{"id":548096,"date":"2026-04-08T21:49:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T21:49:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/548096\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T21:49:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T21:49:19","slug":"washington-capitals-alex-ovechkin-undecided-on-future-as-he-plays-potential-final-game-in-toronto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/548096\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin undecided on future as he plays potential final game in Toronto"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alex Ovechkin<\/a> will wait until after the season to make a call on his playing future. The 40-year-old Washington Capitals<\/a> winger points to health as the key factor in his decision-making process. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf I was 35 or 25 it\u2019s one thing, but when you\u2019re 40 you have to think for future,\u201d Ovechkin said. <\/p>\n

There\u2019s no doubt Ovechkin, who is in the final year of his current contract, is still loving life in the NHL. <\/p>\n

\u201cStill enjoy it,\u201d the 21-year veteran said. \u201cStill have fun. Still happy to be with the boys in the locker room.\u201d<\/p>\n

And Ovechkin is still productive with 31 goals in 78 games this season. <\/p>\n

One year after breaking Wayne Gretzky<\/a>\u2018s all-time goal scoring record, the Great 8 is closing in on another record held by the Great One. Gretzky scored 1,016 combined goals in the regular season and playoffs while Ovechkin is at 1,005.<\/p>\n

Is that something on his mind? <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, of course people talk about it,\u201d Ovechkin said. \u201cBut I\u2019m concentrated right now on different things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ovechkin won’t make a decision on his future until the summer, health the biggest factor Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin\u2019s NHL future remains unclear with the 40-year-old winger\u2019s latest contract set to expire this summer. Ovi says he won\u2019t make a decision on his future until after this season is behind him. The future Hall of Famer also adds that his health will be the biggest factor in his decision.<\/p>\n

The Capitals enter Wednesday\u2019s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> sitting five points out of a playoff spot. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re still fighting for a playoff spot, so we\u2019re going to talk after the year,\u201d Ovechkin said when asked about his pending retirement. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to support O and however he wants to go out, he\u2019s earned that right,\u201d said Capitals coach Spencer Carbery. \u201cHim taking time and wanting to make the best possible decision for him and his family, totally supportive of it.\u201d <\/p>\n

Ovechkin took a moment to gaze around the Scotiabank Arena prior to the Capitals morning skate on Wednesday. He has scored 25 goals in 30 games against the Leafs in this building and also celebrated a playoff series win here in 2017. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s history, you know,\u201d he said of what he enjoys about playing in Toronto. \u201cFans, you guys [media], it\u2019s always nice to play when it\u2019s sold out and people know about hockey.\u201d <\/p>\n

There\u2019s always a buzz when Ovechkin is in town and that buzz would be even greater if fans knew this was his last NHL visit. But Ovechkin doesn\u2019t seem interested in a farewell tour. <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, because I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the end of it or not so we\u2019ll figure it out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think last year was a lot with the chase,\u201d said Capitals centre Dylan Strome<\/a>. \u201cIt was almost like a send-off kind of thing … every single city we were going to, it was like the chase was going on. It was really cool to be a part of and I don\u2019t think he wants to do that again to be honest. I\u2019m not going to put words in his mouth, but he did say that he doesn\u2019t want the big send off and things like that. He deserves whatever he would want.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnston: It wouldn’t surprise me if this is Ovechkin’s last visit to Toronto as an NHL player TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston joins Mark Masters to discuss the possibility of tonight being Alex Ovechkin’s final game in Toronto, Neil Glasberg attending morning skate as the Leafs search for Brad Treliving’s successor, and Craig Berube’s relaxed attitude amid all the turmoil around the team. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Jake McCabe<\/a> was asked for his most memorable moment facing Ovechkin. <\/p>\n

\u201cI have a recollection of him early, early in my career,\u201d the Leafs defenceman said. \u201cI was probably 21, 22, and he was kind of in that shooter set off a faceoff. I jumped pretty good and the puck was just laying there on edge and I just remember how quick he was able to scoop and get that thing off and it went right off the bar. I remember just thinking, \u2018Holy s\u2014t! How quick [did] that thing came off his twig.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Ovechkin\u2019s shot is a marvel of modern hockey and a lot of work has gone into it. <\/p>\n

