{"time":1779855066000,"blocks":[{"id":"sc4LGyXwqm","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"With Evgeni Malkin signing a one-year extension in Pittsburgh, it naturally brings up the other big name from this generation of Russian stars: Alex Ovechkin."}},{"id":"-2uthACty5","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Ovechkin is entering the final year of his contract with the Washington Capitals, which runs through the 2025-26 season. And at this stage of his career, the setup almost starts to write itself."}},{"id":"mpnjly16","type":"video","data":{"url":"https://media-cdn.roundtable.io/media-service/videos/adbf1853-826e-4994-8b8e-3e1614a21a5e/mp4","caption":"","autoplay":false,"controls":true,"muted":false,"stretched":true,"width":0,"height":0,"image":{"url":"https://media-cdn.roundtable.io/media-service/videos/adbf1853-826e-4994-8b8e-3e1614a21a5e/thumbnail"},"cdn":{"videoId":"adbf1853-826e-4994-8b8e-3e1614a21a5e","libraryId":"372172","collectionId":"30032062-eefd-4041-a355-12ad05bc987b","cdnBaseUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net","mp4Url":"https://media-cdn.roundtable.io/media-service/videos/adbf1853-826e-4994-8b8e-3e1614a21a5e/mp4","thumbnailUrl":"https://media-cdn.roundtable.io/media-service/videos/adbf1853-826e-4994-8b8e-3e1614a21a5e/thumbnail","previewAnimationUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net/adbf1853-826e-4994-8b8e-3e1614a21a5e/preview.webp"}}},{"id":"_fH22UlnMR","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"For Washington, it’s just as useful. The Capitals are trying to stay competitive while slowly transitioning into a new core around them. Short-term deals avoid tying the team down if age or injuries start to become more of a factor but still keep their franchise icon in the fold."}},{"id":"A_iYECxfy-","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"When Ovechkin’s next contract conversation comes up, that kind of structure probably ends up being part of it. Not flashy, not complicated, just something that keeps both the player and the team aligned for whatever comes next."}},{"id":"1QpVgE_6sI","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Stay updated with the most interesting International Hockey stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!"}},{"id":"h1YhxPV4cS","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News and never miss a story."}},{"id":"2uRAOzsXPF","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Let us know what you think below."}},{"id":"XOOVAWbVRj","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive, and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum."}}],"version":"2.31.5"}

Will Ovechkin Follow Malkin’s Lead & Sign Before July 1?