PITTSBURGH — Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin, the NHL’s all-time leading goal-scorer, announced Monday that he will retire after this season — his 22nd in the league.

His rivalry with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, along with the frequent heated battles between the Penguins and Capitals, has been one of the NHL’s defining storylines over the past two decades.

The bitterness of the rivalry has long since softened to mutual respect.

“Definitely have had some great battles over the years and, obviously, when you get to our age, that’s something that you have to make decisions on,” Crosby said Monday before the Penguins hosted the Winnipeg Jets. “For him, as long as he’s happy and enjoying it, that’s the biggest thing.”

Ovechkin was the No. 1 pick in the 2004 NHL draft, with Malkin going one spot later. Crosby went first overall one year later.

Due to the lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 season, Crosby and Ovechkin entered the league at the same time. Their relationship was pretty icy early on.

“You come into the league at 18 years old, and before we even met, we were kind of built up against each other. So, it’s kind of a natural thing to happen,” Crosby said. “With how competitive that we are, especially coming in, trying to prove ourselves, it would’ve been difficult to be too close.”

They’ve since developed a friendship, and Crosby said he has “a ton of respect” for Ovechkin.

“You play against someone that long and you’re compared and see each other enough, that’s something that builds over time,” the Penguins’ captain said.

Crosby and Ovechkin have faced each other 101 times, including playoffs, with the Penguins holding a significant all-time edge. Pittsburgh won three of four playoff series against Ovechkin and the Capitals, with the winner of all four going on to hoist the Stanley Cup.

Both have spent their entire careers with the same team.

“It’s rare,” Crosby said. “... There are always players that are compared to each other, but they don’t necessarily have the matchups all the time or they play in different conferences and things like that. The way that it’s worked out in this case, we’ve seen a lot of each other, and that rivalry has kind of remained over that time.”

Malkin and Ovechkin went through rough patches as well, but the two Russians have been close for a while.

“It’s all behind. It’s not perfect all the time,” Malkin said. “... We’re human, and it’s hard to be always perfect. We all know Sid’s perfect, but I’m not. Sometimes, we need to talk a little bit more. Sometimes, it’s a tough situation. But it’s good. Now we have families, we have good friends. And I always support his family, support him. I’m glad we’re still friends.”

Malkin knew Ovechkin was going first overall in the 2004 draft. He said Monday he wasn’t so sure that he would be second.

“Maybe I’m third, fourth. So, I start [to get] a little bit shaky with my hands, but it’s a special night, too,” Malkin said. “A lot of good memories together. We always try to support each other, try to play hard and show [our] best. It’s 22 years ago, it’s crazy. But we’ve done everything.”

Crosby and Ovechkin’s arrival helped to lift the NHL out of some dark times.

Having spent the past six years with the Capitals before joining the Penguins this summer, Trevor van Riemsdyk has seen both sides of the iconic rivalry.

“It’s been an awesome dynamic for the league that I think kept a lot of interest in it,” van Riemsdyk said. “Now, it seems to be booming again. But if you don’t have guys like that pulling the league along when things weren’t going as good, I think it looks different.

“Everyone in here definitely owes them a lot for what they’ve done for the game in these 20 years and probably will continue to do after they’re done.”

Penguins forward Hendrix Lapierre also switched sides in the rivalry this season. He’s gotten to know the two players he said were probably his favorites growing up.

He described them as “complete opposites” on the ice — Crosby’s strength is his all-around game, while Ovechkin’s is built on his wicked shot and powerful frame. But their off-ice impact on the organizations they’ve called home is quite similar.

“They’re just two unbelievable leaders,” Lapierre said. “Sid’s built a culture here that is incredible. In Washington, it was the exact same thing. The culture was unbelievable. You feel welcome from Day 1. … I consider myself super privileged to have been able to play with both guys.”

The Penguins and Capitals will play their first of four matchups this season Wednesday in Washington. March 13 is shaping up to be Ovechkin’s final visit to PPG Paints Arena, barring a playoff rematch.

Malkin said every game against his countryman is “special.” That will be particularly true this season.

“When he’s retired, of course it’s a sad day for everybody,” Malkin said. “He’s a legend. It’s always fun to play against Washington, against him, play [as] teammates, play against him. He’s a good friend. I send him positive vibes. I hope he enjoys this year.”

____

©2026 PG Publishing Co. Visit at post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.