Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is on the equipment market and looking for a brand to commit to.
According to NBC Sports Washington’s Tarik El-Bashir, the six-year deal that Ovechkin signed with equipment manufacturer Bauer in 2011 has expired. Since arriving back in Washington from Russia, Ovechkin has been experimenting with CCM gear. Beyond his previous contract with Bauer, Ovechkin has only used CCM equipment since first breaking into the league during the 2005-06 season.
When asked for comment, Ovechkin’s agent David Abrutyn told RMNB that “no decision has been made by Alex, but one is expected soon.”
Ovechkin has been spotted by several readers using CCM gear before and during training camp.
@ovi8 among the early arrivals for Caps today pic.twitter.com/S9KgjRDrh1
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) August 29, 2017
@russianmachine ccm stick …
— Nolan Murphy (@nmurph14) August 29, 2017
So is Ovechkin back with CCM @russianmachine @ikhurshudyan @TarikCSN ?? pic.twitter.com/RQbQw8SwHZ
— Luis Riveros (@LuisR8) September 20, 2017
Former RMNB contribute Kyle Mace also snapped photos over the weekend of Ovechkin using new sticks from both CCM and Bauer.
Photos: Kyle Mace
He even traded sticks with Bears prospect Colby Williams.
Photo: Kyle Mace
During Ovechkin’s previous relationship with CCM, the Russian machine authored some of the biggest seasons of his career. He also starred in some of the most iconic hockey commercials of the last decade, including a CCM ad campaign where Ovechkin’s head would show up in mysterious places to encourage — or maybe more accurately, nag — kids to play hockey.
The Capitals 2017-18 season opens October 5 against the Ottawa Senators.
