Aug. 5: Capitals Agree to Terms with Alexander Ovechkin

First Overall Pick in 2004 Draft Agrees to Three-Year Deal

WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 5, 2005 - The Washington Capitals today agreed to terms with left wing Alexander Ovechkin (oh-VEHCH-kihn), the first overall selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, on a three-year contract, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Alexander is an incredibly gifted young player, and we are excited to have him join our club,” said McPhee. “He has been playing at an elite level for several seasons and is ready to prove himself in the NHL. We look forward to having him in a Capitals’ uniform for many years. He has an infectious style of play and displays an exciting combination speed, finesse and power.”

Last season Ovechkin, 19, played 37 games for Dynamo Moscow of the Russian Super League, recording 13 goals and 13 assists while helping his team to a league championship. Despite missing 23 games while competing in tournaments and recovering from injury, he still ranked among team leaders in goals, assists and points. In 10 playoff games with Dynamo, he tallied two goals and four assists, tying for third on the team in points with six.

The 6’2”, 212-pound, Moscow native also represented Russia in several international tournaments during the 2004-05 season, including the World Cup of Hockey, World Championships and World Junior Championships. At the 2005 World Championships in Austria, Ovechkin led the team in goals (5), points (8) and game-winning goals (2) while leading Russia to a third-place finish. During the 2005 World Junior Championships in North Dakota he was named the tournament’s top forward. Appearing in six games, he led Russia in goals (7), points (11) and shots (29), helping the team to a second-place finish.

In four seasons with Dynamo Moscow, he has appeared in 152 Russian Super League games, totaling 36 goals and 32 assists for 68 points. He has also appeared in numerous other international tournaments, including the 2003 World Junior Championships, where he won a gold medal with Russia. On July 20 Ovechkin declared he was opting out of his Russian contract with Avangard Omsk in order to join the Capitals.

Alexander Ovechkin
Position: Left Wing
Birthday: Sept. 17, 1985 (Moscow, Russia)
Height: 6-2     Weight: 212     Shoots: Right
Acquired: Capitals’ first-round choice, first overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft

Career Statistics:

                                                                                 Regular Season                                          Playoffs

Year       Team                       League        GP      G      A    Pts     PIM          GP      G      A    Pts  PIM
2001-02  Dynamo Moscow    Russia            22       2       2       4          4             3       0       0       0       0

               Dynamo Moscow 2 Russia-3        19     18       8     26        20              -        -        -        -        -

               Russia                      WJC-18           8     14       4     18          0              -        -        -        -        -

2002-03  Dynamo Moscow    Russia            40       8       7     15        28             5       0       0       0       2

               Russia                      WJC                6       6       1       7          4              -        -        -        -        -

               Russia                      WJC-18           6       9       4     13          6              -        -        -        -        -

2003-04  Dynamo Moscow    Russia            53     13     10     23        42             3       0       0       0       2

               Russia                      WJC                6       5       2       7        25              -        -        -        -        -

               Russia                      WC                  6       1       1       2          0              -        -        -        -        -

2004-05  Russia                      W-Cup            2       1       0       1          2              -        -        -        -        -

               Dynamo Moscow    Russia            37     13     13     26        32           10       2       4       6     31

               Russia                      WJC                6       7       4     11          4              -        -        -        -        -

               Russia                      WC                  8       5       3       8          4              -        -        -        -        -