Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke — imagn Images
Captain Alex Ovechkin has full confidence in the Washington Capitals as they continue their offseason.
When asked about Evgeny Kuznetsov and Washington potentially bringing him back, Ovechkin said the decision is out of his hands and told Gazeta.ru that he believes the team’s front office can and will make the right decisions going forward.
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“This is a business, it’s the NHL. Everyone understands there may be some moves, but we’ll see,” Ovechkin said, per a DeepL translation. “Washington’s scouts and general manager are among the best. They decide whether a player is right for us.”
Ovechkin is entering the final year of the five-year extension he signed in 2021, and as he enters the twilight of his career, he and the team want to make another strong bid for the Stanley Cup.
Washington attempted to make some big moves earlier in the offseason, targeting Nikolaj Ehlers and looking at a number of other top free agents. However, things fell through, and ultimately, it’s been a rather quiet offseason for the Capitals, who saw their season end in a second-round exit after a tilted matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Still, management is confident in its group and its ability to remain a contender, as general manager Chris Patrick is incorporating more youth into the mix while also counting on re-signed winger Anthony Beauvillier and newly acquired forward Justin Sourdif to make an impact as well.
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Patrick also believes the team checked off its most pressing needs during the season by re-signing Jakob Chychrun to a long-term contract and also locking up goaltenders Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren for at least the next three seasons.