Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin through the years

A look through two-time NHL MVP Alex Ovechkin's nearly seven seasons as a Washington Capital.

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June 26, 2004

Ovechkin poses with Capitals scouting director Ross Mahoney, owner Ted Leonsis, and GM George McPhee after being picked first overall in the NHL Draft. "This is my fifth draft, and I haven't seen any consensus around the number one pick in those five years as I saw with this pick," Leonsis said after the pick. "Time will tell whether this was the right decision, but right now it feels pretty good."

Ellen Ozier / Reuters

Jan. 16, 2006

After being dragged down to the ice by Coyotes defenseman Paul Mara, Ovechkin slides on his back toward the net, reaches out over his head and whips the puck past unsuspecting goaltender Brian Boucher, scoring what is now referred to by many simply as: "The Goal." "That was pretty nice," Phoenix Coach and hockey legend Wayne Gretzky said following the game. "He's a phenomenal player. He's that good."

Paul Connors / AP

Oct. 14, 2006

Ovechkin receives the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL's top rookie, from General Manager George McPhee before a game against the Atlanta Thrashers at Verizon Center.

Mitchell Layton / Getty Images

Ovechkin joins team majority owner Ted Leonsis during a news conference to announce that the Capitals signed Ovechkin to a 13-year, $124 million extension, making him the first NHL player to sign a nine-figure contract. "If you're going to make a long-term investment, who else would you do it with?" Leonsis said.

Nick Wass / AP

April 5, 2008

Ovechkin jumps into the arms of fellow Russian Alexander Semin, who scored to put the Capitals in the playoffs for the first time in five years. They had started the season 6-14-1, but finished strong after Coach Glen Hanlon was fired and replaced with Bruce Boudreau on Thanksgiving Day.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

April 15, 2008

Alex Ovechkin has the puck stolen from him by the Flyers' Jim Dowd during a Game 3 loss to Philadelphia.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

April 21, 2008

Ovechkin jumps into the bench after scoring the game-winning goal in the third period to keep the Capitals alive against the Flyers, forcing a Game 7. "Nobody believe in us, that we're a done team," said Ovechkin, who led the NHL in goals and points in the regular season but had been limited to a goal and four assists in the series' first five games until breaking out with his team's season on the line. "But it's not over."

John Mcdonnell / The Washington Post

Ovechkin scored the tie-breaking and winning goal against Flyers goalie Martin Biron to force Game 7 in their first-round series. "I've said before that the guys who are stars, everything seems to happen around them," Coach Bruce Boudreau said of Ovechkin. "Whether it's John Elway on the drive or a great baseball player coming up to bat in the last inning, that's Alex."

John Mcdonnell / The Washington Post

April 22, 2008

Ovechkin and the Flyers' Mike Richards collide in the second period of Game 7. The Caps lost in overtime, 3-2. "We're disappointed," said Ovechkin after the loss. "We didn't use our chances. We have lots of chances, but we don't put it in the net. In overtime, it's about luck. Today we don't have luck."

John Mcdonnell / The Washington Post

June 12, 2008

Ovechkin poses with the Hart Memorial Trophy, the Lester B. Pearson Award, the Art Ross Trophy and the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy during the NHL Awards in Toronto. He is the first player to win all four in a season. "I wanted to win everything," Ovechkin said in his acceptance speech. "Maybe next year the Stanley Cup."

Al Bello / Getty Images

Jan. 24, 2009

Dressed for the occasion, Alex Ovechkin competes in the breakaway challenge during NHL All-Star weekend in Montreal.

Dave Sandford / Getty Images

Feb. 5, 2009

Ovechkin celebrates his 200th goal with teammates Alexander Semin and Mike Green. The Capitals lost the game to the Kings, 5-4.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

March 19, 2009

Ovechkin shoots past Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Lukas Krajicek to score his 50th goal of the season. With the goal, Ovechkin became the first Capital to score 50 goals three times and joined Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy as the only players to accomplish the feat in their first four NHL seasons.

Mike Carlson / AP

March 19, 2009

Ovechkin's 50th-goal celebration, which involved dropping his stick near the net and then pretending it was too hot to pick up, drew a flurry of media attention and prompted Boudreau to have a chat with his star player. "Bruce asked me what I mean [by] this," Ovechkin said. "I just have fun. He said people might think I don't respect different team. But I respect everybody. I don't want to show bad things. I show my thing. It was not disrespect."

