Alex Ovechkin Joins Capitals At Informal Skates, Marking Start Of 21st NHL Season

The Capitals captain was all smiles as he joined the Capitals.

ARLINGTON, V.A. — Alex Ovechkin is back.

The Washington Capitals captain, waving, took the ice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Tuesday, marking his return for his 21st NHL season. He flew back from Russia, where he spent the majority of his offseason, on Sunday.

Ovechkin was all smiles and got right into the swing of drills, joining a full group that consisted of Dylan Strome, Tom Wilson, Martin Fehervary, Connor McMichael, Aliaksei Protas, Ryan Leonard, Connor McMichael, Brandon Duhaime, Matt Roy, Sonny Milano, Ethen Frank, Hendrix Lapierre, Matt Roy, Dylan McIlrath, Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren.

The soon-to-be 40-year-old is entering a pivotal season, which also marks the final year of his contract. Ovechkin broke the NHL’s all-time goals record last year, and this season, can become the first player to hit 900 career goals in a regular season.