
Salah expected to return for Liverpool before end of season
Mohamed Salah expected back for Liverpool before season's end after minor injury.
Alex Ovechkin has not confirmed his return for the 2026-27 NHL season, but he hinted he hasn't played his last game. Speculation continues about his future with the Washington Capitals.
Alex Ovechkin IMAGN 042926
If Alex Ovechkin returns, what will his future with the Capitals look like? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
We still donāt yet know whether Washington Capitals star winger Alexander Ovechkin will return to the NHL for the 2026-27 season.
The 40-year-old Russian has not announced yet if heās going to come back for what would be his 22nd NHL season, but he did say last week he was āpretty sureā he hadnāt played his final NHL game. So, for argumentās sake, weāre going to write the rest of this column believing Ovechkin will be back.
With that said, letās look at what the future probably looks like for Ovechkin.
For starters, we shouldnāt be surprised to see Ovechkin sign a one-year contract extension. The idea of signing a multi-year extension would lock Ovechkin into the foreseeable future, and he may prefer the flexibility of a one-year contract that allows him to revisit his feelings about playing at this time next year.
MORE:Ā Alex Ovechkin sends clear message on future as Capitals await decision
Alex Ovechkin has not officially announced his return, but he expressed confidence that he hasn't played his last NHL game.
Ovechkin's return could significantly influence the Capitals' performance and strategy as he is a key player for the team.
If he returns, the 2026-27 season would mark Alex Ovechkin's 22nd season in the NHL.
While Ovechkin has not ruled out retirement, he indicated he is 'pretty sure' he will continue playing, making retirement uncertain.

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Now, as for the financial amount we should be projecting Ovechkin to make on his next contract, you have to bear in mind that he led the Capitals in goals (32) and points (64) this past season. That means heāll have some leverage when he goes to Washington GM Chris Patrick to negotiate a new contract. Ovechkinās current salary of $9.5-million is not likely to be the amount he signs for on a one-year deal.
Indeed, given that Chicago Blackhawks winger Tyler Bertuzzi and Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis both had the same number of goals Ovechkin had this season, itās fair to compare what Ovechkin could be making to what Bertuzzi and Jarvis were making this year. Bertuzzi earned $5.5-million, while Jarvis earned $7.42-million this season. So, letās split the difference between these two players and say a fair salary for Ovechkin would be approximately $6.4 million next year. That sounds fair.
That amount would give respect to Ovechkin, while also freeing up enough cap space to spend on improving a Capitals roster that wasnāt playoff-worthy this year. The Caps are projected to have $36.5 million in cap space without an Ovechkin extension, so they can clearly afford to give Ovechkin a $6.5 million-per-year contract and still be a major player in trades and/or free agency.
The Capitals donāt have any meaningful UFAs this summer other than Ovechkin, and the two RFAs of note they have are forward Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre. Youngsters Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson are signed at least through next year, so thereās no pressing interest to retain the Capsā young core with new contract extensions.
That brings us back to Ovechkinās future. If he wants to break the bank one more time, that wouldnāt send the best message for a player who could help improve the quality of talent around him if he gave the Capitals a team-friendly cap hit the way Boston Bruins icon Patrice Bergeron did at the end of his Hockey-Hall-of-Fame career.
Indeed, in his final NHL season, Bergeron was paid $2.5 million per season ā a cut of more than half his $6.875 million salary from the prior season. Meanwhile, in his final season as a member of the Ottawa Senators, star winger Daniel Alfredsson earned $5.5 million, although he had to leave Ottawa for the Detroit Red Wings to get it.
All in all, it will be intriguing to see what type of hometown discount Ovechkin gives to the Capitals, if he gives Washington a hometown discount at all. Nobody is asking Ovechkin to play for the league minimum, but the more money Ovechkin leaves on the table, the stronger the Caps could be next season.
But if Ovechkin wants anywhere close to what heās currently making, the Caps may once again not be a playoff team next year. All teams eventually have to have difficult financial conversations with their icons, and itās now Washingtonās turn to have that discussion with Ovechkin.
The Capitals will want a bounce-back season in 2026-27. And the choice Ovechkin makes on his next salary will help dictate what Washington can do in the standings.