Mike Carlson / AP

May 4, 2009

Ovechkin surveys the ice after scoring a hat trick in Game 2 of the Capitals' second-round playoff series against the Penguins, drawing chants of "M-V-P!" from the crowd at Verizon Center.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

May 4, 2009

Ovechkin makes a diving attempt at a goal past the Penguins' Jordan Staal in a 4-3 Game 2 win against the Penguins. He and Pittsburgh rival Sidney Crosby both scored hat tricks in the thriller. "It's good for the fans to see great players play against each other and two great teams play against each other," said Ovechkin. "It's unbelievable when we play against great players and you win the game like this. If I was a Capitals fan, I'd be really happy right now."

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

June 18, 2009

Ovechkin poses with the Lester B. Pearson Award, the Hart Trophy and the Maurice Richard Trophy following the NHL Awards in Las Vegas. "It's pretty important when people and players give you this [recognition]. I don't want to stop," Ovechkin said. "I want to be the best again next year."

Harry How

Oct. 30, 2009

Ovechkin reacts to his first-period goal, and so does the Islanders' Jeff Tambellini. The Caps winger finished the month of October with 23 points in 13 games.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Nov. 20, 2009

Ovechkin fires a shot at Canadiens goalie Carey Price. It was only the fourth game of the season in which Ovechkin didn't register a point.

John Mcdonnell / The Washington Post

Nov. 20, 2009

Ovechkin advances down the ice during the Caps' 3-2 loss to Montreal.

John Mcdonnell / The Washington Post

Jan. 5, 2010

In his first game as team captain, Ovechkin checks Montreal's Max Pacioretty into the boards in the second period. The Caps would go on to win 17 of their next 18 games.

Toni L. Sandys / Washington Post

Jan. 7, 2010

The Senators' Matt Carkner cannot stop Ovechkin from a breakaway for a third-period goal in the third period of a 5-2 win.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Jan. 31, 2010

Ovechkin celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal in the third period against the Tampa Bay Lightning, giving the Caps their tenth consecutive victory in a streak that would stretch to 14.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Feb. 5, 2010

Ovechkin is greeted by his bench after scoring a first-period goal during a win over the division-rival Atlanta Thrashers.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Feb. 18, 2010

Ovechkin collides with Slovakia's Lubos Bartecko in the first period of a preliminary round game in the Vancouver Olympics.

Julie Jacobson / AP

Feb. 18, 2010

Ovechkin and teammate Evgeni Malkin leave the ice after Russia's shootout loss to Slovakia in a preliminary round game at the Vancouver Olympics.

Julie Jacobson / AP

Feb. 24, 2010

Ovechkin looks on from the bench against Canada during the men's quarterfinal of the Vancouver Games. Russia flamed out without winning a medal, and Ovechkin remained in a funk for some time after. "That's a very sore question," said his mother in April 2010, when asked about Ovechkin's post-Olympic mood. "He kept it within himself for a while, for quite a while, but now it seems to be just simply kind of somewhere forgotten. Currently it's history."

Alex Livesey / Getty Images

Feb. 21, 2010

Ovechkin celebrates a goal by Evgeni Malkin during the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The Russians were labeled a favorite but lost in the quarterfinals. "The will be a lot of dirt poured on us from the media and from people who don't know anything about hockey," Ovechkin said afterward. "But to the people who support and love us, I would like to say that we tried our best."

Pool / REUTERS

March 24, 2010

Ovechkin scores in the shootout against Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Knuble netted his first career shootout goal to give Washington a 4-3 victory and its 108th point, matching the previous season's franchise record with nine games remaining.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

March 30, 2010

Capitals Coach Bruce Boudreau talks strategy with Ovechkin during a game against Ottawa. Boudreau had been one of Ovechkin's biggest supporters as the star was been criticized for being too reckless following two suspensions, saying there isn't "a greater person or hockey player" in the world.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

March 30, 2010

Ovechkin and teammate Nicklas Backstrom take the ice during action against Ottowa.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

April 5, 2010

Ovechkin slams Boston's David Krejci into the boards during a 3-2 overtime win against Boston.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

April 9, 2010

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly presents Ovechkin's Capitals with the Presidents' Trophy for the best record in the NHL. Coach Bruce Boudreau had given Ovechkin orders not to touch it. "It's not the one we want," the coach said.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

April 9, 2010

Ovechkin hugs teammate Nicklas Backstrom after scoring his 50th goal of the season. He joins Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy as the only players to post four 50-goal seasons in their first five years in the league.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

April 23, 2010

Ovechk celebrates his goal during the second period of Game 5 against the Montreal Canadiens.

