REPORT: Secret 'clause' in Alex Ovechkin's contract is REVEALED

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Ryan
December 14, 2022 (4:13 PM)

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Last night we got to watch Alexander Ovechkin become just the third player in National Hockey League history to score 800 goals. He is currently one goal away from tying Gordie Howe for 2nd all time in goal scoring.

In 2021, Ovechkin was just ending a 13 year NHL deal, and many Capitals fans were concerned when July was close to ending and he hadn't had a deal yet for the following season.

Luckily, on July 27th, Ovechkin re-signed a 5-year deal that ends in 2025-26.

Yesterday, Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis was talking with ESPN's Greg Wishynski, and revealed an ''unwritten'' but agreed upon clause in his new contract between the Capitals and Ovechkin.

Leonsis stated:

«I'm sure there'll be an influx of some young players, but we're not gonna rebuild the team, To me, a rebuild is when you look the players, the coaches, the fans in the eye and say we're gonna be really, really bad. And if we were really, really bad, I don't think Alex would break the record.

He's very cognizant of doing this the right way, Alex said, ''I'm not gonna be a third-line guy playing 8-10 minutes a game where you trot me out on the power play and let me score my goals. That's not what I want to do. Promise me you'll keep the team competitive and a playoff team.' And he promised to come in shape all the time and not be fixated on the record but be fixated on winning another Stanley Cup.

Ovechkin now has 20 goals on the season in 30 games, which puts him at a higher scoring rate that his career percentage. He has held up his end of the bargain so far, so it's up to Leonsis now to keep his.

The Capitals have been holding steady this season despite a bunch of injuries to key players on the team. Could we see some more big moves coming from the Capitals for Leonsis to keep his word to Ovechkin?