Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE
Washington Capitals super star forward, Alex Ovechkin talked about signing with a KHL team in event of a lockout. The lockout began Saturday night and the market for Ovechkin heated up. According to a report by Sports Express in Russia, Washington’s face of the franchise will return to his home town team, Dynamo Moscow. He played for the Dynamo before he began his career in the NHL, starring in the KHL from the 2001-2002 season through the 2004-2005 campaign.
Ovechkin, 27, received interest from other teams around the KHL including CSKA Moscow, a team managed by Ovechkin’s former teammate, Sergei Federov. KHL President, Alexander Medvedev stated that the Dynamo had a “moral right” to sign their former player. Following the lockout, Ovechkin traveled to Russia to meet with the Dynamo and and CSKA Moscow.
If Ovechkin finalizes the deal by this Sunday, he will have the opportunity to make his season debut for the Dynamo against SKA St. Petersburg, the team that signed New Jersey Devils forward, Ilya Kovalchuck.
The deal will include an out clause with, a requirement by the KHL for locked out NHL players.
The Capitals captain had a down year compared to past seasons, registering 38 goals and 27 assists in 78 regular season games. He got off to a slow start, but performed much better later in season. With center and linemate Nicklas Backstrom healthy once again, Ovechkin is capable of returning to his former self. He will likely be alongside Backstrom on the first line with another winger, possibly the newly extended Troy Brouwer.
You can follow Matthew on twitter @m_speck and email him at with any questions or comments.
