759 assists) in 1,575 games for the Capitals, the 10th-most points in NHL history.
He's 11 goals away from passing Gretzky for most total goals (regular season and play-offs combined) in NHL history and four assists away from passing Nicklas Backstrom for the franchise career assists record (762).
Ovechkin will play his first Western Conference home game of the new season on Wednesday when the Pittsburgh Penguins are the visitors to the Capital One Arena.
"I am excited about this season with my team-mates, and we will do everything we can to make this year special," he added.
"I am going to enjoy every moment with my family, my boys, our fans and everyone who has been part of my hockey career."
Who is Alex Ovechkin?
Alex Ovechkin was at the heart of Washington's 2017-18 Stanley Cup triumph [Getty Images]
Ovechkin has been a mainstay for the Washington Capitals since his NHL debut in October 2005.
He was selected first overall by the Capitals in the 2004 NHL Draft after establishing himself as one of the brightest young talents in Russian hockey.
He moved to North America from Dynamo Moscow at the age of 20 and scored twice on his NHL debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Ovechkin helped the Capitals to their only Stanley Cup victory in 2017-18 and has scored at least 40 goals in 14 of his 21 NHL seasons, an NHL record.
Known for his passionate celebrations and relaxed attitude towards the strict diets expected in the modern game, his face is plastered across the league's marketing material.
The NHL's all-time goals leader is officially retiring. On Monday, Alex Ovechkin announced that the 2026-27 campaign would be his last in the NHL. The 41-year-old is playing in his 22nd season, in which he has scored 929 goals and recorded 1,688 points in 1,575 games.
With this being Ovechkin's final year, that means his retirement tour has already begun. If he stays healthy, his final game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena will be on December 7. Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals also play Vancouver the week prior, on December 1, at Capital One Arena.
Over his career, Ovechkin has had no problems finding the back of the net against Vancouver. In 30 career games, he has scored 16 goals while recording 28 points. Ovechkin also set an NHL record while playing the Canucks as during a matchup in 2022, he surpassed Wayne Gretzky for the most road goals in league history.
Ovechkin has had a career that will instantly make him a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He has captained Washington to a Stanley Cup, won nine Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies, and has scored over 1,000 goals combined in the regular season and playoffs. Ovechkin has also won three Hart Trophies and was named to the NHL's "100 Greatest Players of the NHL's First 100 Years" team.
Mar 16, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (8) and forward TJ Oshie (77) celebrate Ovechkin’s goal against the Vancouver Canucks in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The NHL's all-time goals leader is officially retiring. On Monday, Alex Ovechkin announced that the 2026-27 campaign would be his last in the NHL. The 41-year-old is playing in his 22nd season, in which he has scored 929 goals and recorded 1,688 points in 1,575 games.
With this being Ovechkin's final year, that means his retirement tour has already begun. If he stays healthy, his final game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena will be on December 7. Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals also play Vancouver the week prior, on December 1, at Capital One Arena.
Over his career, Ovechkin has had no problems finding the back of the net against Vancouver. In 30 career games, he has scored 16 goals while recording 28 points. Ovechkin also set an NHL record while playing the Canucks as during a matchup in 2022, he surpassed Wayne Gretzky for the most road goals in league history.
Ovechkin has had a career that will instantly make him a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He has captained Washington to a Stanley Cup, won nine Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies, and has scored over 1,000 goals combined in the regular season and playoffs. Ovechkin has also won three Hart Trophies and was named to the NHL's "100 Greatest Players of the NHL's First 100 Years" team.
Mar 16, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (8) and forward TJ Oshie (77) celebrate Ovechkin’s goal against the Vancouver Canucks in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The NHL's all-time goals leader is officially retiring. On Monday, Alex Ovechkin announced that the 2026-27 campaign would be his last in the NHL. The 41-year-old is playing in his 22nd season, in which he has scored 929 goals and recorded 1,688 points in 1,575 games.
