The Great Eight has made a decision. News emerged that Alex Ovechkin re-signed with the Washington Capitals. The veteran forward has signed a one-year deal worth $4.3 million. This contract has an average cap hit of $4.3 million and will run through the end of the 2026-27 season.
The Washington Capitals announced on Monday that captain Alex Ovechkin has officially signed a one-year contract extension to return for the 2026-27 NHL season.
Alex Ovechkin Re-Signed by Washington Capitals
Ovechkin has only played for Capitals in his 21-year NHL career. The Russian superstar totaled 32 goals and 32 assists for 64 points in 82 games. This campaign was the first time Ovechkin appeared in all 82 games since the 2017-18 season. The Moscow native had a Corsi for of 60.1 and a relative Corsi of 15.7.
Ovechkin’s is the league’s all-time leading goalscorer with 929 goals. The Russian is the only player that has surpassed the 900-goal mark in NHL history. He also has 758 assists for 1,687 points in 1,573 career games. Washington originally took Ovechkin with the top overall pick of the 2004 NHL Draft.
The future Hall of Famer has racked up the honours during his lengthy NHL career. Ovechkin has won the Calder Trophy, the Stanley Cup, and the Conn Smythe Trophy. He’s also won the Art Ross Trophy three times, the Hart Trophy three times, and the Maurice Richard Trophy nine times. There’s no doubt he’ll be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
(Credit Image: © Alex Cave/ZUMA Press Wire)
What It Means
There had been some chatter that Ovechkin would retire or return to finish out his playing days in Russia. Ovechkin had a strong start to his career in his home country before heading over to North America. It would have been understandable if he returned.
However, it seems like Ovechkin has some unfinished business in the American capital before calling it a career. Ovechkin is 71 goals away from hitting 1,000 in the NHL. There could be some temptation to stay in North America until he hits that milestone.
However, Washington does get to keep a veteran player that has still has some scoring magic in him. Let’s see if he can get closer to that milestone of 1,000.
Main photo by: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
