A view from Detroit about Alex Ovechkin contract negotiations

Ted Kulfan, the Detroit News

Bruce Boudreau moved up from the Caps' minor-league team in Hershey, Pa., to replace Hanlon. And maybe he'll improve the Capitals, but probably not.

Which makes the upcoming summer very intriguing. Washington star forward Alex Ovechkin can become a restricted free agent. Remember, this is a guy who came into the league with Sidney Crosby, and generally earned as much acclaim for his ability as Crosby.

But Pittsburgh has built a great supporting cast around Crosby, who was the league's Most Valuable Player last season. Ovechkin, meanwhile, has suffered through constant losing in Washington.

So, what will Ovechkin do? The Capitals have already told Ovechkin they'll give him the maximum allowed.

Most scouts believe there will be teams willing to part with the five first-rounders that it will take to sign Ovechkin. Let's face it, the immediate future doesn't look very bright in Washington.

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SovSport.ru also reports that Ovechkin will get more than Crosby, he allegedly will get an offer for 10.3 million (info based on some "Sport" radio station).

Лидеру клуба НХЛ «Вашингтон Кэпиталз» Александру Овечкину, который будущим летом становится ограниченно свободным агентом, скорее всего, будет предложен новый контракт в 10 миллионов 300 тысяч долларов за сезон. Для сравнения годовой оклад Сидни Кросби из «Питтсбурга» сейчас около девяти миллионов, сообщает радиостанция «Спорт».

Sounds like something is brewing, but... I wonder if that rumor from Ted Kulfan and SovSport comes from a previous Larry Brooks article:

"Even if owner Ted Leonsis tries to make him the NHL's highest-paid player by offering a max contract of $10.3 million per season, the value of a max contract - 20 percent of the cap - will rise this summer in direct proportion to the anticipated 7-to-10-percent cap increase for 2008-09."