Washington Capitals Await Ovechkin's Decision on Future

The Washington Capitals' offseason is currently at a standstill, waiting for Alex Ovechkin's decision on whether to return for a 22nd season. General manager Chris Patrick and president of hockey operations Brian MacLellan are giving Ovechkin time to think about his future and discuss it with his family. Ovechkin, the league's career leader in goals, scored 32 last season and showed he could still stay healthy for all 82 games. The Capitals missed the playoffs this year, but their situation is hardly dire, with much of their core remaining under contract and youngsters like Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson offering hope for the future. And with John Carlson's contract no longer on the books, the Capitals figure to have plenty of room to include Ovechkin, whose expiring deal carried a $9.5 million cap hit this season. Patrick said the team is in a good spot cap-wise going into this offseason to have flexibility to do different things. But if Ovechkin does retire, that would leave the Capitals with even more space to maneuver, although it would certainly bring about a new era in Washington. MacLellan noted that Ovechkin's presence is huge, and when he decides to leave, it's going to be a big hole, personality-wise, leadership-wise. The team is also dealing with defenseman Rasmus Sandin's leg injury, which could carry over into next season, and is eager to make a significant addition at forward. So the Capitals are in good position to pursue a trade, with picks and good prospects to offer. Patrick said the team's wallet is full, and if there's an opportunity, they'd like to jump on it. The NHL draft begins June 26, with free agency starting a few days after that, and the Capitals will have to be prepared for whatever Ovechkin decides. Ovechkin indicated last week he was hoping to keep playing, but he also said Washington's outlook next season could factor into his decision. The Capitals tied for the 12th-most points in the league, with a poor shootout record and a brutally competitive race in the Eastern Conference keeping them out of the postseason.