Capitals star behind Ovi’s Great Crunch, blending a charity-driven brand push with ongoing Gretzky chase and retirement chatter. His public-facing ventures amplify fan engagement and marketability as he begins another Capitals season.

Alex Ovechkin, turning 40, looms as the aging core’s centerpiece, with preseason expectations framed around whether he can extend a legendary era and how the youth movement responds to his presence.

Ovechkin’s historic ascent past Gretzky cements him as the era’s premier goal-scorer, shaping expectations for aging star trajectories, durability, and pivotal milestone-driven fantasy narratives.

Ovechkin’s 13-year, 124 million Capitals contract stands as the richest in NHL history; Kaprizov’s potential extension would have challenged that record, highlighting the evolving valuation of elite players in a flat-cap era.

Ovechkin sits at No. 50, providing historical context as Robertson edges ahead. His longevity highlights the era Robertson competes in and underscores the high-level competition Robertson must outpace to reach similar all-time impact.