Alex Ovechkin wants to retire with Capitals, confident about new deal

Washington Capitals captain and all-time great Alex Ovechkin paused contract talks through the club's postseason run that ended on Sunday but has reiterated comments that he remains convinced he'll sign a new deal that will keep him with the franchise through the end of his playing days. 

"I'm confident; we still have time," he told reporters Tuesday, per Emily Kaplan of ESPN. "Obviously, I want to finish my career here. I'm pretty sure we will do something soon." 

The 35-year-old put pen to paper on a 13-year, $124 million contract extension in January 2008 and is once again negotiating without an agent heading toward unrestricted free agency. He's communicated with both owner Ted Leonsis and general manager Brian MacLellan, and MacLellan said in March he wants Ovechkin to end his career with Washington. 

Kaplan noted that Ovechkin and his wife, Nastya, are investors in National Women's Soccer League side Washington Spirit. 

"It was also important for me to support the D.C. community," Ovechkin told ESPN. "I support everybody in this town. Me and my wife love to go watch a soccer game, watch football and baseball. We all win. If I have this opportunity, I think it's very important for me to do it, because it also shows we care." 

Ahead of the playoff series loss to the Boston Bruins, Ovechkin said he was "not worried about" his next contract.