ARLINGTON, VA – The season is more than halfway over, and in the midst of a sluggish stretch, washington capitals They are still hoping for a successful bid for the postseason.
Big question – will Alex Ovechkin Will it be back next season? –still hovering in the background.
General manager Chris Patrick said, “He’s very focused on the short term here, and this team is trying to get into the playoffs and have another chance to win the Stanley Cup.” “So yes, you guys will have to continue to wait.”
Ovechkin is in the final year of his contract, and at age 40, he has again managed to reach 20 goals – as he did in each of his last 20 NHL seasons. Whether he’s ready to finish his career with the Capitals is still as unclear as it was at the beginning of the season.
Patrick spoke with reporters on Friday and said that while he has spoken to Ovechkin, it’s not really about the Russian star’s plans beyond 2025-26.
“That conversation hasn’t really happened,” Patrick said. “We talked a little bit about where the team is and what they think we need and what I think we need. But it didn’t really have much of an impact on his future outside of this year.”
The Capitals have managed to remain competitive as Ovechkin has aged, missing the playoffs only once in the last 11 seasons and avoiding a full rebuild. That’s partly because Ovechkin remains a productive goal scorer himself, scoring 44 goals last season and tying Wayne Gretzky’s career record.
Ovechkin now has 917 career points, but after a strong start, the Capitals have not won consecutive games since the first few days of December. They’re on the playoff bubble right now, and Patrick has made it clear that Washington is looking for help before the March 6 trade deadline.
“Definitely actively making an extra effort,” Patrick said. “With all the teams that are in the mix in the playoffs right now, I think teams are trying very hard to figure out their timing and what they need to do and when they want to do it.”
on friday New York Rangers clarify He was set to be a player moving forward when he posted a letter from GM Chris Drury to that effect on social media. New York is in last place in the Eastern Conference.
On the other hand, the Capitals are third in the Metropolitan Division despite injuries to some key players. Pierre-Luc Dubois Hasn’t played since October 31st but is skating again. Tom Wilson Haven’t played since January 3rd.
“We see our biggest need as a high-level, skilled winger. They’re not always available at the deadline,” Patrick said. “If those guys are out there we’re going to keep trying to pursue them.”
And while Ovechkin’s future remains uncertain, it doesn’t seem like it will have much of an impact on Washington’s deadline plans. The Capitals are in the playoff race and were the top seed in the East last season, so it makes sense for them to be a buyer. But even if Ovechkin’s retirement is imminent, they have several key players signed to long-term contracts, so there’s no reason to mortgage their future too much.
“I hope whatever we do fits into both,” Patrick said. “I’m hoping we can do something that will help us short-term, help this team get to the playoffs again, get Alex another chance in the playoffs, and help long-term whenever he’s not on the team.”
