Ovechkin says he 'briefly' spoke with GM MacLellan about contract originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
Alex Ovechkin is in the final year of his contract with the Capitals and there continues to be essentially no progress towards a new one.
Ovechkin said Thursday after the team's morning skate that he had spoken with general manager Brian MacLellan, but "briefly" and it certainly sounds as if there was no progress made.
"We just say hi to each other and that's it," Ovechkin said.
MacLellan said in the offseason talks with Ovechkin were tabled until camp. When camp started, however, Ovechkin said earlier in January that he felt there was no rush to get a deal done. Now camp has given way to the regular season and he remains in need of a contract.
There is almost certainly nothing to worry about regarding Ovechin's future in Washington. He is unlikely to leave the Capitals to go anywhere other than the KHL and the team is unlikely to walk away from the best player in franchise history so he can chase Wayne Gretzky's goal record somewhere else.
But even if Ovechkin and the team do not feel any urgency now, you have to think that urgency will grow with every passing day. The further into the season we get without a contract for Ovechkin, the more of a story his status becomes.
