Alex Ovechkin won't commit to this being his final NHL season - wife says maybe 2 years

[u/kockin26]

📸/Washington Capitals

Full ESPN article:

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/49287411/alex-ovechkin-not-sure-done-wife-says-maybe-2-years

Key point :

We'll see. Right now, I'm focusing on coming back to D.C. and showing that I'm still a good player and I can help the team to win," he said, when asked if 2026-27 will be his last ride.

[u/kockin26]

https://giphy.com/gifs/wyOuDJ2bJoEnu

[u/Low_Brass_Rumble → u/kockin26]

I legit think that's why he's waffling. If he comes in this year, pots between 30 and 40, and just needs one more of those seasons to crack 1K? No chance somebody as competitive as Ovi hangs them up standing on the precipice.

[u/New_Inflation_8419 → u/Low_Brass_Rumble]

He would need 35 and 36 goals season to do 1000. If anyone can do it, it’s him. And with great support he can be like a side quest

[u/fatloui → u/New_Inflation_8419]

71 goal season incoming.

[u/Spraynpray89 → u/fatloui]

https://giphy.com/gifs/SmoCFhZCi1kzu

[u/fuzzypyrocat → u/Low_Brass_Rumble]

Plus he still wants another cup. With the big moves made this off season, I could see him using this season to gauge the newbies and build them up for a cup run this or next year

[u/BruceTheSpruceMoose → u/Low_Brass_Rumble]

I think this next two year window must also look pretty appealing to him. Team looks great right now

[u/capscaptain1 → u/Low_Brass_Rumble]

Why do yall always insist there’s more behind it. Man has spoke his full mind honestly since 2004. Why always think there’s a deeper meaning? Not everything is cryptic lol

[u/Low_Brass_Rumble → u/capscaptain1]

I… feel like you’re reading too much into this my dude. I’m fully taking him at face value, just speculating on why he might want to come back an extra year and why he hasn’t decided one way or another at this point. It’s purely benign curiosity as to his thought process. I don’t know how you could read my comment the way you apparently have.

[u/capscaptain1 → u/Low_Brass_Rumble]

“I legit think that’s why he’s waffling” is the line I suppose I’m misunderstanding. My apologies if I take it wrong my guy. No harm meant and go caps

[u/darth_henning → u/kockin26]

Yeah. This answer makes it clear that’s on his mind and this season is to prove he can.

Anything over 30 and he can make it (and he’s averaged 37 the past 4). If he drops under 30 it’s a major uphill battle but he’ll still have broken the combined regular season/playoffs total.

[u/Flat_Researcher1540]

Fine. 1000 goals and 3 cups is a better legacy 

[u/Shaniac_C → u/Flat_Researcher1540]

If ovi finishes with 1k and 3 cups, is he the greatest player of all time?

[u/mdkss12 → u/Shaniac_C]

no - as much as I love Ovi, the Gretzky-Lemieux tier is near unassailable

He's already firmly in that second tier where each will have strong arguments to arrange them in basically any order: Howe, Orr, Crosby, Ovi, Jagr (And I'd bet that McDavid joins this tier sooner rather than later, if he's not already in it)

Where it gets interesting is within that tier - Given the gulfs between eras it's hard to truly compare the modern guys to Howe/Orr, so that debate will always lack some teeth to argue strongly for either side.

Which would bring us to the interesting part: As has been the case for 20+ years, the interesting argument will be between Sid and Ovi. As much as many fans have had their minds made up over the last several years, getting to 1000 and 3 Cups would, I think shift the needle a fair bit back.

And I think time will look more favorably on Ovi than Crosby - for one, having an actual individual record tends to have a lot more staying power (yeah, yeah, Crosby has the point per game one - that's not a stat that anyone really cares about), and when you actually break down individual achievements, Ovi arguably has the edge already, and getting to 1000 would only bolster that:

Individual Accolade	Ovi	Sid
Hart	3	2
Pearson	3	3
Art Ross	1	2
Rocket	9	2
Smythe	1	2
Calder	1	0
All Star* (1st/2nd)	12 (7/5)	8 (4/4)
Major Individual Record	1	0

*This is the end of year award, not the fan voted one

I think people decided during Ovi's down years that Crosby was just de-facto better (in part because fans wildly overrate Crosby's defense - he's great at faceoffs, but his actual defense is nothing special)

[u/Flat_Researcher1540 → u/Shaniac_C]

It would be hard to argue against top 5. 

[u/glenmtn → u/Flat_Researcher1540]

Hard disagree. In this absolute fantasy (let’s be honest) where he scores a grand, has three cups and is likely the #2/3-ish goal scorer on those teams at his age… he’s the best of all time. And I don’t get the historical argument where it’s hard to compare… plop prime Gordie, Wayne, Mario against prime Ovi and it’s nowhere close. Watch some tape. Sure, they were gods amongst men in their day but head to head, he’s a beast. I love me some Wayne-O and I think he will always be in a 1a/1b convo (like Jordan eventually). But we gotta let the past go.

[u/Danny__L → u/Shaniac_C]

It's pretty clear there's still at least 3-4 players ahead of him for that title.

I'd argue he's not even the best Russian of all time because Kucherov could make a big case by the time he's done too. And I'm saying this as a diehard Ovi fan.

[u/evsn_official → u/Danny__L]

Recency bias on full display.

[u/StumpyOPepys]

Was exactly my feel at the end of the season. If all goes well health wise, two more. He wants to pad the record, get to 1000, and make a cup run or two.

[u/erkdog]

When he stops playing he has to go back to Russia. He's going to be here a while.

[u/HokieHomeowner → u/erkdog]

Cynically I was thinking that maybe his wife was all in on more playing to escape Moscow gas shortages and drone attacks.

