Did the Capitals make the right move in re-signing Alex Ovechkin?

Alex Ovechkin has been the heart of Washington Capitals hockey for over two decades. The Russian native led the franchise to its only Stanley Cup and is the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer. 

He turned every home game in Washington into a spectacle. 

So when the team said it would sign him for an extra season a couple weeks ago, the sentiment was overwhelmingly excited.

It is easy to understand why.

Ovechkin is still scoring goals at a rate most NHL forwards would gladly take, and the Capitals did not tie themselves to a lengthy contract. 

That does not mean it comes without questions.

The biggest one has nothing to do with what Ovechkin has already accomplished. It has everything to do with what happens next.

Father Time will catch up with Alex Ovechkin sooner rather than later

Father Time has humbled every superstar who came before him. Wayne Gretzky, Jaromir Jagr, Joe Thornton, Zdeno Chara. They all reached a point where the decline happened faster than anyone expected. Sometimes there were warning signs. Sometimes there were not.

Washington is betting Ovechkin can hold it off for one more year.

The concern is not whether he can still score. He proved last season that his shot remains one of the most dangerous in hockey. The bigger issue is everything that happens between those goals. Can he continue to keep up with younger, faster opponents over an 82-game season? Can he play enough quality minutes when games become tighter in April and May? Those are fair questions for any player entering his age-41 season.

There is another challenge that extends beyond Ovechkin himself.

The Capitals need to get younger

For several years, the Capitals have been attempting to make a transition toward a younger roster without embracing a full rebuild. The balance becomes trickier with a franchise icon holding down a spot on the roster, as well as a prime spot in the team's offensive attack. Every shift Ovechkin takes cannot go to a developing young player. If Washington believes it already has future core pieces waiting to break through, finding enough ice time becomes increasingly difficult.

There is also the question of how long the current core can continue carrying the load.

Washington is no longer built around players entering their prime. Several of the team's most important contributors are well into their 30s. One veteran slowing down is manageable. If multiple players begin losing a step at the same time, it becomes much harder to compete with younger contenders who can pressure opponents for a full 60 minutes.

Did emotion play a role in the decision?

There is also the possibility that emotion played a role in the decision.

That is not necessarily a criticism. Players of Ovechkin’s caliber simply don’t end up in other cities. Most fans wouldn’t forgive their teams for seeing them play in another uniform. 

Still, successful organizations have to separate sentiment from hockey decisions. The Capitals believe they have done exactly that, but the only way to prove it is by winning.

The good news for Washington is that the downside remains relatively small. This is not a five-year commitment that could become an anchor on the salary cap. It is a short-term gamble on a player who continues to produce at a high level. If Ovechkin delivers another 30-goal season while helping the Capitals stay in the playoff race, the contract will look like a bargain.

That uncertainty is what makes this decision fascinating. Re-signing Ovechkin was the easy choice. Proving it was the correct one will take the next several months.