\u201cSomebody that worked with him or coached there [told me] that in his practices with people passing him pucks, he\u2019s like, \u2018Stop giving me pucks so flat in the wheelhouse,\u2019\u201d Leafs coach Craig Berube<\/a> relayed. \u201cHe wanted it moving and rolling. He\u2019s that type of guy. He knows in a game he\u2019s not going to get it on the tape all the time where it\u2019s going to be flat.\u201d<\/p>\n

And when Ovechkin\u2019s hard work leads to goals, the Russian enjoys the moment. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just brought so much personality to it,\u201d said Leafs winger Steven Lorentz<\/a>. \u201cComing into the league, he was celebrating goals. It didn\u2019t matter if it was an empty netter or his fourth goal of the game, he was celebrating the same way and that was rubbing people the wrong way at the beginning of his career, but now you look at it and you just know his passion for scoring goals is just on another level.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leafs in awe of Ovechkin’s illustrious career in what could be his final season Ahead of a tilt against the Capitals tonight, the Leafs reflect on what Alex Ovechkin has accomplished in his career in what could be his final season in the NHL and recall their favourite memories of Ovi. <\/p>\n

— <\/p>\n

Is Ovechkin\u2019s shot one of the hardest to block in the league? <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d McCabe said with a grin and a grimace. \u201cTypically, he\u2019s one of those guys that\u2019s on the right side and I\u2019m usually on the left side of the penalty kill and I\u2019m not that upset about it.\u201d <\/p>\n

McCabe ranks second overall with 183 blocked shots this season. He is just three behind Montreal\u2019s Noah Dobson<\/a> for the league lead. What would it mean to finish first?<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not looking to go block 10 tonight to go get the lead if that\u2019s what you\u2019re asking,\u201d the 32-year-old said with a wide smile. <\/p>\n

But there\u2019d be some pride in finishing first?<\/p>\n

\u201cCertainly, yeah, sure,\u201d he eventually confirmed. <\/p>\n

McCabe is blocking 6.51 shots per 60 minutes this season, which is up from 5.7 last season. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a big part of his game and even though we\u2019re not in the playoffs and we\u2019re not going to be in the playoffs, it doesn\u2019t change,\u201d Berube said. \u201cHe\u2019s still playing that game and doing the things for the team.\u201d <\/p>\n

McCabe jokes he’s not eagerly trying to take the NHL lead in blocked shots With Jake McCabe sitting second in the NHL in blocked shots this season, three back of Noah Dobson, the Maple Leafs defenceman jokes that he’s not eagerly trying to take the crown from Canadiens’ defenceman. Meanwhile, his teammates praise him for always putting his body on the line for the team. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

The uncertain future of Ovechkin is a big topic in Washington. The uncertain future, in general, is the big topic in Toronto. <\/p>\n

Neil Glasberg, the president and CEO of PBI Sports and Entertainment, watched the Capitals skate from the stands on Wednesday, just one day after it was learned he will assist MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley with the search for the new Leafs head of hockey operations. <\/p>\n

Florida Panthers<\/a> assistant general manager Sunny Mehta is among those reportedly in the mix. Lorentz got to know Mehta \u201ca little bit\u201d while winning a Stanley Cup with the Panthers during the 2023-24 season. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou saw him around the locker room and stuff like that, but you didn\u2019t really deal with those guys on a day-to-day basis,\u201d Lorentz said. \u201cBut any time you\u2019re part of a winning organization, especially one like that that\u2019s been to three Cup Finals and you win two of them, top to bottom obviously they\u2019re doing something right and it takes every single guy in the organization. Whatever he\u2019s doing, he\u2019s doing a great job at. I didn\u2019t get to know him on a real personal level, but just shaking hands and seeing him around the room, he was always a great welcoming guy, and he\u2019s a very smart mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Florida Panthers assistant GM Sunny Mehta is among Neil Glasberg’s clients.<\/p>\n

Glasberg has been retained by the #leafs<\/a> to assist with their search for a head of hockey operations <\/p>\n

