Alex Ovechkin Is Scoring Like It's His Last Dance, and Nobody Knows If It Actually Is

The man is 40 years old. His contract expires this summer. And yet, Alex Ovechkin is in the middle of his 20th career 30-goal campaign, which should tell you everything you need to know about why Washington Capitals fans are losing their minds right now.

The Capitals are slipping out of the Eastern Conference race after trading away key pieces at the deadline. But Ovechkin? He went the other direction. A seven-goal burst over seven games in late March looked like it might single-handedly drag Washington back into contention. That's the kind of thing that makes people around the team pause and wonder: is this really his last lap in the NHL?

Still Running Through People Like It's Playoff Time

Capitals coach Spencer Carbery has noticed the shift. "He's taken it to another level," Carbery said. "You've noticed an uptick in his game. The thing that I watch for is the physicality. He's getting way more involved, two or three big hits a game where he's running through people and he's scoring a little bit, this is kind of his time of the year where he feels like, 'All right, it's playoff time.'"

Ovechkin's skating isn't what it used to be. His strides are slower, more laborious, especially this season. But his will? That's unwavering. Longtime teammate Tom Wilson put it perfectly: "When he scores one, he wants another one. When he scores two, he wants three."

Carbery sees it ripple through the whole roster. "For our whole group, it's a weird feeling. It's like they feel like if O can score, you get this confidence from our whole group, we're going to find a way to win," he said. "If O scores, we're winning this hockey game."

The Contract Clock Is Ticking, But Ovechkin Isn't Saying Anything

His five-year, $47.5 million deal signed back in July 2021 runs out this summer, and fans are treating every game like it could be the last. Ticket prices in Washington have exploded. The upcoming Capitals-Penguins matchup against Sidney Crosby and Pittsburgh is the third most in-demand Capitals regular-season home game on record since 2007, with an average sale price of $310.

But Ovechkin isn't tipping his hand. In an interview with Monumental Sports this week, he said he will wait until this summer to figure out his plans. Those closest to him have been telling him to take all the time he needs.

Back in October, after surpassing Wayne Gretzky to become the league's all-time goal-scoring leader, Ovechkin told ESPN what matters most: "I still have game. I still have passion. You just enjoy it because you never know when you're going to get hurt or when you're going to be retired."

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.