Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is taking a leave of absence to attend to a family matter and the health of a loved one, the team announced Tuesday.
General manager Brian MacLellan and head coach Peter Laviolette confirmed the superstar forward will be out for at least the rest of this week. Laviolette added the team does not expect Ovechkin back “in the foreseeable future.” Specific details were not disclosed.
Alex Ovechkin takes leave from Caps
“Listen, it’s tough sometimes,” Laviolette said via NHL.com. “Life is tough and when it comes to family and parents, that’s what matters.