31 Thoughts

Elliotte Friedman says he can’t find anyone in the NHL who thinks Alex Ovechkin’s extension isn’t already ‘in the drawer’

Alex Ovechkin’s 13-year, $124 million contract officially ends on July 28. The Capitals and its superstar captain met on a contract extension multiple times during the season — Ovechkin is representing himself in the negotiations — but beyond some optimistic quotes, not much is known where things actually stand.

“I want to finish my career here,” Ovechkin said at the end of the season. “I’m pretty sure we will do something soon.”

“I think both sides are interested,” MacLellan added. “We want Ovi. The ownership wants Ovi to finish his career here. Everyone wants him to finish his career (here). He’s saying the same thing. I think we’ll get it worked out in the end.”

“Alex knows that if he plays five more years, 10 more years, whatever it is, we’ve got his back,” Capitals majority owner, Ted Leonsis, said earlier in May. “Our commitment to him is to continue to have great teams. We’ll spend to the cap, we’ll try to win championships. And that’s what he’s focused on because that will be his legacy.”

On Monday, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reported what he knows and it seems to point to what everyone is assuming.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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Report: Mike Babcock was a finalist for Capitals head coaching job, but ‘noise’ around him sunk his candidacy

Elliotte Friedman wrote about the Capitals’ coaching search and the eventual hiring of Peter Laviolette in his latest 31 Thoughts column. While Friedman believes Laviolette was the team’s ultimate first choice, he reports that Mike Babcock, who won the Stanley Cup in 2008, got a lot of consideration from the Capitals because his interview went so well.

MacLellan only interviewed Laviolette and Babcock face-to-face due to the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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Report: Capitals receive permission to talk to Peter Laviolette and he is ‘very much a contender’ as their new coach

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman offered some tasty gossip in his 31 Thoughts column on Sunday night. According to the insider, the Capitals are looking very hard at Peter Laviolette to be their next head coach.

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By Peter Hassett 2 years ago

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31 Thoughts: Caps could be interested in moving Nick Jensen, may want Mike Green back

Here’s some interesting scuttlebutt for your pre-deadline news cycle. On Thursday’s 31 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman reviewed each team and what their priorities may be as we approach the trade deadline on Monday, February 24. When he got to the Caps, things got real juicy.

Not only are the Caps interested in trading defender Nick Jensen, they may want ex-Cap Mike Green back from Detroit.

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By Peter Hassett 3 years ago

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31 Thoughts Podcast: The Capitals have interest in acquiring Jason Zucker from the Wild

Sportsnet analyst Elliotte Friedman recorded an episode of the 31 Thoughts Podcast with reporter Chris Johnston from the NHL Draft over the weekend.

Friedman spoke about a variety of players that could be moving including Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker. According to Friedman and Johnston, there are several teams interested in landing the left wing, who scored 21 goals and tallied 42 points in 81 games last season. The Washington Capitals are one of those clubs.

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By Ian Oland 4 years ago

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Report: Capitals assistant GM Ross Mahoney believed to have interviewed for Oilers’ vacant GM position

After the Edmonton Oilers fired general manager Peter Chiarelli during the second intermission of a game in January 2019, Oilers CEO Bob Nicholson told the press that the organization would not rush to fill the position of GM.

“We are not in a rush, but as soon as we find a GM that we feel is right for the culture of the Oilers, we’ll name that person,” Nicholson said. “When that will be, there is no deadline on that. … We have to get the right one.”

But with the 2019 NHL Draft fast approaching and NHL free agency on the horizon, the Oilers need to make a decision soon. And, according to Elliotte Friedman’s 31 Thoughts column, one of the names being floated for the job is Capitals’ assistant GM Ross Mahoney.

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By Elizabeth Kong 4 years ago

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Report: Capitals ‘possibly… checked in’ on Marcus Johansson, want Michal Kempny 2.0 at trade deadline

The Washington Capitals have struggled over the last two months and are no longer in first place in the Metropolitan Division. Reinforcements may be coming.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Capitals are looking to be active ahead of the February 25 trade deadline and may be looking to have a reunion with a beloved former player.

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By Ian Oland and Peter Hassett 4 years ago

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Report: The Capitals are asking for several high draft picks in exchange for Andre Burakovsky

Andre Burakovsky is in the final year of a two-year bridge contract that will make him a restricted free agent this summer. The Swedish forward, who has been a healthy scratch six times this season, has scored only six goals and six assists in 44 games, filling a role outside of the team’s top six.

After a season filled with trade rumors about the winger, Elliotte Friedman added a new wrinkle to those rumors Thursday in his 31 Thoughts column. The Capitals are reportedly interested in multiple high draft picks for the winger.

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By Julia Karron 4 years ago

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