Washington Capitals forwards Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson are hoping that this coming season won't be the last for captain Alex Ovechkin.
Wilson and Strome spoke to NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger at the Smilezone Celebrity Golf Tournament about Ovechkin and his future as the 39-year-old enters the final year of the five-year extension he signed back in 2021, saying they wouldn't put it past Ovechkin to stick around a while longer.
"Look, we don't know if it's going to be his final year," Strome said. "You kind of see what he said a couple of days ago, that it's preposterous that people would talk about that this will be his last year... It's his decision, obviously, but I wouldn't rule anything out. I certainly hope (he stays)."
There has been some uncertainty surrounding Ovechkin's future following speculation surrounding the final year of his contract, including a marketing email sent in error that referred to the upcoming season as being Ovechkin's last.
However, Washington said he has made no decision, and Ovechkin also shut down the talk by calling it "pure nonsense" and again stressing he'll take the time to consider all of his options. He also told The Hockey News in February that as long as he loves the game, he will continue to play.
Tom Wilson echoed Strome, explaining to Zeisberger that "you can never doubt" Ovechkin.
"Who knows what he's going to do? I mean, if it's his last year, I don't know. You can never doubt the guy," Wilson said. "He could play two, three more years. He's a guy who loves to score. He loves hte game of hockey."
Ovechkin is coming off a historic season where, despite missing 16 games with a broken leg, he surged offensively and scored 44 goals, the third-most in the league, to overtake Wayne Gretzky as the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer. He is currently in Russia preparing for the upcoming campaign, which will mark his 21st in the NHL.
'The GR8 Steaks': Ovechkin Sets Culinary Record In Russia
There's much more to Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin than the goals, and he proved that once again back in Russia this week as he set a new culinary record.
As part of a "Steak Cup" event in Moscow's Ostankino Park, Ovechkin helped prepare 895 turkey steaks, according to TASS. He branded the last steak with his record number of 895, a tribute to the number of career goals he scored to overtake Wayne Gretzky as the NHL's all-time goals leader this past season.
Ovechkin's feat set a new culinary record, which was recorded by an authorized representative and put in the Russian Book of Records.
The 39-year-old has been part of multiple festivities in his native Russia over the last few weeks following a vacation in Turkey, as the country has honored him for a historic year that saw him overcome a broken leg and score 44 goals — the third-most in the league — to pass Gretzky.
Ovechkin sits at 897 career goals going into his 21st NHL campaign and can become the first player in NHL history to score 900 career goals. This also marks the final year of his contract, though he has not made any decisions regarding his future beyond this year.
Instead, Ovechkin said he will "wait and see" how the year goes and decide from there if he wants to continue his career.
