Alex Tuch was pretty busy packing and making radio appearances on Thursday, keeping him off the internet. The high-scoring winger found out that his new captain, Alex Ovechkin, was returning on a one-year deal from the team’s group chat, which he recently received entry to.
“I had no idea until he texted in the team group message that he was coming back,” Tuch revealed on 106.7 The Fan’s Grant & Danny, Thursday afternoon. “I found out on the group chat, I wasn’t sitting there on social media or anything like that.”
Tuch wouldn’t confirm or deny if Ovechkin texted his teammates before or after the news was publicly announced, just stating that he personally saw the text first. He also wouldn’t share the exact message Ovi sent to break the news, leaving the details for the greatest goal scorer of all time to disclose if he wants.
“I don’t want to be the first one to say anything,” Tuch said. “It was pretty funny, though, but he’ll have to explain that. You can ask him personally. I don’t want to overstep.”
While he kept most of the interaction private, Tuch did share his thoughts on the move — which he was unaware would happen when he decided to join the squad.
“I was really pumped, I was hoping to be able to play with him for a year,” Tuch said. “He adds an element, obviously, [he’s] a Stanley Cup winner, greatest goal scorer of all time. [Also] lots of intangibles — like his leadership in the locker room.”
His decision to join Washington wasn’t dictated by Ovechkin’s return or retirement, and he praised the team’s play and performance in recent years, even with last year’s disappointing ending. “I think they still have an unbelievable core, with or without [Ovechkin],” he shared.
Tuch, who has also been individually texted by over half the squad, has assimilated himself as a Cap quickly and has seemingly been accepted just as fast, being added to the team group text almost immediately after being acquired.
“The team services guy sent my number to someone, and they added me in [to the team group chat], and I think it was Tom Wilson who said ‘OK, we added Tuch to the conversation’,” he said.
Tuch wasn’t the only one to learn the big news over the phone; head coach Spencer Carbery was also informed by Ovechkin before seeing the news on social media. General manager Chris Patrick beat Ovi to it, calling Carbery first to inform him of the deal, but Ovechkin’s own call followed quickly after.
