According to the Associated Press, Alex Ovechkin will return to the Washington Capitals with a five-year contract of $47.5 million.
The Russian winger led the Capitals to the only Stanley Cup championship in the history of the team, while also chasing Wayne Gretzky Hockey League Goal record.
The athlete said on Twitter: “I’m back!!!” There is a photo of him surrounded by his family with his contract.
For more reports from the Associated Press, please see below:
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Ovickin turned 36 in October and ranked fifth in the career scoring list, 164 goals lower than Gretzky’s long-term unbreakable record of 894 goals. In this contract, Ovechkin needs an average of nearly 33 goals per season to catch up with Gretzky. The contract expires when he is about to turn his 41st birthday.
“Alex is the spokesperson for our team, he is committed to this organization and this city,” general manager Brian McClellan said in a statement. “Alex embodies the full meaning of our team, and we are very happy that he will continue to wear the Caps jersey for the next five years to continue his career.”
Ovickin signed for one more season than most expected, extending the contract of his long-time running partner Nicklas Backstrom, which will last until the 2024-25 season. A salary cap of $9.5 million – slightly lower than Ovechkin’s annual figure during his $124 million, expiring 13-year contract – enables McClellan to maintain the core of the playoffs and cup games around him .
“Alex is a world-class athlete and he will always be seen as not only leading the team to achieve our ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup, but also inspiring the next generation of fans and youth players,” owner Ted Leonsis Say. “He is not only committed to the team, but also to the community, and we look forward to seeing him wearing the uniform of the Capital team in the next few years.”
Washington selected Ovechkin in the first round in 2004. Since his debut in 2005, the Moscow native has scored 244 more goals than the second-ranked Pittsburgh player Sidney Crosby. His 1,320 points are second only to Crosby, and since they broke into the league together, Ovechkin has been associated with his old rival Crosby.
The re-signing of Ovechkin is part of the offseason problem for the Capitals. The Capitals signed a new contract with Ovechkin only after Seattle’s expansion draft so they could protect another player.
After losing goalkeeper Vitek Vanecek to expanded Kraken, they unloaded their salary by trading defender Brenden Dillon to Winnipeg on Monday night in exchange for the 2022 and 2023 second-round picks. Their cap space is less than $5 million, and they still need to sign a new contract with restricted free agent goalkeeper Ilya Samsonov and add a substitute.
Nick Vas/Associated Press
