Alex Ovechkin continues to make positive progress in his return from a fractured left fibula.
Per Monumental Sports Network’s Tarik El-Bashir, the Washington Capitals captain graduated to individual work with skills coach Kenny McCudden before Saturday’s morning skate. He then stayed on the ice and joined his teammates for their morning skate.
Alex Ovechkin has progressed to working with skills coach Kenny McCudden. I didn’t get my camera out in time but just before this he was skating as hard as I’ve seen during his recovery. #Caps pic.twitter.com/7tlARcx3ae
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) December 14, 2024
Spencer Carbery previously mentioned that Ovechkin’s next step would be to get on the ice with McCudden. He is now expected to work toward participating in the less intensive drills during a full team practice.
“It’s another step,” Carbery said Saturday. “I wouldn’t start to put targets or setting projected dates of a return. I just think it’s another step of him being involved in a morning skate where there’s other players around him, is the next step.”
Morning skate felt a bit fuller today#ALLCAPS | @MedStarHealth pic.twitter.com/12IpWaWgIB
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 14, 2024
Ovechkin missed his 10th consecutive game earlier this week when the Capitals eked out a 2-1 overtime win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Washington improved their record to 7-2-1 without Ovechkin, who is still the club’s joint-leading goal scorer (15).
The 39-year-old winger did not join the Capitals on their trip to Columbus, the team’s first game after four days off. Washington will play the Buffalo Sabres at home on Saturday night and then travel for back-to-back games against the Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks to start next week.
Carbery would not confirm if Ovechkin is expected to join his teammates on that trip. “To be determined,” he said.
Ted Leonsis, the Capitals’ owner, told NHL.com at this week’s Board of Governors meeting in Florida that he believed Ovechkin was still two or three weeks away from a full return. Two more weeks on the shelf would mean a post-Christmas return, while three weeks would likely mean a post-New Year’s return.
Washington has nine games left in 2024, three after Christmas. Their first game in 2025 is on January 2 against the Minnesota Wild.
