"This late stage of Alexander Ovechkin's NHL career has been a lesson in conservation. As Ovi skates through his first season since turning 40, comfortable in his reign as the league's all-time king of goals, his play feels like it's taken on a certain regal quality. He is grizzled, venerable, and so obviously distinguished from all the other men around him-even when he's not actually doing all that much."
"A 44-goal year, tied for third in the NHL, allowed him to arrive at the mark well ahead of schedule. (Heading into last season, I think most assumed he'd be getting there right about now.) And even though you could watch him and process, intellectually, all the things that he wasn't doing out on the ice, the number 44 and the number 895 superseded everything."
Alexander Ovechkin is conserving his game in his first season after turning 40 while retaining elite goal-scoring ability. Several physical metrics have declined, including blocked shots, hits, takeaways, and average time on ice, and a broken fibula interrupted his durability. He scored 44 goals last season and surpassed Wayne Gretzky's goals total with 895, underscoring persistent finishing skill. The Washington Capitals enjoyed a strong regular-season rebound with veteran performance and smart acquisitions but did not translate that into playoff success. Early in the current season, the Capitals sit near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
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