Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin confirmed on Friday afternoon that if the NHL faces an extended lockout he will be playing in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League.
With the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire on Sept. 15, and the promise from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman that the players will be locked out without a new one in place, the question of 'if' there will be a lockout has slowly started to become 'how long' will there be a lockout.
Via CSN Washington:
"We'll see what's going to happen," Ovechkin said following an informal practice with teammates at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington. "No one wants to be in a lockout but if [there is] I'm going to play in the KHL. It's not a surprise. I will go."
Ovechkin has spent the last two weeks skating with teammates and has added nine pounds to his 232-pound frame.
Read more on the Capitals at Japers' Rink and SB Nation DC.