Alex Ovechkin is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, leaving Spencer Carbery without his captain for Monday's preseason game.
The Washington Capitals announced the injury Monday, shortening Ovechkin's runway as the club moves deeper into its preseason schedule.
Ovechkin was already set to sit out Washington's second exhibition game against the Philadelphia Flyers. His status now becomes something to monitor beyond one night.
The Capitals have only two preseason games remaining after Monday before opening the regular season against the Carolina Hurricanes on October 2.
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That leaves Carbery with limited time to get Ovechkin back into game situations before the schedule starts counting. Washington has little reason to push him during exhibition play.
At 41, Ovechkin is coming off a season in which he dressed for all 82 games. Availability wasn't an issue during that regular-season run.
Washington now has to manage Ovechkin's runway
Ovechkin finished last season with 32 goals and 32 assists, keeping his offensive role intact even at this stage of his career.
The injury doesn't come with a long-term designation. Day-to-day gives Washington flexibility, but every missed preseason skate or game cuts into Ovechkin's preparation.
That's the balancing act for Carbery. The Capitals need their captain ready for puck drop in October far more than they need him taking preseason shifts in September.
His contract also underlines Washington's expectation that Ovechkin will remain a major piece. He signed a one-year deal with the Capitals in July.
The agreement carries a $1-million salary with another $8 million available through bonuses. One of those bonuses pays $4.75 million if Ovechkin appears in 10 games.
Washington structured the deal to count $4.25 million against the salary cap, giving the club room while keeping its longtime captain in place.
For now, the bigger issue is timing. Ovechkin has a short stretch left to get healthy, return to the lineup and find his game before Washington faces Carolina.
A day-to-day tag keeps the concern measured. But with opening night approaching, every update on Ovechkin will carry more weight around the Capitals' locker room.
Should the Capitals keep Alex Ovechkin out for the rest of the preseason?
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