WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Washington Capitals have signed left wing Alexander Ovechkin, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, to a three-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Ovechkin, 19, had agreed to terms with the Capitals on Aug. 5 and signed his contract upon arrival in Washington, D.C., today.
Last season Ovechkin played 37 games for Dynamo Moscow of the Russian Super League, recording 13 goals and 13 assists while helping his team to a league championship. Despite missing 23 games while competing in tournaments and recovering from injury, he still ranked among team leaders in goals, assists and points.
In 10 playoff games with Dynamo, he tallied two goals and four assists, tying for third on the team in points with six.
The 6'2'', 212-pound Moscow native also represented Russia in several international tournaments during the 2004-05 season, including the World Cup of Hockey, World Championship and World Junior Championship.
At the 2005 World Championship in Austria, Ovechkin led the team in goals (5), points (8) and game-winning goals (2) while leading Russia to a third-place finish. During the 2005 World Junior Championship in North Dakota he was named the tournament’s top forward. Appearing in six games, he led Russia in goals (7), points (11) and shots (29), helping the team to a second-place finish.