While not surprising news in the slightest, Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin confirmed to reporters in Russia today that he hasn’t had extension talks as he gears up for the final season of the five-year, $47.5MM contract he signed back in 2021 (via Andrey Senchenko of RIA Novosti).
Ovechkin, who turns 40 in September, also seemed to imply that any talks on a new deal would wait until after the 2025-26 season ended. “A year will pass and we will think about it,” Ovechkin said (translated from Russian).
That’s in line with the wait-and-see approach that Ovechkin had said he’ll take ever since last season ended. The Capitals aggressively walked back an erroneous email that got sent out in late May claiming that 2025-26 would be his final NHL season, and he told Russian media last week that reports of his retirement were “pure nonsense.”
It’s an extremely familiar situation to the last time that Ovechkin’s deal was set to expire. He didn’t sign that five-year extension until the last day before free agency opened in 2021, so the two sides are obviously comfortable taking things down to the wire. There’s been no indication that Ovechkin would consider playing for any other NHL team than Washington; it’s long been speculated that he’d head to the KHL for 2026-27 if he doesn’t sign another contract with the Caps.
Delaying extension talks also doesn’t have nearly as much bearing on Washington’s team-building process as it did five years ago. Any subsequent contract for Ovechkin would only be for one year, allowing them to load up his deal with performance bonuses to keep his cap hit low if they end up making other moves that take up most of their space. The Caps also need to consider the future of defense cornerstone John Carlson, also now a pending UFA, as well as a new deal for promising center Connor McMichael, who’s a restricted free agent next summer.
Even with those names in play, the Caps are still extremely well set up for the 2026 offseason with $36.5MM available to fill seven roster spots, according to PuckPedia. That’s right around the median in terms of projected cap space next summer, but only six teams have more roster spots already accounted for.
Likely influencing Ovechkin’s desire to return to Washington will be his desire to chase 1,000 NHL goals, and whether that’s even achievable based on what he produces this year. Injuries limited him to 65 games in 2024-25, but he still managed 44 goals, remarkably his highest goal-per-game pace in five years and enough to make him the league’s all-time leader. He’s now at 897 in 1,491 games over his 20-year career.
Ovechkin is done!
Washington had a great regular season and Ovechkin put up 44 goals in 65 games. Plus another 5 in the playoffs. He’s still got it.
The Caps would be crazy to let him walk. Every single team in the league would be interested in having him.
He’s the greatest goal scorer in NHL history!
I don’t think the issue is WSH letting him walk I think it’s whether Ovi wants to continue playing. I agree you don’t let the man walk, but if he decides he’s done then you honor his great career!
Is Wilf James Tanner? Couldn’t hold a job on HB, and now can’t hold a troll job on PHR?
Why did your fingers allow your brain to type this…?
Exactly. Everyone will say he is too old, slow, anti defense and Caps should move on. Then when opportunity to add a 40 goal scorer in FA in form of Ovie EVERYONE would be in. ticket sale boost alone would be huge. Yes, he is due for regression. We’ve been saying that for a decade.
The problem for Caps is how do they trade for a top 6 winger without resolving Ovie and Carlson. Is that 16 M free next year or not? Tough calls.
@wreckage, you nailed it!
22 (active) teams have won the Stanley Cup but none has had a 1000-goal scorer. The value of that to the team owner could be greater than winning another cup.
They’ll sign him at any cost.
No team has ever gotten to see a player score 2,000 points in one jersey either.
Even during the down years, Pens fans still get spoiled watching greatness. Shame most of them don’t realize it.
Just checked the math…
Sid needs 3 more seasons of 78 points to pass Jagr with 1922 points. He’s coming off 93, 94 and 91 point seasons the past 3.
A fourth season of 78 points would get him exactly to 2,000.
Seems imminently doable for a guy basically playing his best hockey and who lives and breathes the game.
We get it, you’re a Pens fan. Don’t have to try and hijack every thread to be about them. This is a thread about Ovi and the Caps. Not many in here care about Crysby and the Pens.
Huh, it’s almost like I can just talk about what I want and you can read it or not.
And I understand that superstars who ACTUALLY win Cups might irk you, but…you’ll live.