Capitals don't want to think about Alex Ovechkin's future retirement 'until it smacks us all in the face'

""I think he's a guy that's just a staple here. No one will really think about him not being around here until it smacks us all in the face," Tom Wilson said Thursday. "He's a guy that's just a Capital. He comes to the rink every day and leads this group. He's going to do that until he's done. We won't really focus too much on that. It's just so fun having him around and seeing what he's doing.""

""Someone just asked me, 'Did you ask him what it feels like to be 40?' And I said, 'I won't need to ask him, because I won't be playing hockey when I'm 40,'" Wilson said. "I'll probably be standing up here and taking it in on Day 1 or something. It's so impressive. I'm 31 and it's hard. It takes a toll on the body. All of us, we just play as long as we can. He's the GOAT.""

Alex Ovechkin turned 40 and returned to the Capitals' ice for his 21st NHL training camp. He will be the third-oldest active player this season and continues to produce at a high level. Ovechkin's contract expires this summer, and he may choose to sign another deal in Washington. Teammates find it hard to imagine the Capitals without him because of his daily leadership and presence. Tom Wilson emphasized Ovechkin's consistency, resilience, and physical perseverance, calling him the GOAT and praising his ability to keep playing and scoring. Ovechkin's longevity and maintained pace make him a rarity in the sport.

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