Capitals look for 'sweet spot' in Ovechkin contract talks

Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan is confident of hammering out a new deal with captain Alex Ovechkin－aka 'The Great 8'－before the 35-year-old superstar becomes a free agent this summer.

Ovechkin, who was named the NHL's official ambassador to China ahead of a goodwill trip to Beijing in 2019, is in the final season of the 13-year, $124 million contract he signed on Jan 10, 2008.

As he did back then, the Moscow native is negotiating without an agent. "I don't really have an update," MacLellan said on the weekend.

"It's the same as it's been all year. We want Alex to finish his career here, and I think he wants to finish his career here, and at some point we'll get it done. We've just got to find a sweet spot that we agree on."

Ovechkin, who has repeatedly expressed his desire to remain with Washington, initiated informal discussions with MacLellan at the start of this season. With 17 tallies in 30 games, he's climbed to No 6 on the NHL's all-time goals list with 723 in 1,179, passing Phil Esposito (717/1,282).

"Obviously, it's nice to be in this company," Ovechkin said after eclipsing the former Boston Bruins great on March 15. "I just do what I have to do. I try to use my chances and move on."

Wayne Gretzky, who retired in 1999, is the all-time goals leader with 894 in 1,487 games.

"It's amazing that Alex keeps going out there and doing it," Esposito told NHL.com."And he's going to keep on doing it because of his quick release. I love watching him score goals because he gets so darned excited about it. I just love it.

"Losing the games that he's lost to injuries and the pandemic is going to hurt his chances (of catching Gretzky) without a doubt, but I don't know. What Wayne did is phenomenal, but if anybody can break the record, I think it could be Alex."

The economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, which likely will cause the NHL salary cap to remain at $81.5 million for a third straight season in 2021-22, is a potential obstacle as the Capitals weigh how much money to commit to Ovechkin and the length of a new contract.

Selected by Washington with the first overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft, Ovechkin has played all of his 16 seasons with the Caps and led them to the franchise's first Stanley Cup in 2018.

"I think there's another gear for him," MacLellan said. "I think he's worked through some things physically, not quite injuries. Got through the COVID, got through some stuff physically.

"I think the last couple of weeks, he's been more on target. I think he'll have a really good second half. I think we're getting through the period of maybe not practicing, not being totally there after COVID, after some injuries. But I think he'll have a great second half."

Going into the weekend, Ovechkin was eight goals behind No 5 Marcel Dionne, who fired 731 in 1,348 regular-season games over 18 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers.

Next up is Brett Hull (741/1,269),Jaromir Jagr (766/1,733) and No 2 Gordie Howe (801/1,767).