(IG: pbi.sports) pic.twitter.com\/7VW1C5xo4r<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Leafs Ice Chips: Glasberg in the house; musing about Mehta\u00a0 In Toronto, the games are taking a backseat to the search for a new head of hockey operations. Neil Glasberg of PBI Sports was in attendance Wednesday watching the Capitals’ skate, he will be leaned on by MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley in the search and one of the hotter names out there right now is Sunny Mehta, the assistant GM of the Panthers. TSN’s Mark Masters has more. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Easton Cowan<\/a> looks like he\u2019ll be a big part of the future in Toronto regardless of who gets hired by Pelley. The 20-year-old rookie is finishing the season strong. <\/p>\n

\u201cI feel good right now,\u201d the 6-foot, 190-pound winger said. \u201cJust playing fast, playing good hockey so just trying to keep that going here.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the first time since November and only the second time in his career, Cowan has hit the scoresheet in three straight games. <\/p>\n

\u201cCowan is really playing well down the stretch here and really shown me something in different areas of the game, which is nice to see,\u201d said Berube. <\/p>\n

Cowan was on the ice, but did not confront Radko Gudas<\/a> when the Ducks defenceman ended the season of Auston Matthews<\/a> with a knee-on-knee hit on March 12. Cowan vowed to learn from what happened and be better. He is third on the team with 27 penalty minutes since then and has also landed 17 hits in the subsequent 12 games. <\/p>\n

\u201cJust his willingness to get involved and be physical and getting in there for people and protecting people and being a good teammate,\u201d Berube said, when asked what\u2019s impressed him about Cowan. \u201cA lot of times young kids, you know, they just don\u2019t take all that info in, right, but he does and [it\u2019s] really good to see. It shows a lot that a young kid like that is not just focusing on himself and his game but the team and doing the job there.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s playing a grittier game,\u201d Lorentz noted. \u201cYou see him getting into scrums and he\u2019s sticking up for teammates. He\u2019s really evolving his game and growing it in different ways. It\u2019s great to see out of a young kid who\u2019s not even 21. Yeah, it\u2019s impressive.\u201d <\/p>\n

Much more confident Cowan turning heads with strong finish to season A much more confident Easton Cowan has been playing well for the Leafs down the stretch and that hasn’t gone unnoticed by his teammates, who praise the effort he’s bringing on a nightly basis. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

The Capitals have called up Ilya Protas<\/a> (6-foot-6, 225 pounds) who will make his NHL debut tonight on a line with his older brother Aliaksei Protas<\/a> (6-foot-6, 250 pounds) and Tom Wilson<\/a> (6-foot-4, 225 pounds). Add it all up and that\u2019s a 700-pound line. <\/p>\n

\u201cI said I might have to suit up tonight to match the size and I\u2019m going to be a little smaller than those three boys,\u201d said Berube with a laugh. \u201cThat\u2019s a heavy line. That\u2019s a big line so it will be interesting to see.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s going to be heaviest line in the league,\u201d Ovechkin said. \u201cI think so, right? So, good luck.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wilson leads the Capitals in hits (175) and penalty minutes (117). <\/p>\n

\u201cIn my opinion, Willy is the most soft one on that line, right,\u201d said Capitals goalie Logan Thompson<\/a> with a smile. \u201cIt\u2019s exciting. I\u2019m really happy for \u2018Little Pro.\u2019 He\u2019s earned it. He\u2019s going to show Tom up today on that line.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be fun to watch,\u201d said Strome. \u201cHopefully we can get on the ice a couple times after them and hopefully they wore the other line down.\u201d <\/p>\n

Berube jokes he may have to ‘suit up tonight’ vs. ‘heavy line’ of Protas brothers, Wilson With the Capitals set to roll out a big line featuring the Protas brothers, Aliaksei and Ilya, along with Tom Wilson, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube jokes that he’s going to have to suit up tonight. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson<\/a> will return to the Leafs lineup after missing Saturday\u2019s game due to injury. <\/p>\n

Projected Leafs lineup for Wednesday\u2019s game: <\/p>\n

Cowan – Tavares – Nylander<\/p>\n

Maccelli – Domi – Knies<\/p>\n

Joshua – Groulx – Robertson<\/p>\n

Lorentz – Quillan – Jarnkrok<\/p>\n

McCabe – Ekman-Larsson <\/p>\n

Rielly – Carlo<\/p>\n

Benoit – Myers <\/p>\n

Stolarz starts <\/p>\n

Woll<\/p>\n