Washington Capitals: Early 2021 expectations for Alex Ovechkin
Alex Ovechkin enters a big season with the Washington Capitals.
Alex Ovechkin started playing hockey at age 7 and the rest as they say is history. Now the Washington Capitals star has Wayne Gretzky in his sights after scoring 700 goals, achieving the feat last season. What can he do this year in a 56 game season?
Firstly this shortened season hurts his chances to get the record, there’s no denying that. But 56 games is still a decent number to get at least 30 or more goals. If he does that he’ll be golden and still have a good chance to break the record a few years later.
Second, Ovechkin enters a contract year and is the top free agent if he doesn’t get re-signed during the season. I don’t think we have to worry about that scenario. The only other team I would see him suiting up for is the Moscow Dynamo after he breaks the record so he rides into the sunset.
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Third, Ovechkin is getting older but as we’ve seen from the last three seasons, he continues to defy age. If he wants to break that record, he has to defy age again despite just turning 35.
Fourth, there is one thing Ovechkin wants more than the record and that is a second Stanley Cup. Having a coach like Peter Laviolette will help fuel him. Having linemates with Tom Wilson and Evgeny Kuznetsov will help him flourish. Him and Nicklas Backstrom will be bros for life.
Ovechkin is coming off a 48 goal season in 68 games. If he gets over 30 goals he’ll be in good shape. The year before that, he had 51 goals in 81 games. In 82 games the year before that he scored 49 goals. He’s trending upward and has insane momentum.
His experience and know-how to win like he did in 2018 will help him reach new heights in 2021. He’s got the potential to do it. Ovechkin has had a good offseason with his son Sergei, his wife Nastasiya, and his newborn Ilya.
He’s currently in Russia and he’s already taken Sergei on the ice and taught him hockey skills. I’m excited to see Sergei someday become an NHL player if he decides to choose that path.
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The season is set to begin on Jan. 13 with training camps beginning on the third. It is uknown when Ovechkin is going to be back in D.C. but when he does he’ll be ready to take over the entire league.