Alex Ovechkin's decision to return to the Washington Capitals reached his own teammates through a group text, and it clearly meant a lot.
BarDown shared the story this week, and it centers on the moment Ovechkin's teammates actually found out.
"I remember checking my own phone after my buddy told me and saw that Ovi had sent a text to our group letting us know he was coming back," Dylan Strome said.
"And that he was pumped," he added.
Strome posted 19 goals and 39 assists for 58 points over 80 games this past season.
News like that landing directly in a group chat says something about the room Washington has built around its captain.
Ovechkin is not just sticking around for a farewell tour either. He is still genuinely producing.
He's still producing at an incredible age 40
At 40 years old, Ovechkin posted 32 goals and 32 assists for 64 points over 82 games this past season.
He closed even stronger, picking up 11 points over his final 10 games, hardly the profile of a player winding down.
Washington finished last season 43-30-9 for 95 points and 12th overall under head coach Spencer Carbery, a solid year with its captain still in the middle of it.
General manager Chris Patrick now gets another season of Ovechkin's leadership in the room, on top of whatever he still provides on the ice.
Moments like a captain texting his own teammates before the news goes public say plenty about the culture in Washington.
BarDown's full post captures the moment in the teammate's own words.
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Ovechkin is choosing to keep going, and based on that group chat, his teammates could not be happier about it either.
Is Alex Ovechkin still an impact player at age 40?
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