The 11 Capitals Players Who Would Get Protected Over Alex Ovechkin And It’s A Wild Bet

Get ready, because the NHL might be cooking up another expansion draft next summer, and if it happens, the Washington Capitals could be making a move that’ll make you double-take: leaving Alex Ovechkin unprotected. Yep, you read that right. According to The Athletic’s Shayna Goldman, Ovi could be exposed for selection by a potential 33rd NHL team, and it’s not as bonkers as it sounds at first glance.

Washington’s Next-Level Strategy To Keep The Future Bright

Expansion drafts are always a puzzle for existing teams, forcing them to choose who to shield from new franchises. For the Caps, that choice next summer could be a strategic masterclass, or a massive PR headache. Goldman’s article dives into why leaving Ovechkin unprotected actually makes sense. It boils down to this: a new team drafting Ovi would need to know he’s extending his career *and* willing to sign with them. That’s a big ask for a player of his stature and age. So, Washington’s front office is playing chess, not checkers, prioritizing younger talent with longer trajectories.

Here’s Who The Capitals Would Protect Instead

This isn’t about disrespecting a legend; it’s about roster management. Instead of protecting Ovi for the “optics,” the Caps would likely protect these 11 players. Check out this list:

* Alex Tuch
* Tom Wilson
* Aliaksei Protas
* Dylan Strome
* Jordan Kyrou
* Pierre-Luc Dubois
* Ivan Miroshnichenko (who Goldman suggests would get the nod as the seventh forward)
* Jakob Chychrun
* Martin Fehervary (chosen over Matt Roy, considering their ages and trajectories)
* Rasmus Sandin
* Logan Thompson

Yeah, it’d be a terrible look if somehow Ovechkin got picked and *then* decided to sign with the new team. But the strategic gamble is clear: the chance of that happening is low enough to risk losing someone else from this loaded list of protected players. It’s a high-stakes gamble for Washington, one that prioritizes the future over the immediate optics of protecting a legend. Will it pay off? Only time, and a potential new NHL team, will tell.

This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.

Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.