Alex Ovechkin is back, the announcement made last week and made official Monday with a press conference hours after his one-year deal could become official in the new NHL league year.
And while he danced around a question asking if he really consider retirement, Ovi admitted that his family – and specifically his wife – played a huge role in the eventual decision to return.
“Oh, you never know, because the last season was hard emotionally with everything that happened with the team,” Ovi said. “Obviously my family, I talked to my mom, I talked to my wife, the kids were asking me what was going to happen. We made a decision, I asked my wife and she said, ‘let’s play one more year, or maybe two more years, I don’t know.’”
Ovi was also coy about what that meant, reiterating he’s only focusing on this year and getting ready to prove that he still has it – as if leading the team with 32 goals and 64 points last year didn’t do just that.
“I don’t know, we will see. Right now I’m focused on coming back for this year and showing that I’m still a good player and still can help the team win,” Ovi said. “I called Chris (Patrick, Caps GM) because I know I can still play and bring energy on the ice and in the locker room. I asked to talk about a contract that was best for the team. It was an easy conversation and easy decision.”
The Caps have made several moves to beef up both the forward and defensive corps this offseason, all of which could’ve made Washington a top contender without Ovi. With him, though?
“I hate to see the guys who have left, but what management did adding new players, you can see how (Patrick) said it’s a lot of depth for Coach Carbs,” Ovi said. “I’m very excited for the team and the fans, because on paper, you can see our team is one of the best. Now we have to work towards a Stanley Cup.”
That’s the ultimate goal, and one owner Ted Leonsis and the Caps brass wanted to make sure was really Ovi’s passion when they found out he was ready to come back.
“I wanted to make sure Alex was coming back for the right reasons; he is hands down the most important, most significant, greatest athlete in Washington DC, but he also has the most meaning and resonance to our fans and young people n our community,” Leonsis said. “I wanted to make sure he was focused on the team and making another run for the Stanley Cup. The way he worked with our front office to build a team that was set up for the next generation of greatness, and how he would play a major part on that, was important.”
“This team has been built to be a really balanced team, with four lines that can score and defend,” Patrick added. “Alex coming back gives Carbs another weapon on any given night to win a game.”
And so, in a negotiation that took 10 minutes or less depending on whether you believe GM or player, has Ovechkin coming back for a 22nd season and one more ride – and given that he dealt with the GR8 Chase two seasons ago and his own future last year, he’s not sweating the pressure.
“It’s okay. I’m going to be 41 years old and have had lots of pressure on my shoulders throughout the years,” Ovi said. “I’m not gonna think about it and just focus on my game and how to help the team win.”
