The Washington Capitals didn't provide much offense last season but the one constant was none other than Alex Ovechkin. He led the Caps last season with 13 power play goals to go along with his 31 goals and 34 assists for 65 points. And we know the number is 41 to catch Wayne Gretzky.
But what Ovechkin has done for the Caps goes far beyond the game of hockey. It's important to remember the roots and that was when the Penguins traded Jaormir Jagr to the Caps. That's right, a deal with the devil as you will.
The Ovi express
But that trade allowed the lottery to fall in the Caps favor. That was the right to draft the great eight. And he's become a part of the culture of both his country, his team, his city, and the entire NHL.
For example during the 2014 Sochi Olympics he was the one who led off with the torch. While USA defeated Russia that trade over the summer was probably the greatest trade in Caps history because it led them to a Stanley Cup. As did the Evgeny Kuznetsov extension.
Ovechkin also gives back to the American Special Hockey Assoication among other philathrophies. In 2017 he even wasn't afraid to deliver pizza to a local neighborhood as part of a deal with Papa Johns. And when he got 802 after signing a contract extension for five years just two years later he just so happened to dap up Pierre Luc-Dubois.
And he texted BMac the thumbs up emoji when the trade was complete. So there's a lot to look forward to this upcoming season. Charlie Lindgren seems to be the guy in net. PLD could provide some offense after a rough couple seasons. And the great eight express looks to continue to chug along towards greatness.
So things are indeed looking up. The question is will the offense be better than last season or the same?