Impact of new Alex Ovechkin contract is complicated, and that’s okay

Let’s just lay the cards on the table here: Giving a 35-year-old — any 35-year-old — a five-year contract worth $9.5-million against the cap is a bad idea.

Alex Ovechkin has accomplished a lot in this sport, and is widely hailed as the greatest goal-scorer of all time for good reason. But that does not mean this contract is a good idea. In fact, well before it’s over, it will likely be the most onerous in the league.

Ovechkin is a lot of things, but if we’re being honest, his game has declined precipitously in recent years. At this point, just about the only thing he’s good for is putting the puck in the net. To which I always say, hey, if you’re gonna be good at just one thing, scoring goals is probably the best thing you can be good at. And despite Ovechkin’s advanced age, by hockey standa