Ovechkin just made the Capitals choose: this move, or he's done

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Jonathan Ouimet
May 24, 2026  (1:20)

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Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Alex Ovechkin is not signing the contract Washington wants him to sign.

The 40-year-old captain made his pitch publicly on Friday. "I want you for two more years, this is a contract, sign it," he joked through a smile.

The line landed as half humor, half negotiation tactic. The Capitals are reportedly only willing to offer one year for the 2026-27 season. Ovechkin wants two.

This isn't really about money. It's about a farewell tour Ovechkin has openly said he doesn't want. One year forces the goodbye. Two years lets him keep playing hockey instead of waving from blue lines.

He just put up 64 points in 82 games at age 40. 32 goals, 32 assists, 5 game-winners, on a $9.5 million cap hit. The body is still showing up.

Washington finished 12th overall at 43-30-9, riding a 4-game winning streak into the off-season with an 8-2-0 mark across the last 10. The roster around him is good. Not great. Not Cup-favorite great.

The Capitals project around $33.2 million in cap space heading into June. GM Chris Patrick has already said publicly he plans to be aggressive chasing a top-six forward.

Free agency is thin. Alex Tuch is the lone 30-plus goal name on the open market. The rest of the upgrade has to come through trade.

Patrick already dealt John Carlson partly to flip the asset into a star forward. That's a clear runway. It's also a tight one.

Will Ovechkin sign before the June 26 draft? Probably not, according to Barry Svrluga. The Capitals would prefer a decision by then for roster planning. Ovechkin won't be pressured.

Spencer Carbery is preparing for both scenarios. Power-play sketches with Ovi. Power-play sketches without. Lines with him. Lines without.

https://russianmachineneverbreaks.com/2026/04/16/alex-ovechkin-capitals-last-game-decision-compete-stanley-cup-biggest-thing/

The Capitals also re-signed Timothy Liljegren to a two-year deal and added power-play specialist Ray Bennett to Carbery's staff this off-season.

Young pieces like 19-year-old Cole Hutson are part of the next-era pitch. Hutson posted 10 points in 14 games this year. That number gets bigger fast.

Ovechkin returns to Russia, hits the gym he openly hates, and waits. Washington holds the pen. He holds the leverage.

Previously

A reporter second-guessed Martin St-Louis and instantly regretted it

Huge blow for Montreal as superstar stays down after a vicious hit from Taylor Hall

Monster trade brewing between the Senators and Eastern rival

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55 MINUTES AGO   |   19 ANSWERS Ovechkin just made the Capitals choose: this move, or he's done Should the Capitals give Alex Ovechkin the two-year deal he wants ?

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▢    No

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