Chris Patrick confident Capitals could still sign Alex Ovechkin despite limited salary cap space: ‘There are enough levers for us to pull’
RMNB • • sports
Key Points:
- The Washington Capitals have signed five new players totaling $12.55 million in cap hit, raising concerns about their ability to re-sign star Alex Ovechkin amid a projected $4.375 million in remaining cap space.
- General manager Chris Patrick assured that the team has financial flexibility, including performance bonuses, to structure a deal that works for Ovechkin despite current cap constraints.
- Performance bonuses, which do not immediately count against the salary cap and can be deferred to future seasons, are likely to be a key mechanism in fitting Ovechkin’s contract under the cap.
- Ovechkin prioritizes the team’s competitiveness and playoff prospects over salary, and the Capitals’ recent acquisitions of high-scoring players Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch aim to bolster their chances.
- Patrick plans to engage in contract discussions with Ovechkin soon, now that major offseason moves are complete, to determine the veteran’s future with the team.
