Yahoo Sports Alex Ovechkin Returns To United States, Set To Join Capitals Ahead Of 20th NHL Season
The Washington Capitals are getting their captain back, as Alex Ovechkin has flown back to the United States and is ready to join the team ahead of what will be his 20th NHL season.
Ovechkin and his wife and children flew back to the U.S. on Wednesday, per Nastya Shubskaya's Instagram story, and got in on Thursday. Once settled, he's expected to join informal skates with his teammates, which have been taking place at MedStar Capitals Iceplex ahead of the start of training camp.
There, he will meet new additions Pierre-Luc Dubois, Andrew Mangiapane, Jakob Chychrun and more, who were brought in to further help bolster the offense while keeping D.C. a playoff team.
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The Capitals unofficially open camp with off-ice testing and physicals for veterans on Wednesday, Sept. 18, followed by their first on-ice sessions on Thursday, Sept. 19.
Ovechkin spent his offseason overseas, as he vacationed in Turkey and returned to his native Russia. He took part in his usual training and got some work in off the ice, while also taking part in some charity events and also getting some exercise in the form of volleyball and padel.
Related: GALLERY: Scenes from the NHLPA Rookie Showcase At MedStar Capitals Iceplex
This season will be a big test for the soon-to-be 39-year-old, who sits 42 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record. After struggling to open last season, Ovechkin finished 2023-24 with serious momentum, as he picked up 22 goals in the final 36 games of the regular season for his record 18th 30-goal campaign.
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