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    Sammi Silber
    Sammi Silber
    May 21, 2024, 20:47

    The Capitals captain has two years left on his NHL deal.

    The Capitals captain has two years left on his NHL deal.

    Screencap/Dynamo Moscow - Former Dynamo Coach: Ovechkin Said He Plans To Finish Out Hockey Career In Russia

    Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is in the midst of the greatest chase of his life as he tracks down Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goal-scoring record. And after he finishes in North America, there appears to be a plan in place for him to play in Russia.

    Former Dynamo Moscow assistant coach Vladimir Fedosov told aif.ru, a weekly newspaper in Russia, that Ovechkin says he wants to close out his playing career overseas.

    "He said himself that he would finish his career in Dynamo... the white-and-blue fans can definitely sleep easy. If Alexander's health is good, he will be able to play until the age of 45," Fedosov said, per a DeepL translation.

    Ovechkin, who played for Dynamo Moscow before being taken first overall by the Capitals in 2004, goes back to Russia in the offseason and is currently back in Moscow.

    The 38-year-old has two years left on his NHL contract and sits 42 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time record of 894, and he is coming off of what he called one of the more challenging seasons of his career.

    Through the first 43 games of the 2023-24 campaign, Ovechkin managed just nine goals. In the second half of the season, though, he caught fire and hit reset for 22 goals in his final 39 games of the year to finish with his record-breaking 18th 30-goal season.

    Going into his 20th NHL season, Ovechkin said that he intends to change up his training over the summer. He usually works with Pavel Burlachenko.