With the Washington Capitals now eradicated from the postseason, all eyes flip to Alex Ovechkin’s future as he approaches 40 years previous. Capitals coach Spencer Carbery actually anticipated Ovechkin to return for the 2025-26 season.
“My understanding is he is below contract, so he’ll be again subsequent 12 months,” Carbery mentioned following the Capitals 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Sport 5.
Ovechkin did not appear like a participant on the verge of retirement this previous season. He tied for third within the NHL with 44 objectives in simply 65 video games. That is a 55-goal tempo in a full season, which Ovechkin did not get as a result of his marketing campaign was interrupted by a damaged leg.
Within the second spherical towards the Hurricanes, Ovechkin and the remainder of the Caps struggled to attain. The brand new all-time objectives chief discovered the again of the web simply as soon as, however Carbery mentioned he appreciated Ovechkin’s sport.
“I believed [Ovechkin] was nice within the playoffs,” Carbery mentioned. “I do know, on this collection, the stats will not be flattering.”
On the finish of the 2023-24 season, when Washington acquired swept by the New York Rangers within the first spherical, there have been some who questioned if Ovechkin might bounce again. As Carbery famous in his press convention, the Capitals’ captain did that and extra.
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“For him to return again this 12 months and play the way in which that he did,” Carbery mentioned. “Chase down this report. The beginning that he had. Breaking his leg and getting back from that. Simply persevering with to not solely do the issues he did individually statistically, however lead our staff.
“That is a part of the story that can sort of be a minor a part of it, but it surely’s an enormous a part of it. Individuals are gonna take a look at this staff and go, ‘How did they achieve this nicely? How did they win the East?’ Nicely, he is a part of that as our captain.”
For his half, Ovechkin mentioned the Capitals performed nicely sufficient to stay alive, they simply could not benefit from their probabilities.
“We now have our probabilities, however we simply do not execute, perhaps,” Ovechkin mentioned. “Luck was not on our aspect. I do not suppose we performed unhealthy hockey. We had numerous probabilities to get the lead, but it surely’s powerful.”
Ovechkin nonetheless has lots to play for at this late stage of his profession. He is simply three objectives away from being the one NHL participant in historical past to attain 900, after which 1,000 could be on his radar. On high of that, Washington appears to be a staff on the rise, so Ovechkin might need no less than yet one more deep playoff run in him.
