Alex Ovechkin means a lot more to the Washington Capitals than just the goals.

His 897 are the most all-time in the history of the NHL, but it's not his goal-scoring prowess alone that's made him a standout in D.C.; it's everything else.

As the Washington Capitals gear up for the 2025-26 season, which is the final year of Alex Ovechkin's contract, they can't really envision a team without their captain on board.

"No one can imagine the locker room without him," Aliaksei Protas told Sport5, per a DeepL translation, adding, "He's the leader who keeps everyone together."

Protas pointed to Ovechkin's 16-game absence earlier in the 2024-25 season after breaking his leg in late November. Though he was out, he made sure to stay with the team and remain around the facility while helping out in any way he could.

"He was always there, during the game he could even give advice somewhere, come in before the game. He was always there," Protas said.

Ovechkin returned to finish the season with 44 goals — the third most in the league — and break the all-time goals record while also leading the Capitals to the top of the Eastern Conference. Washington's season would end, though, in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

With Ovechkin entering the final year of his contract and him remaining undecided on his future beyond next year, Protas said that he can't really envision what it'll be like when he hangs up the skates.

"Of course, sooner or later there will come a point when Washington will have to learn to live without him. But for now, of course, it's hard to imagine that," Protas said. He's a very important figure for the club, the organization, and the league as a whole."

Tom Wilson said the same thing at the end of the season.

"At no point am I thinking in my head that there's ever going to be a day without Ovi on the Caps. He's still flying out there," Wilson said, adding, "You can never count that guy out. He's such a tremendous leader. I'm sure he's going to keep buzzing."

Ovechkin is currently in Turkey on vacation before he gets started training again for what will be his 21st NHL season.

"He's a simple, open guy. It is clear that many people are speechless when they see him," Protas said. "While they're trying to come to their senses, he's already gone, and they don't understand what happened."