Contract groups: where Ovechkin and Bobrovsky will continue their careers

The free agent market opened in the NHL on July 1. The main intrigue for Russian fans remains the future of Alexander Ovechkin, whose contract with the Washington Capitals has expired. The captain of the capital club has not yet announced whether he intends to continue his career in North America. Meanwhile, one of the main events of the first days of the transfer window was Sergey Bobrovsky's transfer from the Florida Panthers to the Toronto Maple Leafs. In addition, several Russian hockey players have already changed teams or signed new long-term contracts, and rumors about a possible exchange continue to circulate around Alexander Nikishin.

Ovechkin — a decision after a vacation

Even during the last season, journalists regularly asked Alexander Ovechkin if he was going to sign a new contract with Washington. However, the captain of the team has not yet given a definite answer. The five-year agreement concluded in the summer of 2021 ended on July 1.

Almost no one doubts that if Alexander Ovechkin decides to continue his career in the NHL, he will sign a new contract with Washington, which he has been playing for since 2005. The pursuit of another Wayne Gretzky record also depends on this decision. In the spring of 2025, the Russian has already surpassed the achievement of the legendary Canadian in goals in the regular NHL championships (894 goals), and since then has increased his score to 929.

Ovechkin has now moved closer to Gretzky's record for the total number of goals, including the playoffs. The Canadian has 1,016 goals, while the Russian has 10 fewer, but he is highly likely to be able to score them next season if he stays in the NHL.

Under the previous caphit contract (average salary per season for five years) Ovechkin 's account was $9.5 million. Washington now has $12.5 left under the salary cap. That should be enough to re-sign his main star, especially if he agrees to a pay cut and the club cleans up the payroll. But, as the head coach of the team, Spencer Carbery, noted after last season, Ovechkin needs not only money, but also the opportunity to fight for the second Stanley Cup in his career.

"First of all, Ovi wants to win. I know that sometimes we lose sight of it because of the goals and individual achievements, and he's already 40 years old. He really wants to win. Therefore, if we suddenly have two more players who have scored 30 goals each, it means that Alexander can play one or two minutes less in the five-on-five format, and we become a better team. He will be the first to raise his hand and say, "Yes, I like it," because he wants to win," Carbery said in the spring.

Ovechkin and Washington have won the Stanley Cup just once. That was in 2018. At the end of June, the club was really able to strengthen significantly by signing two strong outfield forwards — 30-year-old Alex Tuck from the Buffalo Sabres, who played against Washington in the playoff finals with Vegas eight years ago, and the leader of the St. Louis Blues in recent years, Jordan Kairu.

According to a number of North American media reports, these signings should convince Ovechkin to stay with the Capitals. However, the fact that both players are right-handed, like Alexander, may indicate that he will gradually cease to be the unequivocal leader of the team. The hockey player is expected to make a decision on his future after July 7, when his vacation ends.

"Only Alexander knows his physical and emotional state and can answer questions about how capable he is of pulling the NHL level in his fifth decade," Vladimir Krikunov, the former head coach of the Russian national team, told Izvestia. — Ovechkin showed last season that he is still one of the best in the league. But whether he will be able to keep this bar further is known only to him. And only he has to make a decision. It is clear that the public wants to continue his career in Washington in order to continue enjoying the game of such a master. And the club wants to keep him, so it is strengthening in accordance with Sasha's ambitions. There is also a temptation to break another Gretzky record. But the main thing I can say is that if Ovechkin feels that he no longer has enough physics and motivation to continue playing, then he should finish and not chase records. He already has a lot of them. He has proved everything to everyone, so he can safely finish on a good wave now that he has had a high-quality season. It's not worth playing to the last.

Bobrovsky — time for a new challenge

In 2019, Sergey Bobrovsky signed a seven-year contract worth $70 million with Florida. During this time, the Russian goalkeeper has become one of the key creators of the club's main successes. Together with him, the Panthers reached the Stanley Cup finals three seasons in a row: in 2023, they lost in the decisive series, and then won the NHL main trophy twice in a row.

