Sports
Alex Ovechkin: 'I'm back' on one-year deal with Capitals
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) wrists a shot on goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images Alex Ovechkin passed on retirement to return to the Washington Capitals on a one-year deal.
The Capitals announced the agreement for next season with the 40-year-old is worth $4.25 million, keeping the NHL’s all-time leader in goals in Washington and out of the rocking chair.
“I’m back,” Ovechkin said in the team-issued statement Thursday. “Thank you to everyone for giving me and my family the time to make this decision. I’m healthy. I love playing hockey and competing to win. I’m excited to come back and join my teammates so we can fight for a playoff spot and have a chance to win. See you in September, DC!”
Ovechkin can tack on $4.75 million in the form of a bonus by playing only 10 games, the team said. His base salary is $1 million with a signing bonus of $3.25 million.
Ovechkin completed a five-year, $47.5 million deal when the 2025-26 season ended. He said at his exit interview he expected to play hockey again, but wasn’t committed to signing another contract until Thursday.
He turns 41 before the start of the upcoming season.
With Wayne Gretzky in attendance, Ovechkin surpassed the Hall of Fame member when he broke his NHL goal record with career goal No. 895 in a game against the New York Islanders on April 6, 2025. Ovechkin has upped his goal total to 929 after scoring a team-leading 32 times this past season.
Ovechkin is 10th all-time in NHL history in total points (1,687).
He has won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy for leading the NHL in goals a league-record nine times since being selected by Washington with the top overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft.
Ovechkin guided the Capitals to a Stanley Cup title in 2018 and is a three-time Hart Trophy recipient as the NHL MVP.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Heat check: Dad tells Tim Hardaway Jr. retired No. 10 off limits in Miami
Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) did not receive permission from his father, Tim Hardaway Sr., to wear No. 10 with the Miami Heat. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Tim Hardaway Sr. plans to keep his No. 10 jersey with the Heat retired, safely in the rafters in Miami, even if his son asks to borrow it.
The Heat agreed to a contract with unrestricted free agent Tim Hardaway Jr., who previously wore those digits with Denver, Dallas and Atlanta.
“My legacy is my legacy, and he’s doing it his way. Even though he likes to wear 10, he loves to wear 10, but that is not coming down from the rafters,” Tim Hardaway Sr. said in a radio interview with WQAM 104.3 in Miami.
The Heat retired Hardaway Sr.’s No. 10 in 2009. The Hall of Fame point guard played five-plus seasons (1996-2001) in Miami and was an All-NBA selection three of those campaigns.
Hardaway Jr. was blocked from wearing the already-retired No. 10 jersey in stints with Detroit (Dennis Rodman) and New York (Clyde Frazier).
The Heat are rebuilding their roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was acquired in a deal from the Bucks that will become official next week. Antetokounmpo’s preferred jersey No. 34 is available in Miami, where 32 (Shaquille O’Neal) and 33 (Alonzo Mourning) are off the books.
Hardaway Jr., 34, agreed to a one-year deal worth $6.5 million, according to multiple reports.
The Heat also retired numbers worn by Chris Bosh (1), Dwyane Wade (3), Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino (13), NBA great Michael Jordan (23) and Udonis Haslem (40).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Wild re-sign F Nick Foligno, 38, for his 20th NHL season
Mar 19, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Nick Foligno (71) skates to the bench against the Chicago Blackhawks in the third period at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images The Minnesota Wild are bringing back veteran forward Nick Foligno on a one-year, $900,000 contract to play his 20th NHL season in 2026-27, the team announced Thursday.
The Wild acquired the former Chicago and Columbus captain from the Blackhawks on March 6 in exchange for future considerations.
Foligno, who turns 39 in October, tallied a combined 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 54 games with the Wild and Blackhawks in 2025-26.
He has 612 points (251 goals, 361 assists) and 1,024 penalty minutes in 1,287 games with the Ottawa Senators (2007-12), Blue Jackets (2012-21), Toronto Maple Leafs (2021), Boston Bruins (2021-23) and Blackhawks.
Foligno was an All-Star in 2014-15 and won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy and the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award in 2016-17. Ottawa drafted the Buffalo native in the first round (28th overall) in 2006.
Foligno’s younger brother, Marcus, has been a forward with the Wild since the 2017-18 season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Wild acquiring Blake Coleman, Olli Maatta from Flames
Apr 7, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Calgary Flames left wing Blake Coleman (20) looks on during the first period against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The Minnesota Wild are acquiring forward Blake Coleman and defenseman Olli Maatta from the Calgary Flames in exchange for blueliner Jake Middleton, multiple media outlets reported on Thursday.
ESPN reported that the Flames will retain 50% of Coleman’s $4.9 million cap hit on his contract that is set to expire next summer. The Athletic said Calgary will also receive three Minnesota draft picks in the deal, including a second-round selection in 2029.
Coleman, 34, recorded 35 points (20 goals, 15 assists) in 69 games last season with the Flames. He is entering the final season of a six-year, $29.4 million contract.
A two-time Stanley Cup champion with Tampa Bay, Coleman has totaled 325 points (170 goals, 155 assists) in 693 career games with the New Jersey Devils, Lightning and Flames.
Maatta, 31, had 15 points (two goals, 13 assists) in 43 games last season, split between the Utah Mammoth and the Flames. A two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Maatta has 210 points (44 goals, 166 assists) in 804 career games with six teams.
Middleton, 30, totaled 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) in 75 games last season. He has 94 points (24 goals, 70 assists) in 381 career games with the San Jose Sharks and Wild.
–Field Level Media
Heat check: Dad tells Tim Hardaway Jr. retired No. 10 off limits in Miami
Wild re-sign F Nick Foligno, 38, for his 20th NHL season
