Capitals Add Players and Cap Space While Ovechkin Remains Undecided on Return

Washington Capitals general manager Chris Patrick said July 1 that the team retains salary-cap space and lineup room to re-sign captain Alex Ovechkin after completing several trades and free-agent signings. Ovechkin, the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer with 929 goals, remains an unrestricted free agent and has not decided whether to play a 22nd season.

His main concerns center on his health and whether the roster has improved enough to contend after missing the playoffs the prior season.

Patrick told ESPN that the Capitals acquired winger Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues and completed a sign-and-trade with the Buffalo Sabres for winger Alex Tuch. On the same day the team signed forwards Boone Jenner and Jonny Brodzinski along with defensemen Justin Holl and Vincent Desharnais.

The club now has 14 forwards under contract and roughly $4.375 million in projected open cap space, according to PuckPedia. "He hasn't made a decision yet. I think part of it was seeing where we are after today and that we're trying to do as much as we can to improve the team," Patrick said.

He added that the club can structure a contract suited to Ovechkin's age and available levers under the collective bargaining agreement. Patrick cited Evgeni Malkin's one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins, which carries a $5.5 million cap hit but includes a $2.5 million base salary, $3 million signing bonus and $3.5 million in performance bonuses, as one possible model.

Ovechkin led the Capitals with 32 goals and 64 points in the 2025-26 season.