How does Ovechkin’s injury impact the goal-scoring chase — and the Capitals’ playoff hopes?
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Ryan S. Clark
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Kristen Shilton
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is expected to miss the next four to six weeks after sustaining a fractured left fibula, the team announced Thursday.
And thus, the Great 8’s pursuit of the all-time NHL record for goals, currently held by Wayne Gretzky, is now paused. Ovechkin currently has 868 goals and is chasing down Gretzky’s 894.
Meanwhile, the Capitals are in second place in the Metropolitan Division, just a point off the pace of the Carolina Hurricanes, with the season nearly at the quarter mark.
What exactly is the injury? How will the Capitals be impacted on the ice and in the dressing room? Here’s what we know now, and what comes next.
What do we know about his injury?
Ovechkin has missed only 35 games due to injury in his entire 20-season career. That is an astounding mark on its own and highlights the veteran’s overall durability. Even his teammates were shocked that Ovechkin could be sidelined for such a stretch.
“Everyone’s bummed out,” said winger Tom Wilson, an Ovechkin teammate since 2013. “We were sitting there saying, ‘This is weird. Like, it’s unbelievable that he’s actually hurt.’ It’s one of those things where like, he’s going to miss games? I’ve been around a long time, and it’s new to me.”
That’s what made Ovechkin’s shin-on-shin collision against Utah so tough to see — immediately it looked bad. Ovechkin sported a walking boot out of the arena that night, and now the Capitals have confirmed it’s a fibula fracture. Those can be difficult to come back from. Jake DeBrusk, for example, fractured his fibula in the 2023 Winter Classic, and it was more than six weeks before the Boston Bruins even began cautiously working him back into the lineup.
There will be a physical and mental component to Ovechkin’s recovery; the fibula itself has to heal, and then he has to be confident in going back on the ice, taking contact, cutting on his edges and trusting the work he has put into strengthening his muscles again. At 39 years old, that won’t be easy. — Shilton
What does this mean for his chase of Wayne Gretzky’s record?
Before the injury, Ovechkin was on pace to score what would have been a career-high 68 goals this season. He is 26 goals shy of tying the record, and he would have surpassed Gretzky in either late December or early January if he kept scoring at that pace.
But now? The earliest he could return to the Capitals’ lineup would be Dec. 20 against the Carolina Hurricanes, while the six-week end of the window means he would return Jan. 2 versus the Minnesota Wild, with the NHL’s Christmas break splitting the difference. If he returns by Dec. 20, he will have missed 13 games, whereas the Jan. 2 return date pushes that figure to 18 games — a difference of five games. It would leave him with 51 games remaining if he returns by Dec. 20 or 43 games should he come back after the New Year.
In either event, he has more than half of the regular season left to break the record. But it also comes with the realization that to break the record, he would have to score 0.49 goals per game if he comes back Dec. 20, with that number rising to 0.58 goals per game if he returns Jan. 2. If he doesn’t hit those rates, we are looking at the start of the 2025-26 season to break Gretzky’s record. — Clark
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How will the Capitals be impacted on the ice?
In a word? Immensely. Losing its top goal scorer for more than four weeks is a challenge for any team. But when it’s someone who was on pace to score nearly 70 goals, on a team that leads the NHL with 4.33 goals per game? That just further amplifies what Ovechkin’s absence will mean to the Caps.
It’s possible that Capitals coach Spencer Carbery could turn to a top line that features Connor McMichael at left wing, centered by Pierre-Luc Dubois with Wilson at right wing. That would leave the Caps with Dylan Strome anchoring a second line with Andrew Mangiapane and Aliaksei Protas, which appeared to be their setup before Thursday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche.
Even though Ovechkin leads them in goals, the Caps have received significant contributions from a pair of homegrown talents in McMichael and Protas. McMichael entered Thursday second on the team with 12 goals, while Protas was third with seven.
That said, a player the Capitals would love to see step up is Dubois. He has been productive — he has 12 points in 18 games. It’s just that he has scored only one goal this season — a jarring number considering he has been a four-time 20-goal scorer in his career. — Clark
What about the emotional element?
Every single player in the dressing room has been invested in Ovechkin’s quest to break Gretzky’s record, and they’ve thrived off helping him inch closer to history. Will Ovechkin’s absence leave an intangible void? Especially if seeing him have such a tremendous start to the season — and be on the pace he was to hit Gretzky’s mark — was a boost for this overachieving Washington team? It’s certainly something to consider, and perhaps some of the Capitals already are.
“You know when goal scorers start scoring, it’s dangerous,” said John Carlson, who has been teammates with Ovechkin since 2009. “We see him coming to the rink every day, we know what’s at stake. You never want anyone to get injured, but there’s a lot to it, and certainly he was playing his best hockey in years.”
It will fall on Washington’s leadership group now to ensure there’s no hangover related to Ovechkin’s injury, and to instill belief that not only can the Capitals continue to be a contender without him, but that their overall sense of purpose on the season doesn’t take any sort of hit, either. — Shilton
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Alden Gonzalez, ESPN Staff Writer
Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge make up the pinnacle of their profession, baseball’s two biggest stars representing its two most prestigious franchises. Their meeting in last month’s World Series solidified it — and their latest honor commemorated it.
