Capitals' Alex Ovechkin doesn't appear to have Evgeni Malkin's problem
Things are operating differently in Washington.
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin doesn't appear to have Evgeni Malkin's problem originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Two of the greatest Russian hockey players ever are both free agents this offseason.
Alex Ovechkin's contract expired with the Washington Capitals , and Evgeni Malkin's deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins is up. Beyond that, though, there aren't a ton of similarities. Ovi appears to have things much more comfortable at the moment.
Malkin is in a bit of a trickier spot. There's been no suggestion whatsoever that Ovechkin might leave the Caps. He could always choose to retire, but it doesn't seem like any other teams are sniffing around in case Ovechkin actually reaches unrestricted free agency.
It makes sense, of course, that the Capitals would want to keep the NHL's all-time goal scorer on their team. MORE: Sabres' story of this season is about all the chapters along the way The Penguins have a player nearly as special in Malkin, but they seem to be taking the opposite approach. Malkin has made clear he wants to stay in Pittsburgh.