Whereas not shocking information within the slightest, Capitals celebrity Alex Ovechkin confirmed to reporters in Russia on Saturday that he hasn’t had extension talks as he gears up for the ultimate season of the five-year, $47.5M contract he signed again in 2021 (through Andrey Senchenko of RIA Novosti).
Ovechkin, who turns 40 in September, additionally appeared to indicate that any talks on a brand new deal would wait till after the 2025-26 season ended. “A 12 months will cross and we are going to give it some thought,” Ovechkin stated (translated from Russian).
That’s consistent with the wait-and-see method that Ovechkin had stated he’ll take ever since final season ended. The Capitals aggressively walked again an faulty electronic mail that obtained despatched out in late Could claiming that 2025-26 could be his remaining NHL season, and he advised Russian media final week that studies of his retirement have been “pure nonsense.”
It’s an especially acquainted scenario to the final time that Ovechkin’s deal was set to run out. He didn’t signal that five-year extension till the final day earlier than free company opened in 2021, so the 2 sides are clearly snug taking issues right down to the wire. There’s been no indication that Ovechkin would contemplate taking part in for another NHL group than Washington; it’s lengthy been speculated that he’d head to the KHL for 2026-27 if he doesn’t signal one other contract with the Caps.
Delaying extension talks additionally doesn’t have practically as a lot bearing on Washington’s team-building course of because it did 5 years in the past. Any subsequent contract for Ovechkin would solely be for one 12 months, permitting them to load up his take care of efficiency bonuses to maintain his cap hit low in the event that they find yourself making different strikes that take up most of their house. The Caps additionally want to think about the way forward for protection cornerstone John Carlson, additionally now a pending UFA, in addition to a brand new deal for promising heart Connor McMichael, who’s a restricted free agent subsequent summer time.
Even with these names in play, the Caps are nonetheless extraordinarily properly arrange for the 2026 offseason with $36.5M out there to fill seven roster spots, in accordance with PuckPedia. That’s proper across the median when it comes to projected cap house subsequent summer time, however solely six groups have extra roster spots already accounted for.
Probably influencing Ovechkin’s want to return to Washington can be his want to chase 1,000 NHL objectives, and whether or not that’s even achievable primarily based on what he produces this 12 months. Accidents restricted him to 65 video games in 2024-25, however he nonetheless managed 44 objectives, remarkably his highest goal-per-game tempo in 5 years and sufficient to make him the league’s all-time chief. He’s now at 897 in 1,491 video games over his 20-year profession.
