Caps Give Ovechkin $124M Extension!
Oh. My. Gawd. First of all, I am ashamed to admit that I didn’t even think the Washington Capitals had that kind of dough. Anyway, they have given their star forward, Alexander Ovechkin, a ginormous 13-year, $124-million US contract extension — the first $100-million deal in NHL history!!!!!!!!!! It’s the freaking Washington Capitals. What did they have to do, sell their vital organs? This is a crazy-ass deal. Holy crap!!!!!!
By the way, I totally had Dr. Evil’s voice in my head as I typed "$124 million dollars." Try it - it’s fun. Okay, moving on…
So, here’s the deal. Ovechkin was going to become a restricted free agent on July 1, 2008 and, as one of the NHL’s most coveted players, the Caps would have been insane not to find a way to keep him. I seriously can’t believe it, though.
"Hockey is my life and money is money," Ovechkin said. "If you think about money, you stop playing hockey."
"I’m a risk-taker," Capitals owner Ted Leonsis said. "And if you are going to make a long-term investment, who else would you do it with?
"My bet is the money won’t affect him. He will play every shift like it is the seventh game of the finals of the Stanley Cup, and that is what we have come to love about him."
Oh no! Did anyone else feel a little jinx vibe by what Leonsis said? First of all, he said he was a risk taker so I wanna know what he had to do for that moolah (okay, maybe I don’t want to know) but you should NEVER say what a player is going to do. Sometimes, you give someone a deal and things start to fall apart (by the way, Ovechkin’s current base salary is $984,200 US). My beloved Miikka Kiprusoff (Calgary Flames) has played like ass since he signed his contract a few months ago.
"I know it is extra pressure, but I have to play the same," Ovechkin said. "If you think of the pressure, it is hard for you. I have to play the same way. Play more, play better." Uh huh.
"I’m happy I stay here," Ovechkin said. "It is my second home. I like the fans, I like the team. I like everything here."
Ovechkin has totalled 130 goals and 250 points in 206 NHL games since being drafted first overall by Washington in 2004. He has 32 goals and 52 points in 43 games this season.
Good luck to Ovechkin, whose contract expires in 2021!
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POSTED IN: Fan Fare, News, Signings and Contracts, Southeast, Washington Capitals
3 opinions for Caps Give Ovechkin $124M Extension!
joshy79
Jan 11, 2008 at 2:32 pm
what,that is ridiculous, lol
Lauren
Jan 12, 2008 at 12:13 am
That is craaaaaazzzy! My lord! If I were a Caps fan I’d be rolling on the floor, tears streaming down my face, and in shear happiness.
Jeanne
Jan 15, 2008 at 4:13 am
Seriously. This is amazing!
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