The Washington Capitals have high hopes heading into the 2026-27 season. They added Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou to the roster, while Alex Ovechkin decided to return for his 22nd NHL season.
As the captain prepares for the upcoming campaign, he has been dealing with a lower-body injury. Now, head coach Spencer Carbery is giving an update on the status of the Great Eight, per Tom Gulitti of NHL.com.
“It was a good sign,” coach Spencer Carbery said. “Participated fully, didn't have to take any portions off, so that's a good step.”
Ovi had left the ice early in practice on Wednesday, while missing three previous practices due to the injury. Carbery did not know if the captain would be playing in the preseason game against the Boston Bruins on Friday.
Article Continues Below“I'm not going to definitively say one way or another,” Carbery said. “There’s a chance, but I'll talk to (athletic trainer Jason Serbus).”
Ovi may not need a ton of time to get up to game speed. He has played 1,573 regular-season games, plus another 161 in the playoffs. Further, he has an NHL record of 929 regular-season goals and 758 assists. Ovi is also closing in on another goal-scoring record. He has 1,006 combined regular-season and playoff goals, which is the second most in NHL history. He is just ten goals away from tying Wayne Gretzky for the most of all time.
“I'm not worried,” the coach added. “At this point in his career, I'm pretty sure he knows what he needs to do to get up to speed for a season opener.”
The Capitals open the regular season against the defending champion Carolina Hurricanes on October 2.