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3 moves the Washington Capitals need to make during the offseason

By Griffin Youngs

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 16: The Washington Capitals react after losing 2-1 to the New York Islanders during the first overtime period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 16, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 16: The Washington Capitals react after losing 2-1 to the New York Islanders during the first overtime period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 16, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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NHL DFS
NHL DFS: WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 03: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates with the Stanley Cup prior to watching the 2018 Stanley Cup Championship banner rise to the rafters before playing against the Boston Bruins at Capital One Arena on October 3, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Extend Alex Ovechkin

This is a no brainer, and something you get done as soon as possible. Alex Ovechkin is the greatest player in not just Capitals history, but D.C sports history, and the greatest goal scorer the NHL has ever seen. With one year left on his contract after this season, you extend him the moment he is ready to discuss an extension.

Simply, Alex Ovechkin is the Capitals, and the greatest goal scorer in NHL history. What he has done for this franchise and Washington D.C cannot be understated. Outside of his individual greatness, Ovechkin brought home the first Stanley Cup in franchise history, and helped turn D.C into a hockey town.

Ovechkin became the eighth player in NHL history to score 700 goals this past season, moving to eighth all time on the NHL goal scoring leaders. His chase of Wayne Gretzky’s goal record is still within reach, and would need 188 goals over the next several seasons to pass Gretzky’s unbreakable record. Even a 40 goal season from Ovechkin next year would move him into fourth all time.

Ovechkin took home yet another Rocket Richard trophy this season after tying David Pastrnak for the league lead with 48 goals, marking the ninth time he has won the award. No other player has won more than three scoring titles since the award was introduced.

Taking the distraction of having a franchise defining player like Ovechkin on an expiring contract into next season would be a tremendous mistake, and an insult to the fanbase to even have that possibility of him leaving. It really doesn’t matter how much money he asks for and how much term he wants, after everything he has done, you give it to him.

If for whatever reason Ovechkin is allowed to walk away in free agency, he’ll be taking a strong majority of the Capitals fanbase with him after everything he has done. It’s best to just deal with business now, do right by him, and make sure this is not a distraction heading into next season.

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