Alexander Ovechkin will turn 41 this September, and he is in the final year of his contract with the Washington Capitals. Speculation is now growing that he could return to Russia to finish his career.
Ovechkin is currently playing his 21st NHL season, and through 59 games, he has recorded 22 goals and 26 assists—numbers that put him on pace for 67 points this season, assuming he stays healthy.
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Alexander Ovechkin return to KHL
However, Ovechkin is in the last year of his deal with the Capitals. He has previously stated that he plans to complete his contract before deciding on his next step—but it may not be in the NHL. Over the years, Ovechkin has expressed several times that he would like to return to Russia and the KHL to play for Dynamo Moscow. He grew up playing for Dynamo and also played there during the 2012–13 NHL lockout. He currently serves as a senior advisor for the team.
”We’ll be delighted”
KHL president Alexei Morozov says he has spoken with Ovechkin about his future.
“We’re not bothering him right now because he has an NHL contract. Sasha is very focused on the game. They’re currently on a break in the regular season, and Alexander is spending time with his family while preparing for the important part of the season. We’ll certainly discuss everything with him this summer,” Morozov said according to Capitals blog Russian Machine Never Breaks in a recent interview.
“We talk often, see each other in the summer, and discuss various topics. A few years ago, he asked me how things were going in the KHL. He knows everything that’s happening in the league. If he decides to continue his career in the KHL, we’ll be delighted,” Morozov added.
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