Alex Ovechkin has signed an incentive-laden deal to return to the Washington Capitals for a 22nd season. The agreement, announced on Thursday, gives the long-time captain an opportunity to further his career goal-scoring record. Ovechkin expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I’m back!”
The deal includes a $1 million salary and an additional $8 million in bonuses. Ovechkin will receive a $3.25 million signing bonus, but the contract structure allows him to count against the cap. This financial arrangement aims to assist the Capitals in assembling a competitive team.
Ovechkin, who will turn 41 on September 17, recently scored 32 goals at age 40. He currently holds 929 goals, placing him ahead of Wayne Gretzky, whose mark of 894 he passed. This achievement was part of what has been referred to as the “GR8 Chase.”
In recent months, Ovechkin had indicated he would decide on his return or retirement during the off-season. He has played exclusively for the Capitals throughout his NHL career. “Thank you to everyone for giving me and my family the time to make this decision,” Ovechkin said. “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.”
The Capitals did not make the playoffs this past spring, but they have qualified 16 times over an 18-year period. This includes their Stanley Cup victory in 2018, where Ovechkin was named playoff MVP.
John Carlson, a teammate for more than 16 seasons and a fellow Cup champion, was not surprised by Ovechkin’s decision. Carlson, who recently signed with Tampa Bay, mentioned, “I knew that he was coming back for a long time.” He added that it was always his gut feeling that Ovechkin was not ready to give up, praising his accomplishments in the league.
Ovechkin also holds NHL records for power play goals, with 331, and game-winning goals, with 141. He has achieved 30 goals in a season 20 times, a feat shared by Gordie Howe, Johnny Bucyk, and Teemu Selanne, who also reached that mark at age 40 or older.
With 1,006 goals, including playoffs, Ovechkin is 10 markers shy of Wayne Gretzky’s combined record of 1,016 regular-season and playoff goals. He spends his summers in Moscow, his hometown, with his wife, Nastya, and their two children, Sergei and Ilya. The family is expected to settle in Russia after his playing career concludes.
Brandon Duhaime, who played with Ovechkin in Washington for two seasons before joining Toronto in free agency, commented on Ovechkin’s continued performance. “What is he, 41, 42, and just incredible that this guy’s still finding ways to put up 30-goal seasons,” Duhaime stated, expressing his admiration for Ovechkin’s record-breaking achievements.
Capitals roster adjustments and outlook
The Capitals are expected to have a significantly different look when the 2026-27 regular season begins in October. Ovechkin’s return follows an off-season that included several key acquisitions, such as Jordan Kyrou, Alex Tuch, Boone Jenner, and Vincent Desharnais. These moves suggest the team’s determination to improve upon missing the playoffs last year and to make a deep run in the 2027 postseason.
Head coach Spencer Carbery is anticipated to deploy a new lineup. While Ovechkin is likely to remain on the official first line, other forward combinations are being considered. The Pierre-Luc Dubois trio, which may include 21-year-old winger Ryan Leonard and the newly acquired Tuch, is expected to play a significant role. Dubois led the Capitals in total assists (33) and primary assists (21) at five-on-five in his 2024-25 campaign.
Kyrou is seen as a suitable match for Ovechkin and his primary center, Dylan Strome. Last season with the Blues, Kyrou led his team in offensive-zone start percentage at five-on-five, contributing to strong analytics. If Kyrou can maintain his success and add speed, the Capitals’ offense could see a boost.
The third line might see Carbery reunite Aliaksei Protas, Ilya Protas, and Tom Wilson, a group that showed strong performance in a limited sample last season. Capitals general manager Chris Patrick has indicated that the younger Protas is considered part of the team’s center ice group, having recorded four points (1g, 3a) in his initial NHL games.
The fourth line remains the most fluid part of the roster, especially given Carbery’s defensive deployment tendencies. With Nic Dowd now in Vegas, Justin Sourdif is expected to move into the center-ice position, with Jenner capable of switching between wing and center. Anthony Beauvillier is currently penciled in as the other winger, with competition expected from players like Ivan Miroshnichenko, Ethen Frank, Bogdan Trineyev, Andrew Cristall, Jonny Brodzinski, and Josh Dunne during training camp.
Defensive pairings and goaltending
On defense, Jakob Chychrun and Matt Roy formed an effective pairing last season, and their continued partnership is a primary objective. During their shared five-on-five ice time, the Capitals controlled 54.2 percent of shot attempts and 55.7 percent of expected goals. An alternative could involve pairing Roy with Martin Fehervary as a shutdown duo, with Liljegren moving up with Chychrun.
Fehervary will need to regain form after struggling without John Carlson last season. Carlson will not be returning to the Capitals after signing in Tampa Bay. Cole Hutson and Vincent Desharnais are seen as a potential duo, with Desharnais focusing on defense to allow Hutson to contribute offensively. Desharnais, who previously played with the Sharks, has also been noted for his ability to mentor younger players, which could benefit 20-year-old Hutson.
In goal, Logan Thompson is expected to be the primary netminder, having appeared in 58 of 82 games last season. Thompson recorded a 31-21-6 record with a 2.44 goals-against average, a .912 save percentage, and four shutouts. He led all goalies in goals saved above expected (29.3) last season. Charlie Lindgren is anticipated to share playing time with Thompson for the 2026-27 season.
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Source: sportsnet.ca
