NHL News: Alex Ovechkin Back in Russia, and the Anaheim Ducks Could Make a Big Splash

Alex Ovechkin has already returned to Russia

Sammi Silber of The Hockey News: Alex Ovechkin is already back in Russia. The plan had been for the pending UFA to have his end-of-year meetings with the Washington Capitals in mid-May and then head back to Russia.

On locker clean-out day, the 40-year-old said that he was “pretty sure” he hadn’t played his final NHL game.

“I’m not going to tell everything to you what I’m thinking, what the options are going to be. But, obviously, if I want to come back, it have to be a decision on, first of all, we’re going to make the playoffs and we have to fight for a Cup,” Ovechkin said. “That’s probably the biggest thing. Otherwise, if you take different scenarios, like family-wise, health-wise, but team-wise, this is the most important thing for me.”

Keys to the offseason for the Anaheim Ducks

Ryan S. Clarke and Kristen Shilton of ESPN: A look at the keys to the offseason for the Anaheim Ducks.

Projected cap space: $40.5 million
2026 draft picks: 2nd, 3rd, 4th (PHI), 5th, 6th, 7th

They have a lot of salary cap space, but a list of RFAs who are going to eat a good chunk of that – forwards Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier, and defensemen Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger. They’ll also need to decide on a trio of their veteran, pending UFA defensemen – John Carlson, Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba.

The Toronto Maple Leafs would be interested in Vincent Trocheck

Can’t rule the Anaheim Ducks out on making a big, offseason trade

Eric Stephens of The Athletic: The Anaheim Ducks need to lock up Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson as soon as possible, and they can’t let things drag into training camp as they had done with Mason McTavish, Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale.

It doesn’t seem like pending UFA defenseman Radko Gudas will be brought back.

A huge offseason trade for a star player shouldn’t be ruled out as they look to take the next step. Potentially on the trade market this offseason could be Auston Matthews, Jason Robertson, Robert Thomas, and maybe Brady Tkachuk.