ARLINGTON, Va. — With over half the season gone, the Washington Capitals are still striving for a playoff spot despite a rough patch.
The pressing question remains — will Alex Ovechkin return next season? — hovering in the background.
“He seems highly focused on the immediate goals, specifically the team making it to the playoffs and having another shot at the Stanley Cup,” said general manager Chris Patrick. “So yes, you’re all going to have to continue waiting.”
Ovechkin, in the last year of his contract, has once again hit the 20-goal mark at age 40, matching his performance in each of his previous 20 NHL seasons. Whether he intends to conclude his career with the Capitals is still as uncertain as it was at the start of the season.
In a discussion with reporters on Friday, Patrick noted that conversations with Ovechkin haven’t really touched on his future beyond the 2025-26 season.
“We haven’t really gone there,” Patrick said. “We discussed the team’s current situation and what we both feel we need, but didn’t delve too deeply into his personal plans after this year.”
The Capitals have maintained competitiveness as Ovechkin ages, making the playoffs in 10 of the last 11 seasons and avoiding a complete rebuild. This sustained success has been aided by Ovechkin’s scoring, earning 44 goals last season and breaking Wayne Gretzky’s career record.
Now at 917 career goals, Ovechkin and the Capitals have struggled to secure consistent wins, not managing back-to-back victories since early December. Currently, they sit just outside the playoff spots, and Patrick emphasized the team’s intention to seek reinforcements before the March 6 trade deadline.
“We are definitely pursuing an addition actively,” Patrick stated. “With so many teams in playoff contention, everyone is trying to analyze their needs and timing.”
Meanwhile, the New York Rangers have signaled their willingness to move players after GM Chris Drury’s public announcement regarding their position, as they currently sit last in the Eastern Conference.
Contrarily, the Capitals are tied for third in the Metropolitan Division despite some key player injuries. Pierre-Luc Dubois has been out since October 31 but is now back on the ice. Tom Wilson last played on January 3.
“We believe our most pressing need is for a high-end, skilled winger, though those are not always readily available at the deadline,” Patrick shared. “We’ll keep looking to acquire those players if they are out there.”
Even as uncertainties about Ovechkin’s future linger, it appears that Washington’s trade plans won’t be significantly influenced. With the Capitals in playoff contention and having been the top seed in the East last season, it is logical for them to be buyers. also, even if Ovechkin’s retirement is on the horizon, they have several key players secured for the long term, minimizing the need to jeopardize their future.
“I hope our actions align with both immediate and long-term objectives,” Patrick concluded. “I aim for us to make moves that assist in reaching the playoffs again, allowing Alex another crack at it, while also considering future transitions when he is no longer part of the team.”
