It's decision time for Alexander Ovechkin, who was the first overall pick in last year's NHL entry draft by the Washington Capitals.
The 19-year-old forward from Moscow has until midnight EDT Wednesday to decide where he'll play next season.
''He has until midnight tomorrow night before he has to make a decision on whether he stays in Russia or whether he'll go to Washington,'' Ovechkin's agent Don Meehan said Tuesday.
''We had a long family discussion today. I've talked to the Capitals, with (GM) George McPhee on several occasions and I'm going to talk to the family tomorrow. No decision yet.''
A Capitals spokesperson said the team had no comment about Ovechkin until the new collective bargaining agreement is ratified and that is expected to happen Friday.
Ovechkin recently signed with Omsk to a deal reported to be one year in duration, but his contract includes an escape clause should he decide to sign with an NHL team before July 20.
The six-foot-two, 212-pound forward was caught in a dispute between Omsk and his former team Moscow Dynamo as to which club had his rights and the matter had been scheduled to go before an arbitrator in Russia this week.
But Meehan said the two clubs have worked out an arrangement.
''In Russia, it's the wild west. Cash passed hands,'' Meehan said. ''That's my guess.''
Ovechkin, who is currently in Omsk training with the team, was recently quoted in the Russian sports daily Sport Express as saying that if an arbitrator had decided he could stay in Omsk, then he would stay in the Russian Super League, but if it was decided he had to return to Dynamo ''I would pack my stuff quickly and go to the NHL.''
Ovechkin can make more money playing with Omsk next season than as a rookie in the NHL as league has scaled back salaries and bonuses on entry level contracts in the new CBA.
Omsk will pay Ovechkin $1.8 million US, and that's net, not gross, next season.
He had 13 goals and 13 assists and his plus-minus was plus-26 in 37 regular-season games for Dynamo this past season.
He has played in the last three world junior hockey championships for his country and also in the last two men's world championships.
Ovechkin is a big, strong and fast skater with a hard shot and skilful hands and could have easily played in the NHL as an 18-year-old.