With this being Ovechkin's final year, that means his retirement tour has already begun. If he stays healthy, his final game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena will be on December 7. Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals also play Vancouver the week prior, on December 1, at Capital One Arena.
Over his career, Ovechkin has had no problems finding the back of the net against Vancouver. In 30 career games, he has scored 16 goals while recording 28 points. Ovechkin also set an NHL record while playing the Canucks as during a matchup in 2022, he surpassed Wayne Gretzky for the most road goals in league history.
Ovechkin has had a career that will instantly make him a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He has captained Washington to a Stanley Cup, won nine Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies, and has scored over 1,000 goals combined in the regular season and playoffs. Ovechkin has also won three Hart Trophies and was named to the NHL's "100 Greatest Players of the NHL's First 100 Years" team.
Mar 16, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (8) and forward TJ Oshie (77) celebrate Ovechkin’s goal against the Vancouver Canucks in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
A former Montreal Canadiens forward has already suffered an injury during the early stages of the season.
Former Canadiens forward Joe Veleno left the New York Rangers' most recent game against the Utah Mammoth early due to a lower-body injury.
This is certainly tough news for Veleno, as the 26-year-old is looking to cement himself as a key part of the Rangers' bottom six. Yet, for now, the former Canadiens forward is going to be sidelined for the time being.
Veleno did not practice with the Rangers on Monday after exiting their most recent game against Utah. An update on Veleno's specific injury has not been provided at the time of this writing.
Veleno signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Rangers this off-season after the Canadiens decided not to bring him back. In 61 games last season with the Canadiens, Veleno posted two goals, five points, and 166 hits. He also recorded one assist in nine playoff games for Montreal during the playoffs.
A former Montreal Canadiens forward has already suffered an injury during the early stages of the season.
Former Canadiens forward Joe Veleno left the New York Rangers' most recent game against the Utah Mammoth early due to a lower-body injury.
This is certainly tough news for Veleno, as the 26-year-old is looking to cement himself as a key part of the Rangers' bottom six. Yet, for now, the former Canadiens forward is going to be sidelined for the time being.
Veleno did not practice with the Rangers on Monday after exiting their most recent game against Utah. An update on Veleno's specific injury has not been provided at the time of this writing.
Veleno signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Rangers this off-season after the Canadiens decided not to bring him back. In 61 games last season with the Canadiens, Veleno posted two goals, five points, and 166 hits. He also recorded one assist in nine playoff games for Montreal during the playoffs.
A former Montreal Canadiens forward has already suffered an injury during the early stages of the season.
Former Canadiens forward Joe Veleno left the New York Rangers' most recent game against the Utah Mammoth early due to a lower-body injury.
This is certainly tough news for Veleno, as the 26-year-old is looking to cement himself as a key part of the Rangers' bottom six. Yet, for now, the former Canadiens forward is going to be sidelined for the time being.
Veleno did not practice with the Rangers on Monday after exiting their most recent game against Utah. An update on Veleno's specific injury has not been provided at the time of this writing.
Veleno signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Rangers this off-season after the Canadiens decided not to bring him back. In 61 games last season with the Canadiens, Veleno posted two goals, five points, and 166 hits. He also recorded one assist in nine playoff games for Montreal during the playoffs.
In an offseason full of surprises for the Anaheim Ducks and the NHL as a whole, one of the most underdiscussed stories is the signing of 18-year-old Nikita Klepov to his entry-level contract in late July.
During the first round of the 2026 NHL draft, the Ducks traded young center Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for the 15th overall pick (Klepov) and the 29th overall pick. Following the draft, general manager Pat Verbeek remarked that Klepov could be on a “fast track” to the NHL despite his commitment to Michigan State University, where he was slated to begin his collegiate career in 2026-27.
Klepov decided his development had advanced beyond the CHL; in his first year in the OHL, he led the league in scoring with 97 points (37-60=97) in 67 games. The Ducks seemed to agree and took it a step further by signing him to his ELC.