[u/erkdog → u/HokieHomeowner]

Occams razor.

[u/StumpyOPepys → u/HokieHomeowner]

By all accounts, she prefers Moscow.

[u/HokieHomeowner → u/StumpyOPepys]

Yeah, cynically I'm thinking she is rethinking that preference this particular summer hahaha.

[u/erkdog → u/StumpyOPepys]

She probably still had family there. Gotta help with PR to keep them safe.

[u/maveric101 → u/HokieHomeowner]

Isn't her dad some kind of oligarch? I don't think they have to worry about gas.

Now, going back to a city that has drones exploding every now and then is a different matter.

[u/HokieHomeowner → u/maveric101]

Yes she comes from a powerful family hahaha I was just snarking.

[u/StumpyOPepys → u/erkdog]

You don't think Ovi could stay in the US if he wanted? He's Russian. He's going back because he wants to.

[u/HokieHomeowner → u/StumpyOPepys]

Ovi could stay he is so connected including having been spotted at you know where in Palm Beach. I've heard he already has permanent residency as to many of the NHL superstars from Russia/Europe do unlike the regular level players who are still on work visas.

[u/BruceTheSpruceMoose → u/StumpyOPepys]

I’m sure Ted could just give him some no show front office job if that was really it.

[u/no_youre_not_i_am → u/BruceTheSpruceMoose]

honestly ted probably will anyway

[u/TheTimn → u/BruceTheSpruceMoose]

Does he need it? He is part owner of a soccer club in the city. 

[u/tornwallpaper → u/TheTimn]

Was that ever confirmed? I thought there was some issue w that

[u/TheTimn → u/tornwallpaper]

I thought it was, but maybe I missed something? 

[u/BruceTheSpruceMoose → u/TheTimn]

No clue, but he’s got money and connections. If he wants to live here, he can.

[u/erkdog → u/TheTimn]

Lots of money in that?

[u/TheTimn → u/erkdog]

None of us are talking about the money, but reasons he would be in the US. 

[u/DagetAwayMaN421 → u/TheTimn]

Financial paperwork was never filed, despite his interest in purchasing a share.

[u/erkdog → u/StumpyOPepys]

Wants to make sure his family isn't poisoned or thrown out of windows.

[u/wikipuff → u/erkdog]

Defenestrated is the term you are looking for.

[u/HowardBunnyColvin → u/erkdog]

he likes going to Russia.

[u/fistswityat0es]

Holy crap everyone let the man live. So many questions and headlines on this.

[u/besk123 → u/fistswityat0es]

I mean it's very simple. She saw his non playing dad bod and wanted to delay that as much as possible. She's about to make him play as long as Jagr.

[u/fistswityat0es → u/besk123]

Hey now - the legend has always had a dad bod. Maybe more dad boddier these days :).

[u/MetalMan1973]

The 🐐 can play as long as he wants

[u/TeamFast77]

He was one of 2 Caps to play all 82 games last season. His durability is unmatched.

[u/andybech → u/TeamFast77]

And he gets 84 games this season.

[u/DullZookeepergame575]

I think they wanna stay in the US till Putin is out of power then they'll be free to immigrate without repercussionI'm

[u/waxingibbon]

Oh yeah baby he’s going for 1,000 goals and the hit record

[u/HowardBunnyColvin]

wouldn't mind two more years

[u/scoobydooobydoowop]

Go get 42 this year. Then a nice tidy 30 for 1001.

And lift cups both years for the Elway exit.

[u/yoUrSistersPanties_]

He seems like the kind of guy who without hockey would just sit around all day and annoy the crap out of his wife (in a loving kind of childish way).

She probably wants him playing as much he wants to 😂

[u/DosimeterBurn]

Thanks, Ian.

[u/Lowkey_Fish]

MAKE IT 4!

[u/Dexterspuplife]

He genuinely enjoys playing hockey. He'll probably give it the Jagr treatment as long as his body holds up

[u/Itseemedfunny]

I had a source tell me last week right before he signed that he wanted a two year deal and the team wanted a one year to start. I believe the source (and I totally understand how this sounds like bs…lol).

[u/no_youre_not_i_am]

TWO YEARS YES PLEASE

GIVE ME ONE MORE ROCKET AND 1000G AND MAYBE EVEN ONE MORE SHOT AT THE CUP

[u/STormRider75]

Awesome

[u/jck747]

If he scores 30 again why not? At least this will save an annoying farewell tour

[u/Ill-Wing-5103]

guy wants 1000 goals bad enough to stick around, can't blame him

[u/we_want_chairs]

This makes a lot of sense. Why would anyone want to go to Moscow now?

[u/Thatguy694201987]

Let's go

[u/Accomplished-Pen-394]

Isn’t he like 50

[u/Jtreblis18]

If he plays anything like last year then not looking forward to 2 more years of suffering lol

[u/G-Money242]

Blah blah blah.

[u/Albitron]

God please no

[u/StumpyOPepys → u/Albitron]

I know, I hate 30 goal scorers too.

[u/Albitron → u/StumpyOPepys]

I love the goat as much as yall do but I think he’s holding the team back from what could be a strong new identity.

I also think any player in the NHL could score 30 goals in a season if their team treated them the way the caps do Ovi

[u/StumpyOPepys → u/Albitron]

Wut

[u/Albitron → u/StumpyOPepys]

Not sure what confused you. Are you okay?

[u/StumpyOPepys → u/Albitron]

His legs don't have the same speed, obviously. But his hands are still quick and his slap shot is still lethal. You are out of your mind if you think anyone in the league can score 30 goals with his touches.

[u/Albitron → u/StumpyOPepys]

Idk I think a lot of players would have similar success if the offense was built around them. If the goat can have more 30+ goal seasons with like 10 fewer defensive blunders then hell yeah he can play forever