REPORT: Alexander Ovechkin is open to being TRADED?

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Ryan
December 13, 2022 (5:30 PM)

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Since making his debut in 2005, we have all been graced with the pleasure of watching one of the greatest goal scorers of all time work his magic.

Alexander Ovechkin was drafted 1st overall back in 2004, and all he has done since arriving in the NHL is score goal after goal after goal.

Currently in his career, he has scored 797 goals in 1304 games, and if it weren't for a full season missed in 2004-05 due to lockout, half a season missed in 2012 due to a lockout, and a two COVID-shortened seasons, we could already be talking about Alexander Ovechkin having already broke Wayne Gretzky's goal record.

Ovechkin is one of the few players who have spent their entire career with the team that drafted them. The Capitals have been a regular season force for many years now, and while playoff success has not always been in their cards, they did win their first Stanley Cup in 2018.

This season, while they've rebounded fairly well lately, they have not been the dynamic force they usually are in the regular season due to injuries. They are missing some of their most talented players and it's taken a tole on the team, but despite this, they are currently only 2 points out of a playoff spot.

Some interesting news came out today though that according to NHL Insider Greg Wyshynski, Alex Ovechkin is not interested in rebuilding as he is chasing Gretzky's record.

Alex Ovechkin has reportedly told Capitals management that he doesn't want to be part of a rebuild while he chases the goal record. Per, Greg Wyshynski.

The Capitals are one of the oldest teams in the league, and only have a few key prospects who could make the jump to help their roster in upcoming years. With their aging core, the Capitals could look to enter a rebuild sooner or later, and it does not sound like Ovechkin would want to be part of that.

Their core is still producing and when they are healthy it still looks like the Capitals have some gas left in the tank, but if they miss the playoffs this season and do so again next year, we could possibly see the Washington Capitals commit to a rebuild, which would mean seeing Alexander Ovechkin possibly getting traded.