Ovechkin may just be getting started

WASHINGTON — It sure looked as if Alex Ovechkin was slowing down, at least by his standards.

This time a year ago, Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals were limping away from another early playoff exit. His 16 even-strength goals in the regular season tied for the lowest of his career. Injuries limited him to five goals in 13 playoff games.

Then a funny thing happened. Coach Barry Trotz took time from visiting his son in Russia to meet with Ovechkin and talk about changing and evolving his game at age 32. Time doesn’t stop, not even for the greatest goalscorer of his generation.

Trotz and general manager Brian MacLellan wanted more goals, better foot speed and for their cornerstone player to take care of his body to be able to handle more time on the ice.

“That’s just life: You have to change, you have to grow,” Trotz said. “He was motivated to show everybody that he still is a great player in this league.”

Ovechkin led the NHL with 49 goals in the regular season, 15 more in the playoffs as the Conn Smythe Trophy winner and showed in his 13th season he could lead his team to the Stanley Cup.

Ordinarily a team would be running out the clock on the final three seasons of a 13-year deal with a player of his age, but now Ovechkin is a Stanley Cup champion and there is no telling how much more the big forward can do in his NHL career.

“Was tough time, but we fight through it and we get result,” Ovechkin said. “It’s just something special. I don’t know. I’m just very excited and I’m very happy right now.”

Owner Ted Leonsis said recently his only regret about signing Ovechkin to a $124 million, 13-year deal is that it wasn’t longer.

With three years left at a salary-cap hit over $9.5 million, Ovechkin has already exceeded the expectations of that monster contract with three Hart Trophies, seven Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophies and now the playoff success that had long eluded him.

“We worked so hard through all the years and we were together,” Ovechkin said. “It’s just like a dream.”

Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Alex Ovechkin celebrates after his team defeated the Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup on Thursday.