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Alexander Ovechkin Reveals his Plans for When his Current Contract is Up
Regardless of when his career ends, or whether he ends up breaking Wayne Gretzky's seemingly unbeatable goal-scoring record, Alexander Ovechkin will go down in NHL history as one of the best scorers the league has ever seen. Ovechkin, 38, has two more seasons left in his current contract, and many have wondered whether he would call it quits when it runs out. The Great 8 gave his clearest answer yet in a new interview.
Ovechkin was answering questions from Igor Rabiner of Sport-Express.ru when talk turned to his plans for the future. It started with him being asked about Ilya Kovalchuk, who is currently 41 and playing in the KHL. Ovechkin said he thinks Kovalchuk could play a long time yet.
"I think this man with his health and approach to business can play until he's 50. The most important thing is that he wants to."
That's where Rabiner turned his attention to Ovechkin's future and how long he plans on playing pro hockey.
Rabiner: "Can you play until you're 50?"
Ovechkin: "No!"
Rabiner: Will you play out your current contract in the NHL and that's it?
Ovechkin: "I think so, yes."
Ovechkin: "No!"
Rabiner: Will you play out your current contract in the NHL and that's it?
Ovechkin: "I think so, yes."
That's the clearest answer Ovechkin has given yet on what will happen when his current contract ends. That, of course, brought the question of whether he would sign for another season if he didn't break Gretzky's all-time goal scoring record.
Rabiner: "And if you don't manage to break Gretzky's goal record, won't you re-sign for another season?"
Ovechkin: "I don't like the word 'if.' We live today, play and move on."
Ovechkin: "I don't like the word 'if.' We live today, play and move on."
Ovechkin has said numerous times that he would like to play in the KHL again before ending his career. He was not asked about that again in this interview.
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 17 | 283 ANSWERS Alexander Ovechkin Reveals his Plans for When his Current Contract is Up Will Ovi retire at the end of his current contract if he hasn't set a new goal-scoring record yet? | ||
| Yes | 130 | 45.9 % |
| No way | 122 | 43.1 % |
| Not sure | 31 | 11 % |
| List of polls | ||