The latest developments in the « Ovi » dossier

The Washington Capitals hope to be able to come to an agreement with their captain, Alex Ovechkin, before he becomes an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday.

Just like in 2008, the Russian striker is negotiating his contract without calling on an agent, who had signed a 13-year agreement worth $ 124 million at the time.

« I think we’re making progress, » Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said on Saturday, echoing NHL.com. Our goal is to get it over with before the free agent market opens.

“Both parties want to achieve the same goal and I believe we will have accomplished our goal by then. I anticipate that we will be successful by then. ”

The 35-year-old has spent his entire career training the nation’s nation’s capital, who drafted him with the No. 1 pick in the 2004 Draft. Ovechkin has been hugely successful with 1320 points. , including 730 goals, in 1197 career games. Moreover, « Ovie » occupies sixth place in the history of the National League in terms of nets, he who is only one goal behind Marcel Dionne, in fifth place, and 11 goals behind Brett Hull, in fourth position. . During the last season, he shook the ropes 24 times, in 45 duels.

The Russian was also able to lift the Stanley Cup for the first time in his career at the end of the 2017-2018 season.

MacLellan added that he would not be the most active in the free agent market, since in addition to Ovechkin, he will have to offer a contract to goaltender Ilya Samsonov, who will become a free agent with compensation. He also said he was ready to welcome Zdeno Chara again if the latter made the decision to play another season, he who is 44 years old.

“It’s just a matter of how much money we’re going to need and basing our decisions on that,” MacLellan concluded.