Secret clause exposed in Alex Ovechkin’s contract

In the summer of 2021, Alex Ovechkin signed a five-year contract extension with the Washington Capitals. On Tuesday, team owner Ted Leonsis exposed some special clauses that weren’t technically written in the deal, but remain crucial to the captain.

Following the NHL Board meeting, Leonsis revealed to ESPN’s Greg Wishynski how the Capitals would not rebuild the team this season or in the three that follows as Ovechkin looks to beat Wayne Gretzky’s goals record of 894.

That’s one the secret clauses that were put out there.

“I’m sure there’ll be an influx of some young players, but we’re not gonna rebuild the team,” Leonsis told Wyshynski .”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.”

Both Ovechkin and Leonsis have come to the agreement that if the Capitals remained competitive, Ovi “will get a lot of goals, a lot of power-play chances.” Ovechkin is chasing Gretzky’s record, but his focus remains on winning another Stanley Cup before hanging up the skates. He keeps working to be at his best and wants Washington to be a relevant and competitive team until the end of his deal.

“He’s very cognizant of doing this the right way,” Leonsis added. “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.”

At 37 years old, Ovechkin remains lethal on the ice and leads his team in goals with 20 goals and 34 points in 31 games. He is just one behind Gordie Howe for second all-time behind Gretzky’s NHL record of 894 goals.

If he continues his goal-scoring pace this season, Ovechkin could in fact lessen his workload in the coming years, needing to average around 22 tallies per NHL campaign to pass The Great One before the end of his contract.

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