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  6. article_body => "<p>Although Alex Ovechkin has four more seasons on his contract with the Capitals, the star winger is a free agent when it comes to equipment.<\/p>\n<p>The six-year deal that Ovechkin signed with equipment manufacturer Bauer in 2011 has expired, CSN confirmed on Wednesday. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In recent days, No. 8 has been spotted at practice experimenting with CCM gear. The Montreal-based equipment company currently has Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Brent Burns, Carey Price, John&nbsp;Tavares, among other stars, on its endorsement roster.<\/p>\n<p>Ovechkin, of course, burst onto the NHL scene wearing CCM gear earlier in his career.<\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, Ovechkin tried out a helmet, gloves and stick from CCM. On Wednesday, he was wearing CCM skates during the morning skate ahead of the Caps' preseason game in Montreal. And, yes, the skates featured his trademark yellow laces.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>RELATED: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.csnmidatlantic.com\/washington-capitals\/alex-ovechkin-evgeny-kuznetsov-team-preseason-game-montreal\">OVECHKIN AND KUZNETSOV TEAM UP FOR PRESEASON GAME IN MONTREAL&nbsp;<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><div class=\"media media-element-container media-default\"><div id=\"file-826491\" class=\"file file-image file-image-jpeg\">\r\n\r\n <h2 class=\"element-invisible\"><a href=\"\/files\/overchkin-skatesjpg\">overchkin-skates.jpg<\/a><\/h2>\r\n \r\n \r\n <div class=\"content\">\r\n <img class=\"media-element file-default\" data-delta=\"1\" src=\"public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/washington\/2017\/09\/20\/overchkin-skates.jpg\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" alt=\"\" \/> <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/p>\n<p>According to Ovechkin\u2019s longtime agent, David Abrutyn, the three-time NHL MVP is weighing his options. In fact, during Wednesday\u2019s practice, Ovi alternated between CCM and Bauer gloves.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAlex has made no decision regarding his equipment partner, but you can expect him to do so in the near future,\u201d Abrutyn told CSN.<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"media media-element-container media-default\"><div id=\"file-826496\" class=\"file file-image file-image-png\">\r\n\r\n <h2 class=\"element-invisible\"><a href=\"\/files\/screenshot2017-09-20at24140pmpng\">screen_shot_2017-09-20_at_2.41.40_pm.png<\/a><\/h2>\r\n \r\n \r\n <div class=\"content\">\r\n <img class=\"media-element file-default\" data-delta=\"2\" src=\"public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/washington\/2017\/09\/20\/screen_shot_2017-09-20_at_2.41.40_pm.png\" width=\"1714\" height=\"1073\" alt=\"\" \/> <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/p>\n<p>Although Abrutyn was tight-lipped about the particulars, his answer would seem to indicate that Ovechkin could still re-up with Bauer, which counts Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Henrik Lundqvist and Auston Matthews among its big-name endorsers.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what you need to know about hockey equipment deals: While the top guys do get big paychecks for sporting a certain brand, it\u2019s not NBA sneaker money or, for that matter, life-changing dollars for a player like Ovechkin, who will earn $10 million per season over the next four seasons from the Caps. For a player like Ovi, an equipment deal is mostly about finding the skates, sticks and other gear&nbsp;that he feels puts him in position to perform his best.<\/p>\n<p>And right now, he\u2019s free agent in search of best situation for himself.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>RELATED: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.csnmidatlantic.com\/washington-capitals\/capitals-release-roster-schedule-2017-18-training-camp\">WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CAPS TRAINING CAMP<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n"
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Capitals

Capitals

Although Alex Ovechkin has four more seasons on his contract with the Capitals, the star winger is a free agent when it comes to equipment.

The six-year deal that Ovechkin signed with equipment manufacturer Bauer in 2011 has expired, CSN confirmed on Wednesday.  

In recent days, No. 8 has been spotted at practice experimenting with CCM gear. The Montreal-based equipment company currently has Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Brent Burns, Carey Price, John Tavares, among other stars, on its endorsement roster.

Ovechkin, of course, burst onto the NHL scene wearing CCM gear earlier in his career.

On Tuesday, Ovechkin tried out a helmet, gloves and stick from CCM. On Wednesday, he was wearing CCM skates during the morning skate ahead of the Caps' preseason game in Montreal. And, yes, the skates featured his trademark yellow laces.

RELATED: OVECHKIN AND KUZNETSOV TEAM UP FOR PRESEASON GAME IN MONTREAL 

According to Ovechkin’s longtime agent, David Abrutyn, the three-time NHL MVP is weighing his options. In fact, during Wednesday’s practice, Ovi alternated between CCM and Bauer gloves.

“Alex has made no decision regarding his equipment partner, but you can expect him to do so in the near future,” Abrutyn told CSN.

 

Although Abrutyn was tight-lipped about the particulars, his answer would seem to indicate that Ovechkin could still re-up with Bauer, which counts Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Henrik Lundqvist and Auston Matthews among its big-name endorsers.

Here’s what you need to know about hockey equipment deals: While the top guys do get big paychecks for sporting a certain brand, it’s not NBA sneaker money or, for that matter, life-changing dollars for a player like Ovechkin, who will earn $10 million per season over the next four seasons from the Caps. For a player like Ovi, an equipment deal is mostly about finding the skates, sticks and other gear that he feels puts him in position to perform his best.

And right now, he’s free agent in search of best situation for himself. 

RELATED: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CAPS TRAINING CAMP