ARLINGTON, Va. -- Alex Ovechkin will be back for a 21st NHL season with the Washington Capitals to add to his League-record goal total and chase the Stanley Cup again, but he doesn’t know if it will be his last.

Alex Ovechkin may be heading into his 21st NHL season, but the Washington Capitals captain is not thinking about retirement just yet. On Saturday, he confirmed he plans to return next season but joked that, at 40 years old, he’ll still need to earn a roster spot.

Alex Ovechkin said Saturday he intends to return to the Washington Capitals for his 21st NHL season after breaking Wayne Gretzky's career goal-scoring record earlier this spring. Ovechkin joked about joining the minor league Hershey Bears for their playoff run and indicated the question wasn't whether he'd be back but rather if he had what it takes to earn a spot.