Last season, Florida did not make the playoffs, and the team's future prospects became an intrigue - whether the management would rebuild the squad or try to keep it. Most of the leaders remained, but the issue of Bobrovsky's new contract was suspended.

According to Sportsnet, the 37-year–old goalkeeper was hoping for a six- to seven-year contract with a salary of $6-7 million per season. In Florida, according to North American media, they were ready to discuss financial terms, but not such a long-term agreement.

Against this background, the club has already begun to rebuild the goalkeeper line. A few days before the free agent market opened, the Panthers were reinforced by Swede Jacob Markstrom and also received Swiss Akira Schmid. These personnel decisions have already been regarded as a signal that the likelihood of Bobrovsky's departure has increased significantly, and with him, the second Russian goalkeeper Daniil Tarasov is likely to leave the team.

As a result, on July 1, Moscow time, a well-known North American journalist Elliot Friedman published information that Bobrovsky had agreed with the Toronto Maple Leafs on a three-year contract with a salary of $ 7 million per season. Now the Novokuznetsk native will try to help one of the most popular NHL clubs compete for the Stanley Cup, which they have not won since 1967.

— Markstrom's arrival immediately meant that, most likely, Bobrovsky would not stay at Florida, — Alexey Dementyev, a well-known hockey agent, shared his opinion with Izvestia. — But it was clear that a goalkeeper of this class would be in demand in the NHL and would get a good contract. If Sergey goes to Toronto FC on a three-year contract with a salary of $7 million, then congratulations to him. And the conditions are good, and now you have to play in a real hockey city, where people really love this sport and their team. However, the demand will be serious, because the fans in Toronto are very demanding. But I'm sure that a professional like Sergey can handle it. You can remember that his first seasons at Florida were not very successful, but in the end he adapted, became one of the leaders and brought two Stanley Cups to the club, leveling the negative of the initial stage of cooperation. Toronto now has a better chance of winning the trophy. In addition, they have another Russian goalkeeper in their system — the very talented Artur Akhtyamov, who recently won the Calder Cup with the farm club (the equivalent of the Stanley Cup for the AHL. - Ed.). And Bobrovsky, with his experience, will also be useful as a mentor for his younger compatriot.

Dorofeev — contract for promotion

Pavel Dorofeev spent five years at the Vegas Golden Knight. He worked his way into the main squad for a long time, but the last two seasons have been a breakthrough for the striker. He scored 52 (35+17) and 64 (37+27) points in the goal+pass regular season and became one of the leaders of the Nevada club. The team's entry into the Stanley Cup finals this year is largely due to Pavel.

But due to the fact that Vegas reached the salary cap, he had to clean the payroll. And he couldn't keep all his stars. As a result, Dorofeev was sacrificed. But the 25-year—old hockey player was not left out - he was traded to the New York Rangers, who signed a seven-year contract with him. During this time, the Russian will earn $ 77 million. With a cap of $11 million, Dorofeev became the team's highest-paid player after goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin ($11.56 million).

Nikishin — awaiting an exchange

A year ago, one of the leaders of St. Petersburg SKA left the KHL and went to the Carolina Hurricanes, who selected him in the 2020 NHL draft. In his first season, Nikishin won the Stanley Cup with his club, which Carolina had not won for 20 years. The 24-year-old defender spent the entire playoffs at the base.

But soon after the triumph, rumors began to spread about his upcoming exchange. The club's management says that both options are possible — Alexander's departure and his preservation. According to American media reports, at least six teams are interested in Nikishin, including the Raiders and the Winnipeg Jets.

Striker Maxim Tsyplakov was also traded at the end of June. He moved from New Jersey to the Calgary Flames.

Another Russian who signed a new deal this summer was Montreal Canadiens striker Ivan Demidov. The forward, who made his NHL debut last season, signed an eight-year contract with the club, under which he will earn an average of $9.125 million per season. In addition, the Dallas Stars traded defender Ilya Lyubushkin to the Nashville Predators. Forward Ilya Mikheev, who spent the last two seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, has signed a four-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. His average salary will be $3.85 million per year. Forward Andrey Kuzmenko, who has spent the last season and a half with the Los Angeles Kings, has signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins, under which he will earn $5 million.