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Sportsnet’s John Shannon says a new deal between TJ Oshie and the Capitals is ‘all but done’

By Ian Oland

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May 27, 2017 6:21 pm

Washington Capitals forward TJ Oshie was set to be one of the top free agents on the market come July 1. That no longer seems to be the case according to Sportsnet’s John Shannon.

During an interview on NHL Network Radio’s Two Man Advantage, Shannon told host Jonathan Davis that a new deal between Oshie and Washington “is all but done.”

A source who has knowledge of the situation tells RMNB that ever since the season ended there has been “mutual interest to get a deal done” and that “contract negotiations were going well and progressing.”

This also echoes Oshie’s comments that he made on Breakdown Day.

“Yes,” Oshie said when asked if he’d like to return. “This group of guys, this organization, coaches, it’s been a great fit for me, my family, so I’d like to be back here.”

“I don’t like change too much,” Oshie added. “Honestly, I thought about this more last summer than this season. It was such a fun exciting year that I never sat and really thought about free agency.”

During the 2016-17 season, Oshie tied Alex Ovechkin for the team-lead in goals, scoring a career-high 33 times. Spending a majority of his time on the first line with Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, Oshie finished the season with a 51.71 shot attempts percentage. Osh Babe also scored 10 goals in 25 career playoff games with the Capitals.

Oshie, who had a career high 23.1 shooting percentage last season (approximately 10% higher than his career average), will be 31-years-old in 2017-18. He is coming off a five-year, $20.9 million contract he originally signed with St. Louis which paid him $4.175 annually.

“I think TJ’s a big part of our hockey team,” head coach Barry Trotz said during his end-of-season press conference. “He’s what you look for in a Washington Capital. You talk about someone who’s passionate, T.J.’s passionate. Someone who plays with joy, he plays with joy. Someone who’s got creativity in his game, TJ has that. Someone who’s got a lot of competitive spirit in his game, TJ has that. Can he play and be a productive player for us? TJ can do that. All those things he’s saying is all the things that we’re saying. I think Mac and him will probably discuss that and hopefully we get something done.”

In February, general manager Brian MacLellan said he wanted to bring back Oshie and it appears he’s close, according to Shannon, to doing so.

“I still feel like a part of the team,” Oshie said. “I don’t get too far ahead of myself. Right now I’m a Capital and that’s where I feel like I’ll be.”

S/T to @MARTYN3024 for the heads up.

Headline photo: Cara Bahniuk

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