Alexander Ovechkin agrees to return to Capitals for 22nd NHL season

Some watched the Washington Capitals make aggressive moves in the early hours of NHL free agency and wondered what it all meant for Alexander Ovechkin. Are the Capitals preparing for one last dance with Ovechkin or building a team that can win without him? 

Well, those questions have now been answered. Not wasting much time and putting an end to any speculation, Ovechkin has agreed to return to the only franchise he's ever known for one more year, as announced by the team on Thursday afternoon. 

Alexander Ovechkin will play a 22nd NHL season 

Ovechkin will play a 22nd NHL season for $4.25 million in salary. He will also do it with the comfort of knowing the team around him has been improved from the group that traded away his longtime co-star John Carlson and missed out on the playoffs for only the second time in the last decade. 

With the possibility for more moves to come, the Capitals traded for wingers Jordan Kyrou ($8.125 million annually for five more years) and Alex Tuch ($10.5 million annual over eight years) and signed them to big contracts. They bring elite skating and younger legs to take pressure off Ovechkin, who scored 32 goals at 40 but will turn 41 in September. 

Washington then spent more money, signing veteran center Boone Jenner at four years and $5.75 million per year and Vincent Desharnais, a large defensive-minded defenseman for four years at $4.2 million annually.