The Washington Capitals opened the offseason with a flurry of trades and free-agent signings that left the roster with just $4.375 million in cap space.
But the front office insisted Wednesday that it still had flexibility for Alex Ovechkin. Washington’s long-time captain and the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer became an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday. He has not indicated plans to sign with another team, but has openly mulled retirement. Capitals General Manager Chris Patrick has said he has a contract ready for Ovechkin if he decides to return for a 22nd NHL season.
“I think we can do something that would work for Alex based on conversations we had with him prior to him leaving,” Patrick told ESPN. “There are ways to get him the money that he needs because of his age and the kind of contracts you can do.”
NHL guidelines allow players who are 35 or older to sign contracts with an array of incentives that don’t affect the first year’s salary.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin, for example, agreed to a one-year deal in May that features a $2.5 million base salary. The 39-year-old’s contract includes a $3 million signing bonus and $3.5 million in performance bonuses.
The Capitals, according to Patrick, would welcome Ovechkin back to the District. They’re just waiting for the three-time MVP to decide on retirement.
“He hasn’t made a decision yet. I think part of it was seeing where we are after today and that we’re trying to do as much as we can to improve the team,” Patrick told ESPN on Wednesday night.
The Capitals opened the offseason with a bevy of moves that would likely increase their Stanley Cup odds for next season. Winning, Patrick has said in the past, is a key factor in Ovechkin’s decision.
The Capitals traded for forwards Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou last week in deals with the Buffalo Sabres and St. Louis Blues, respectively. Washington continued its roster refresh on Wednesday by signing former Columbus Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner and ex-San Jose Sharks defenseman Vincent Desharnais.
The Capitals’ roster now features 10 players — not including Ovechkin — who have recorded 20-goal seasons in their careers.
“He’s a competitor. He loves to win,” Patrick said of Ovechkin. “So I think what we’ve done definitely will help inform his decision on whether he wants to come back or not.”
Ovechkin said at the end of last season that he’d make a retirement decision early in the summer based on his health and conversations with his family. The Russian, who turns 41 in September, played all 82 games last season while leading the Capitals with 32 goals.
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