Alex Ovechkin's quirky response on Washington Capitals retiring his no. 8 Jersey; calls Pavel Datsyuk deserving of honor

Alex Ovechkin is no stranger to questions about his legacy, but when asked about the Washington Capitals retiring his iconic No. 8 jersey, he delivered a playful deflection. The NHL ’s all-time leading goal scorer shifted the conversation away from himself and instead praised fellow Russian great Pavel Datsyuk , who was being honored in front of a hometown crowd.


Alex Ovechkin responds playfully to Jersey retirement speculation

Asked if the Capitals have plans to retire his number, Ovechkin’s answer was characteristically sharp yet humble: “As for the idea of my number being retired by the Capitals, call Washington and find out about it.” Rather than dwelling on his place in hockey history, he quickly redirected the spotlight to Datsyuk .

“Of course, he deserves it,” Ovechkin said about the possibility of Datsyuk’s No. 13 being retired in Detroit. “ But I don’t work for Detroit, so I can’t say anything.”


Pavel Datsyuk’s Red Wings greatness that demands recognition

Few players have defined the modern Detroit Red Wings like Pavel Datsyuk. The forward played 953 regular season games, scoring 314 goals and adding 918 points. In the playoffs, he produced 113 points across 157 games, helping Detroit win two Stanley Cups. Known for his dazzling skill and defensive brilliance, Datsyuk claimed three Selke Trophies and earned recognition as one of the NHL’s 100 greatest players.

Detroit has already confirmed Sergei Fedorov’s No. 91 will be retired in January 2026, fueling speculation that Datsyuk’s No. 13 could soon follow.


Why Alex Ovechkin’s no. 8 will be inevitable Jersey retirement for Capitals

While celebrating Datsyuk’s career, Ovechkin’s own legacy continues to grow. He recently surpassed Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer with 897 career goals, a milestone that cements him as one of the greatest players in hockey history. Beyond his individual records, Ovechkin is the Capitals’ all-time points leader and the captain who delivered Washington its first Stanley Cup in 2018.

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It is not a question of if but when Ovechkin’s jersey will hang from the rafters at Capital One Arena. For now, though, the superstar seems more focused on honoring fellow legends than discussing his own place in hockey immortality.