Alex Ovechkin isn’t agreeing to the contract that Washington wants him to accept.
The 40-year-old team leader made his request known on Friday. He joked with a smile, “I want you for two more years; this is a contract, just sign it.”
His comment was partly funny but also a way to negotiate. The Capitals are said to only want to give him a one-year deal for the 2026-27 season. Ovechkin, however, is asking for two years.
This isn’t really about how much money he will get. It’s about a farewell tour that Ovechkin has said he doesn’t want. A one-year deal means he has to say goodbye. With two years, he can keep playing hockey instead of just waving goodbye from the sidelines.
He just scored 64 points in 82 games at age 40. That includes 32 goals and 32 assists, with 5 goals that won games, all while costing $9.5 million against the salary cap. His performance is still impressive.
Washington ended the season ranked 12th overall with a record of 43 wins, 30 losses, and 9 overtime losses, finishing strong with a 4-game winning streak and an 8-2-0 record in their last 10 games. The players around him are decent, but not outstanding. They’re not favorites to win the Cup.
Chris Patrick has about $33 million and one captain to convince.
The Capitals expect to have around $33.2 million in salary cap space as June approaches. General Manager Chris Patrick has already stated that he plans to aggressively look for a top-six forward.
The free agent market isn’t very good. Alex Tuch is currently the only player with more than 30 goals available. The rest of the team will need to improve through trades.
Patrick has already traded John Carlson to help bring in a star forward. It’s a clear opportunity, but it’s also a narrow one.
Will Ovechkin make a decision before the draft on June 26? Probably not, as noted by Barry Svrluga. The Capitals would like to have an answer by then to plan their roster, but Ovechkin isn’t feeling rushed.
Spencer Carbery is getting ready for both outcomes. He’s sketching plays that include Ovi and ones that do not. He’s making lineups with him and ones without him.
The Capitals also gave Timothy Liljegren a new two-year contract and brought in power-play expert Ray Bennett to join Carbery’s team this off-season.
Young talents like 19-year-old Cole Hutson are part of the team’s future plans. Hutson scored 10 points in 14 games this season. That number can increase quickly.
Ovechkin goes back to Russia, goes to the gym he doesn’t like, and waits. Washington has the control. He has the advantage.
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