That blistering pace of Alex Ovechkin's scoring has increased the onus on the Capitals’ business staff, Ovechkin’s agent and the NHL as they seek to make the most of his chase of the NHL goals record.

The Russian scorer, who sits just nine goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring record, revealed in an interview with Sport-Express' Igor Rabiner that he does not expect to sign another extension with Washington. “I don’t think so,” Ovechkin told Rabiner when asked if he could stay with the Capitals beyond 2026.