As 2026-27 is his draft+1 season, Klepov is ineligible to play in the AHL and is now ineligible to play in the NCAA. He must either play in the NHL or head back to the OHL this season. The Ducks have the option of sending him to the San Diego Gulls in the AHL for a 14-day (maximum) conditioning stint if the team scratches him for five consecutive games.
To begin his NHL career, Klepov has been healthy-scratched through the Ducks’ first two games of the season. They opened their schedule on the road against the Vegas Golden Knights and traveled home to host the Florida Panthers. Those first two opponents represent not only cup-contenders, but two of the more physical teams in the NHL.
In a season where the Ducks moved on from McTavish and fellow top-six forward Chris Kreider, compounded by the fact that they’ll be without forward Troy Terry for the first 2-3 months of the season, they’ll be relying on young pieces to step into scoring roles. Klepov presently has clear top-six skill, and if he can mitigate some of what the Ducks will be without, his services would be a welcome addition.
However true that may be, Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville and (presumably) Verbeek felt it best for him not to make his debut this past weekend against Vegas or Florida.
“Well, it's early, and we're going to get him in a game here real soon. And, I think that offensively, I think he's got some great feel to the game,” Quenneville said before their season-opener in Las Vegas on Friday. “He's got a great understanding of the game. You know, he's 18. There's some big guys on our opponents tonight. It's a different night than maybe some other teams.
“And so, watching's not a bad thing, and getting to observe and watching some situations that put yourself in that spot: what would you do, and how would you handle it? But we'll get to see him play.”
Verbeek and the Ducks are no strangers to playing their young future stars in the NHL right away or sooner than perhaps anticipated. A year ago, there were heavy assumptions and speculation that now-star Beckett Sennecke would play his 2025-26 (his D+2) season in the OHL and return to the Oshawa Generals. Under Quenneville and due to injury elsewhere on the depth chart, he played early and often and was allowed to make mistakes, learn on the fly, and ultimately became a Calder Trophy finalist.
After Leo Carlsson’s draft year, it was speculated he’d return to the SHL to play for Örebro again in 2023-24. Instead, Verbeek, the Ducks front office, and the coaching/development staff concocted a game-management plan for their future franchise player that would let him play two games per week, build strength on off days, and avoid burning out halfway through the season, as is common among young rookies.
The fruits of the development plan were never fully realized, as Carlsson spent a significant amount of time injured during his rookie year. However, the blueprint is well-regarded league-wide, and Carlsson is now flourishing into the next generation of NHL stars. The Ducks seem to be eyeing a similar development model for Klepov in his D+1 season.
When asked about it, Quenneville said, “I would say there's some balance to that thought process, exactly like that.”
The Ducks won their first two games against the Knights and Panthers, so it will be curious to see if the coaching staff decides to insert Klepov anywhere in the lineup. It’s too early to draw conclusions regarding Anaheim’s possession numbers just two games into the year, but sliding him into the middle six (or top nine), as presently constructed, would give the depth chart a boost beneath Carlsson, Sennecke, and Cutter Gauthier, who are driving the entirety of the early offense for the Ducks.
Next on the Ducks’ schedule is another cup-favorite team: the Edmonton Oilers, who will travel to Anaheim for a matchup on Wednesday. Their roster has had an early run in with the injury bug, as they’ve been incredibly top-heavy up front, with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jason Dickinson, Mattias Janmark, and Matthew Savoie all on IR.
With Edmonton running a lineup with little to no depth, and with the Ducks having the benefit of last change, the game on Wednesday may be as good a time as any for Klepov to make his NHL debut. However, Quenneville has made a habit of being reluctant to alter a lineup that won the game prior in any meaningful way.
Following their game against the Oilers on Wednesday, the Ducks will head to Winnipeg to take on the Jets on Friday, followed by a home-and-home against the Calgary Flames. One would be surprised if Klepov returned to Anaheim on Saturday, Oct. 13, having not made his debut. Beyond that, it’s conceivable his usage will be driven by performance vs. development.
