WASHINGTON ? Alex Ovechkin said Wednesday that he will wait until the offseason to decide whether he will retire or return for another season, leaving open the question of whether the Capitals captain is nearing the end of his NHL career.

The announcement was carried by The Associated Press via ESPN, which said Ovechkin made the comments in a prerecorded interview and pointed to health as the biggest factor in the decision.

A separate report from NHL.com said the 40-year-old remains in the final season of the five-year contract he signed in 2021 and will speak with family and members of the Capitals organization before making a call.

NHL.com also noted in an earlier season update that questions about Ovechkin's future had followed him for months as he moved through what could become his final NHL season.

The latest comments did not settle the question, but they did make clear that the decision will wait until Washington's season is complete.