PJ Stock

I am a huge fan of OV, Alex the Great, The Great 8, Alex the GR8, the Human highlight reel … you all know who I am talking about.

I love the passion he plays with. I love his style. I love that bad hairstyle. I love how physical he is. I love that he doesn't back down from anyone. I love that women think that he is sexy ugly. Personally, that’s why you have to love him. He's found a way to make ugly look good ... to make ugly, well, sexy. He's no Shakespeare (like I can talk either) but he doesn't hesitate to say anything he wants.

If you love hockey, old or new, you love Alexander Ovechkin.

There is only one thing I don't love or even like for that matter - his contract. He has another 11 years on it after this year. And with his style, many believe he might not survive the duration of the deal.

OV is injured now and is listed as week to week. Not day to day, but week to week. I know this isn't a major injury, but what if this injury were to slow him down a bit. What happens if he were to never fully recover from this injury? Hypothetically, but work with me here. He can still play but can’t shoot as well as he did or can't hit or play as physical as we’re used to seeing.

What if? I'll tell you what if: the Washington Capitals will be on the books for the remainder of his contract - 11 years, $107 million US. I love the Great 8 but am concerned for the Capitals in the long run.

Ask the Islanders what they think of their Rick DiPietro deal that has him locked up until 2021. I believe he’s had two hip surgeries and a couple on his knee as well? He hasn't played a game this year and who knows if he will ever return to the form that warranted his current contract. What happens if he can play, but can't play as a number one goalie?

Like the Caps, the Islanders have to suck on the remaining moolah and years on his current 15-year plan. New York will have to keep him because no one will pick him up with his deal. Then they will be forced to go pick up a real No. 1 goalie for No. 1 goalie type money, therefore killing their chances in a cap system.

Back to Alex the GR8, he has a minor "upper body" injury. It's not this particular injury that is my concern. It is injury number seven in year four that slows him down a bit. An injury that slows him down enough for the organization to question his worth. An injury that slows him down enough for fans and media to question his worth.

I hope this day never comes, but it just might. This is my one problem with OV.

This is, of course, one of my major problems with the cap world of the NHL.

Owners and GMs have meetings to plan other meetings. Meetings for rule changes. Meetings for vetoing Mr. Balsillie. Meetings in Florida to work on their tans.

I hope they all get together and have a meeting about the future of the league and the problem they might have with all these long-term contracts. I'm sure they have, but I believe it’s something that needs to be addressed again.

I'm just throwing this out there, but maybe they can put a max on the number of years to a contract. I hope they can avoid contracts like Hossa's in Chicago. He's on the books until he's 42 years old ... do you really think he'll be playing until then?

But I digress, I love Ovechkin!