Nick Wass / AP

April 28, 2010

Ovechkin gets a hug from Canadiens defenseman and countryman Andrei Markov after the Canadiens beat the Capitals, 2-1, in Game 7. The Capitals, who finished the regular season with a franchise-record 54 wins and 121 points, become the first No. 1 seed to to blow a three-games-to-one series lead to an eighth-seeded team.

Nick Wass / AP

Oct. 3, 2010

Ovechkin chases after Predators defenseman Kevin Klein during the second period of a preseason game.

Nick Wass / AP

Dec. 12, 2010

Ovechkin fights with the Rangers' Brandon Dubinsky in the second period at Madison Square Garden.

Henny Ray Abrams / AP

Dec. 12, 2010

Ovechkin and teammates sit on the bench during an eventual 7-0 rout by the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The Capitals lost eight straight before finally breaking the skid on Dec. 19 against Ottawa.

Henny Ray Abrams / AP

Jan. 1, 2011

Ovechkin is shown during the Winter Classic, a 3-1 Capitals victory over the Penguins that was played before 68,111 at Heinz Field on prime-time television.

Gene J. Puskar / AP

Feb. 21, 2011

Ovechkin collides with Penguins defenseman Kris Letang. He had the only goal of the game in the Capitals' 1-0 win.

Gene J. Puskar / AP

April 13, 2011

Ovechkin and countryman Alexander Semin celebrate Ovechkin's goal in the third period of Game 1 of the Capitals' first-round playoff series with the Rangers.

Alex Brandon / AP

April 17, 2011

Ovechkin and teammates react after the Rangers' Brandon Dubinsky scores a game-winning, third-period goal in Game 3 of their first-round series.

Kathy Willens / AP

April 20, 2011

Ovechkin celebrates after the Capitals defeat the New York Rangers, 4-3, in the second overtime of Game 4 at Madison Square Garden. Washington dispatched the Rangers in five games in the first round to advance to the conference semifinals.

Kathy Willens / AP

May 3, 2011

Ovechkin argues with a referee and linesman after the Capitals were called for a penalty against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period in Game 3.

Chris O'Meara / AP

May 4, 2011

The Lightning's Sean Bergenheim shakes hands with Ovechkin after Tampa Bay's 5-3 win in Game 4 to sweep the series.

John Raoux / AP

May 5, 2011

Ovechkin talks to the media during a news conference at Kettler Capitals Iceplex after Washington was swept by Tampa Bay in the second round of the playoffs. "You always think when you win in five games, you have a good chance, and after first loss we was not upset enough," Ovechkin said. "After second [loss], after third we was ready to go, but again something been wrong and we don’t win the game."

Luis Alvarez / AP

Oct. 10, 2011

Ovechkin shoots against Tampa Bay goalie Dwayne Roloson during the third period of Washington's 6-5 shootout win at Verizon Center. The Capitals became just the fifth team in league history to start a season 7-0-0 but fell apart in November, hitting a skid that led to the firing of Coach Bruce Boudreau.

Ricky Carioti / WASHINGTON POST

Dec. 9, 2011

Ovechkin skates during warmups before a game against Toronto.

Nick Wass / AP

Dec. 20, 2011

Ovechkin waits for the puck to drop against Nashville.

Jonathan Newton / WASHINGTON POST

Dec. 31, 2011

Ovechkin celebrates one of his two goals against Columbus in a rare multi-goal game for the Capitals captain this season.

Jay LaPrete / AP

Feb. 7, 2012

Ovechkin cuts with the puck during third-period action against the Florida Panthers.

Jonathan Newton / WASHINGTON POST

Feb, 24, 2012

Ovechkin celebrates his goal during the second period of a game against the Canadiens. Ovechkin missed the previous game in Ottawa with an undisclosed lower-body injury, but showed no ill effects. He finished with three shots on goal and two hits. "I feel better," Ovechkin said. "I skate well."

Nick Wass / AP

March 1, 2012

Ovechkin checks Devils center Jacob Josefson during the third period of New Jersey's 5-0 win at Verizon Center.

Ricky Carioti

March 8, 2012

Ovechkin celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against the Tampa Bay Lightning . Despite his recent struggles, he has still scored more overtime winners than any player since 2005-06.

Ricky Carioti

Ovechkin has topped 100 points four times in his career and scored 65 goals just four seasons ago. This season, though, he is on pace to finish with just 62 points and 33 goals.

Ricky Carioti

"I don't think it's frustration," Ovechkin said of his recent struggles. "It's just a period of time when you try hard, but you can’t win the game. Again, it’s not over yet."

Ricky Carioti

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