Ovechkin’s Diminishing Role With The Capitals

Even in Alex Ovechkin’s last home opener, the change was noticeable. With the Washington Capitals going on a 5-on-3 in the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday, the NHL’s all-time goals leader was on the bench.

The Capitals didn’t score, but also didn’t have Ovechkin on the ice for the 44-second advantage either.

Then, as the clock was winding down in the third, with the Pens net empty, Ovechkin wasn’t out on the ice looking for career goal No. 930.

With the added depth offensively that the Capitals have, Ovechkin’s ice time through the first three games of what will be his last NHL season has been noticeably down.

Ovechkin, who averages over 20 minutes a night of ice time for his career, did record the highest ice time of the season, but it was just over 14 minutes. He took just 15 shifts Wednesday, and just 2 in the third period.

So far this season, Ovechkin has just an assist and 3 shots on goal. Capitals coach Spencer Carbery was asked about Ovechkin’s role following the Penguins game.

“He’s great with it,” Carbery said. “I mean, I’m not gonna say that he doesn’t want to be out there, and he’s like, ‘Yay, thanks, Carbs, for calling me off,’ like, that’s not how it is, but he also misunderstands what we’re trying to accomplish as a team, and the great players that he has around him.

“So anytime that I talk about, here, here’s why we’re doing it, and here’s the reason behind it, and here’s, um, why this is gonna help our team. He’s like, all it, I’ll come off, tell me when.”

The news also isn’t a surprise to Ovechkin, as one of the reasons he opted to come back this season was a chance to win a second Stanley Cup, but with it came a more talented forward lineup with Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou they would need to find ice time for.

Tuch, who leads the Capitals with 3 goals, has taken at least 21 shifts each game so far and has averaged over 17 minutes per game, while Kyrou picked up his first point as a Capital and has averaged exactly 13 minutes.

So, while Ovechkin’s farewell tour has just begun, there will be less ice time than fans are used to seeing.