Capitals GM Talks Alex Ovechkin's Future amid NHL Free Agency, Retirement Buzz

If Alex Ovechkin wants to return to the Washington Capitals this offseason, there will be a spot waiting for him on the roster.

The 40-year-old free agent is still weighing his free agency decision and whether he will return to hockey at all, but Capitals general manager Chris Patrick said that there is still enough cap room and space in the lineup for him.

"He hasn't made a decision yet. I think part of it was seeing where we are after today and that we're trying to do as much as we can to improve the team," Patrick told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.

Part of Ovechkin's decision will be based on whether he feels the Caps can contend next season, and Washington has been busy making sure it has a solid roster waiting on the franchise legend.

So far this offseason, they've added star winger Jordan Kyrou, winger Alex Tuch, forwards Boone Jenner and Jonny Brodzinski, and defensemen Justin Holl and Vincent Desharnais.

Even with all of those additions, Patrick said it can work out a deal that would be favorable to Ovechkin.

"I think we can do something that would work for Alex based on conversations we had with him prior to him leaving," Patrick said. "There are ways to get him the money that he needs because of his age and the kind of contracts you can do."

The Capitals missed the playoffs a year ago, but they weren't far from making them. The new additions, plus potentially getting Ovechkin back, could be enough for Washington to compete well into the postseason.