Spencer Carbery had already begun sketching out new line combinations when he learned Alex Ovechkin will return for a 22nd NHL season. The Washington captain signed a one-year deal that includes $1 million in salary, a $3.25 million signing bonus, and an additional $4.75 million if he appears in 10 games. Ovechkin, the NHL’s career goals leader with 929, turns 41 on Sept. 17.
Ovechkin’s Role in the Revamped Capitals Roster
Carbery indicated he is not ready to pin down Ovechkin’s exact spot in a revamped forward group, but he expects the veteran to remain a major contributor and a strong voice in the room. With Washington adding speed, scoring, and experience this offseason, the coach believes Ovechkin can thrive with a slightly smaller workload while continuing to drive team results and mentor younger players.
After missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Capitals moved quickly to deepen their roster. They traded for three-time 30-goal scorers Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch in deals completed June 23 and 24, and signed former Columbus captain Boone Jenner to a four-year, $23 million contract carrying a $5.75 million average annual value. On defense, Washington added Vincent Desharnais on a four-year, $16.8 million contract ($4.2 million AAV) and brought in Justin Holl on a one-year, $900,000 deal. Forwards Jonny Brodzinski ($850,000) and Josh Dunne ($850,000) also joined on one-year contracts to bolster depth.
Carbery pointed to a recent example of quick integration. In 2024-25, Washington brought in players such as Logan Thompson, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Jakob Chychrun, and Matt Roy and went on to finish first in the Eastern Conference. He credited Ovechkin for helping newcomers settle in immediately and expects the same effect this fall with additions like Tuch and Desharnais.
The coach waited along with everyone else as Ovechkin weighed whether to keep playing or retire after last season. Carbery checked in on the player and his family but avoided pressing for a decision. They spoke twice before Ovechkin returned to Russia following the season, including a brief meeting in the days after the April 14 finale and another discussion a few weeks later outlining how Ovechkin could be used if he came back.
A deeper forward group likely means trimmed ice time across the roster. Ovechkin’s average time on ice has already come down in recent years, from 19:13 per game in 2023-24 to 17:43 in 2024-25, and then to 17:27 last season, which was a career low. Carbery believes Ovechkin has shown he can stay effective with fewer minutes and can continue to do so. He also signaled possible reductions for Tom Wilson, who logged a career-high 19:28 last season, and Aliaksei Protas, who reached a career-high 18:14, with the aim of improving overall efficiency and leaning more consistently on all four lines over the 84-game schedule.
With a broader mix of speed, size, and experience now in place, Washington expects Ovechkin to remain an on-ice difference-maker and an anchor for team culture as the Capitals push to return to the playoffs.