Capitals' Alex Ovechkin reveals retirement plans

Capitals' Alex Ovechkin reveals retirement plans originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Alex Ovechkin has seemed to brush off the idea of retirement at every opportunity.

And now with the Washington Capitals' season over, having just missed the playoffs, Ovi is doing it again.

He was asked Thursday in his exit interview with reporters what he wanted to hear from Capitals GM Chris Patrick when they met.

Ovechkin's answer: "Two more years. Here's your contract."

Certainly doesn't sound like a guy who wants to retire.

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That seemed pretty clear when the Capitals played the Penguins recently and Ovechkin tried to downplay the idea of a postgame handshake line. He didn't seem like someone who was planning to be done.

Ovechkin is 40 years old, but he also just had a 64-point season in which he played all 82 games. He scored 32 goals and dished out 32 assists.

The Caps did what they could to set Ovechkin up for success, starting him in the offensive zone whenever possible.

And now, he might also have a milestone in his sights.

He's already the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer. He's currently at 929 and counting.

Could he see a path to 1,000 goals? Could he score 71 goals in two seasons?

It seems like it'd be tough, but this is also Ovechkin. He might just be able to pull off the unthinkable.

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