As the Washington Capitals navigate the offseason, the fans and Capitals management have one main mission: to ensure that their main man, Alex Ovechkin, remains in Washington for another term.
Ovechkin is in the final year of his current deal, and while “Ovi” is yet to make any official statement on extending his stay, rumors have suggested that this upcoming season might be his last. But recent updates suggest that GM Christopher Patrick is all-in on settling the future with his star player.
Capitals GM Christopher Patrick All-In on Retaining Alex Ovechkin
Since being picked by the Capitals as the first overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft, Ovechkin has remained the face of the franchise. With more NHL goals than any other player in history, “Ovi” led the Capitals to their only Stanley Cup title in 2018.
While he will turn 40 on September 17, Ovechkin is still seen as the core of the Capitals’ lineup. And recent reports suggest that GM Patrick agrees. With his five-year deal with the franchise expiring after the 2025-26 season, Patrick is ready to give Ovechkin all the time in the world to think about the future.
Patrick mentioned that while he has yet to talk to him about his future, he will let the current captain of the Capitals decide his future. “He’s earned the right to make those decisions and calls in his career,” Patrick said.
“You kind of just let him bring to me what he’s thinking at whatever time he wants to talk about it, and we’ll go from there,” he continued. However, while GM Patrick is ready to discuss the topic, Ovechkin has still kept his silence.
“To be honest with you, I haven’t thought about it yet, but we’ll see what’s going to happen,” Ovechkin mentioned earlier this year. Despite missing 16 games due to a fractured left fibula, he still managed 44 goals in 65 games, tying for the third spot for most goals in the league last season.
Patrick agreed that Ovechkin has been consistent despite his age. He mentioned, “He defies logic and Father Time and everything else. Nothing will surprise me because I’ve learned that you can’t be surprised by this guy because he’s just one of a kind.”
Patrick mentioned that he doesn’t know what to expect with Ovechkin. “I’ll just be happy to watch it and kind of savor every time we get to see him go out in a Caps uniform. So, we’ll just see what he does this year.”
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Patrick mentioned that Ovechkin still has a few milestones to cross this upcoming season, including becoming the first player to reach 900 NHL goals. He said that the team wants to win more this upcoming season, and Ovechkin still wants to score more and win Stanley Cups.
Patrick continued, “I think that was his motivation late in the season, right after he broke the record… And I think that’s what he’d like to do here this season again — try to have a team that can compete for a Cup.” Ovechkin is yet to confirm his future, but Patrick is confident about the upcoming season.
