The Washington Capitals held their end-of-season media availability today after being knocked out of the first round by the Boston Bruins. One of the most pressing questions, and seemingly one that wasn’t talked about enough this season, was the future of Alex Ovechkin, who is a pending unrestricted free agent. There is no cause for concern, as Ovechkin joked and explained he is confident a deal will get done:
I’m confident. Obviously we still have time, obviously I want to finish my career here. I’m pretty sure we will do something soon.
Maybe we’ll sign a contract right now, after the media.
Ovechkin, 35, dealt with injury for really the first time in his career, missing several games down the stretch for the Capitals. He finished with 24 goals and 42 points in 45 games, failing to win the Rocket Richard trophy for just the second time in the last nine years. It was also the first time since 2016-17 season and just the third time in his career that his average time on ice dipped below 20 minutes, with perhaps the cracks of age finally showing on the Russian machine.
Still, a legacy player like Ovechkin isn’t going anywhere. He will almost certainly sign a new multi-year contract with the Capitals and finish his NHL career with the franchise, attempting to chase down Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring record. In 1,197 career games, Ovechkin now has 730 goals, fifth all-time and 164 behind Gretzky.
The interesting part isn’t whether he will return to Washington, it’s how much it will cost them. Ovechkin is dealing with the negotiation himself, working with owner Ted Leonsis and GM Brian MacLellan directly. The veteran sniper is coming off a 13-year deal he signed in 2008 that carried a cap hit of $9,538,462 and paid him $10MM in each of the last seven seasons. That cap hit actually might go up on his next contract.
In January, Frank Seravalli wrote for TSN that Ovechkin’s pre-pandemic ask was a $12.5MM per-year salary. That number would tie him with Connor McDavid as the league’s top earner, and though the flat cap situation may have changed things, the eventual deal is still expected to be quite large. That is going to make it tough for the Capitals, who already have more than $72MM committed to next season and will likely need to make other changes after getting bounced in the first round.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
If not for the shortened Covid seasons, I think Ovie was more likely than not to pass Gretzky.
Still can. 4 more seasons of 40+ goals and he makes it with ease. Should he sign a 5 year deal he will definitely get it, look at players like jaeger who produced into there 40’s
He’s 35. It’s going to be a stretch now thanks to covid. I do hope he gets it how cool would that be, but it’s starting to look unlikely.
@Tatsumaki – Jagr might not be the best example here. Starting with his age 34 year, his production peaked at 30G and went mostly downhill until age 45 in CGY. During that time he only averaged about 17.3G per year (of age, not NHL seasons). The Great-8 is definitely more driven, but if the end-of-season health issues are the start of a trend, that would be worrying for him to get to the Grail. If they were just an aberration, AND he isn’t subjected to any more shortened seasons, he’ll be one of the most compelling stories in our lifetimes. Just remember, though, Father Time is still undefeated.
Gretzky vs OV…. who has the higher goals per game average?
@Eaton Harass – Alex is at .609 and Gretz was at .601. From age 35-38, #99’s GPG was .258. Alex would need 0.5+ GPG for the next four years to break the record, slightly less if he makes it a five year task. His health would have to stay stable, and right now it’s hard to predict how his body will respond. He’s already proven to be a unique case for durability, but if he doesn’t dial the physicality back a little, he might not make it to 894.
Ovie deserves every drop of money from Washington he has turned that organization around the last ten plus years..
I don’t know why, I just have this feeling that we might see Ovechkin in a different jersey next season. I wouldn’t bet on it or anything, but for whatever reason I find it easy to imagine him playing out his UFA privileges and the media entertainment that ensues.
Nice to see him in a Kings jersey when or if he catches Gretzky’s goal record…
Ovie has said he’d like to play with McDavid.