Capitals re-sign Ovechkin to 1-year deal
by Liam Griffin · The Washington TimesAlex Ovechkin isn’t done yet. The Washington Capitals signed the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer to a one-year contract on Thursday, ensuring that the 40-year-old would return for a 22nd NHL season.
The franchise announced that Ovechkin’s deal features a $1 million salary with a $3.25 million signing bonus and a $4.75 million performance bonus if he plays in at least 10 games.
“I’m back!” Ovechkin said in a statement. “Thank you to everyone for giving me and my family the time to make this decision. I’m healthy. I love playing hockey and competing to win. I’m excited to come back and join my teammates so we can fight for a playoff spot and have a chance to win. See you in September, DC!”
Ovechkin had openly entertained retirement at the end of last season. He turns 41 in September and mentioned that his health was the primary consideration surrounding his decision.
The Capitals, who had already noted they would be willing to re-sign the three-time MVP, were glad to welcome him back.
“He has defined excellence for this franchise and set a standard, and we are thrilled to have him continue writing this next chapter of his remarkable career,” Capitals owner Ted Leonsis said in a statement.
Last season, Ovechkin played in all 82 games and led the Capitals with 32 goals. Throughout the campaign, he added to his already historic resume. The Russian became the first player to score more than 900 regular-season goals and the first to notch 20 30-goal campaigns.
“Alex has proven year after year that he can produce offensively and that he is still the driving force of our team,” said Capitals general manager Chris Patrick. “In addition, his presence in our locker room — especially with our young players — will continue to be an enormous boost for our organization and will help shape our team culture for years to come.”
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The Capitals opened the offseason with a bevy of moves that would likely increase their Stanley Cup odds for next season. Winning, Patrick has said in the past, is a key factor in Ovechkin’s decision.
The Capitals traded for forwards Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou last week in deals with the Buffalo Sabres and St. Louis Blues, respectively. Washington continued its roster refresh on Wednesday by signing former Columbus Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner and ex-San Jose Sharks defenseman Vincent Desharnais.
The Capitals’ roster now features 11 players — including Ovechkin — who have recorded 20-goal seasons in their careers.
“We are excited about the additions we made this offseason to bolster our lineup and make our group more competitive,” Patrick said. “We believe that our roster is well balanced and will help create more opportunities for Alex to create offense and score goals.”
The Capitals have been perennial playoff contenders the past 20 years, but Ovechkin has lifted the Stanley Cup only once — in 2018. Washington’s decision-makers said their offseason moves were tailor-made to help Ovechkin ride off into the sunset after the upcoming season.
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Leonsis said he has championship expectations.
“Our fans expect nothing less, and our organization has made the investments and difficult decisions necessary to build a new and exciting team,” he noted. “Having the greatest goal scorer in NHL history and the most important player in Capitals history return for another season means so much to our organization, our fans, and our city.”
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Liam Griffin
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