Peter Laviolette believes Alex Ovechkin can play into his 40s.
“A lot of it has to do with health as you get older, but right now, he’s still strong. I could see that happening,” the Capitals coach said in a radio interview earlier this season.
Well, from the way Ovechkin is performing in his age-36 season, playing into his 40s — a tall task for any hockey player — seems likely.
After a down 2020-21 campaign, Ovechkin is on pace to have one of his best seasons ever — and arguably his greatest — for a Capitals team that is 20-6-8 and near the top of the standings.