Alexander Ovechkin won’t be going anywhere. The 22 year-old Russian superstar reached agreement yesterday on an NHL record 13-year, $124 million deal to remain a Washington Capital.

He’ll make an average of nine million per year for the first six and it will increase to $10 million the final seven years of the richest contract in league history.

The former 2005-06 Calder winner ranks second in the NHL to countryman Ilya Kovalchuk with 32 goals while his 52 points are tied with Ottawa’s Jason Spezza for ninth this season.

In only 206 career games, the breathtaking former 2004 first overall selection has already lit the lamp 130 times. In his third season, he needs 14 more goals to match last year’s total of 46.

The best aspect of this megabucks deal was that the likeable Caps’ star forward negotiated the deal with team owner Ted Leonsis by himself.

“I’m happy I stay here,” a pleased Ovechkin expressed to the Associated Press Thursday. “It’s my second home. I like the fans. I like the team. I like everything here.“

There had been a few recent rumors regarding whether the Caps would be able to lock up their franchise player. Something which wasn’t lost on him.

“When you read the newspaper and, like, ‘Ovechkin can go over there,’ ‘Ovechkin can be traded,’ you feel it,” Ovechkin noted. “But then you try and don’t think about it, but you think about it. Right now, I think all about my game.” 

When questioned about the length of the contract, Leonsis didn’t flinch offering the same analysis we would:

“I’m a risk-taker. And if you’re going to make a long-term investment, who else would you do it with? This takes away any of the issues of how committed we are to winning a Cup, how committed we are to keeping a team together.“  

“My bet is the money won’t affect him,” Leonsis also added.

• “He’ll play every shift like it’s the seventh game of the finals of the Stanley Cup, and that’s what we’ve come to love about him.“

No doubt about it. So, what does Ovechkin think of all the money and extra pressure that comes with it?

“Hockey is my life,” he pointed out while adding ”and money is money. … If you think about money, you stop playing hockey.”

“I know it’s extra pressure, but I have to play the same,” he said. “If you think of pressure, it’s hard for you. I have to play the same way — play more, play better.“ 

Motivation certainly shouldn’t be an issue for a player who wants to take his team back to the postseason. There’s much for him and the club to accomplish including one day leading the franchise to their first Stanley Cup.

In order for the Capitals to survive, this was the move they had to make. Not retaining their most marketable player would’ve been a potential disaster.

Did Leonsis commit too many years? Maybe. But this is one of the most talented players in the game. Stars of Ovechkin’s caliber don’t grow on trees. He’s special. 

Kudos to the Caps and the Russian sniper on getting this deal done!