Ohtani and Judge captured the Most Valuable Player Awards in their respective leagues on Thursday, both doing so unanimously. Ohtani won his third in four years, all of them coming by unanimous vote. Judge’s second — which comes two years after he edged Ohtani for the American League honor with a home-run-record-breaking season — came on the heels of one of the best offensive performances in baseball history.
And yet the exploits of Judge’s season somehow paled in comparison to what his counterpart accomplished over the past 12 months.
In that time, Ohtani signed an unprecedented $700 million contract, became the first 50/50 player in baseball history, helped his Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Judge’s New York Yankees for the championship and ultimately became the first full-time designated hitter to win an MVP — all while rehabbing a second major elbow surgery that prevented him from pitching.
“I’m very happy, obviously, to win the award,” Ohtani, speaking through an interpreter, said on a conference call. “My goal was to be able to pitch and contribute offensively, and the fact that I knew I wasn’t going to be able to pitch this season just made me focus more on my offensive game. Fortunately, I was able to produce and get this award, which is very humbling.”
Ohtani became the 12th player to win three MVPs and the second to do so within his first seven seasons, joining Stan Musial, according to ESPN Research. Before Ohtani, Frank Robinson was the only player to win the award in both leagues (1961 NL, 1966 AL).
Ohtani led the National League in homers (54), RBIs (130) and OPS (1.036) while adding 59 stolen bases — 33 more than his previous career high. His first season as a Dodger began with his longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, being indicted for stealing millions from Ohtani in a betting scandal and ended in World Series victory, a fitting capstone to Ohtani’s first trip to the playoffs. In between, Ohtani set the Dodgers’ single-season record for home runs, stole more bases than any Japanese-born player in baseball history, became the first DH to lead his league in wins above replacement and joined Ty Cobb as the only player to finish within the top two in the majors in both homers and steals.
Before Ohtani, nobody had ever won multiple MVPs unanimously, let alone three.
“Obviously I moved to a new league and everything’s been kind of a new experience,” Ohtani said. “There’s so many great players in the National League, obviously, and to be able to win the award unanimously is a great feeling. I’m very proud of that. Hopefully in the upcoming seasons I’ll continue to be able to perform to this high level.”
Judge and Ohtani each captured all 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor finished second to Ohtani with 23 second-place votes and Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte finished third, earning five second-place votes. In the AL, Bobby Witt Jr., the Kansas City Royals’ young superstar shortstop, received all 30 second-place votes. Juan Soto, the high-profile free agent who spent all season batting in front of Judge in the Bronx, finished third.
Judge led the majors in homers (58), RBIs (144), OPS (1.159) and FanGraphs wins above replacement (11.2) in a 2024 season that saw the 6-foot-7, 282-pound slugger spend most of his time in center field and lead the Yankees to a pennant. Judge’s 223 adjusted OPS was the highest among right-handed hitters since 1900, according to ESPN Research. He became the third player with at least 50 homers and an adjusted OPS of 200 or more, joining Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds.
Judge is the seventh Yankee to win multiple MVPs, joining Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Alex Rodriguez and Roger Maris. Before Judge, Mantle’s 1956 season was the only one in Yankees history to yield a unanimous MVP vote.
Since his first full season in 2017, when he was voted AL Rookie of the Year and finished second in MVP voting, Judge leads the majors in FanGraphs wins above replacement (51.4), weighted runs created plus (176), slugging percentage (.611) and home runs (311) despite sitting out significant time in three of those eight seasons. He broke the AL home run record in 2022, going deep 62 times, but he was better in practically every other offensive category in 2024, slashing .322/.458/.701 despite a brutal first month.
“March and April were not my friend this year,” Judge, who did not take part in the standard BBWAA conference call, told MLB Network. “It’s a long season. You’re going to go through some ups, you’re going to go through some downs. It’s just about leaning on your teammates, your family and just putting in the work. I think that’s what it comes down to — just keep putting in the work and things are going to change. You can’t mope. You can’t feel sorry for yourself. Especially in New York — nobody’s going to feel sorry for you.”
Of Judge’s 58 home runs in 2024, a whopping 23 gave his team the lead. But his season ended in bitter fashion, with Judge going 4-for-18 in the World Series and making a key error — dropping a fly ball to help set up what became a five-run fifth inning — in the decisive Game 5 on Oct. 30.
Six days later, Ohtani underwent surgery to repair a labrum tear in his left, non-throwing shoulder, the result of an injury he sustained on an attempted steal in Game 2 of the World Series. Ohtani has since removed the stitches from his surgically repaired shoulder and is focusing on range-of-motion exercises in the early stages of his ramp-up.
“The goal is to be ready for Opening Day. That includes hitting and pitching,” Ohtani said. “But we are kind of taking our time, obviously. We want to make sure that I’m healthy first; we’re not going to rush anything.”
It wasn’t until his fourth season in the big leagues that Ohtani emerged as a two-way force. He came over from Japan and made nine starts for the Los Angeles Angels before sustaining a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament that ultimately led to Tommy John surgery in 2018, restricting him to DH for most of his first two years. The 2021 season — coming off a brutal showing in the COVID-shortened 2020 season — was the start of a historic three-year stretch in which Ohtani produced a .964 OPS with 124 homers and 57 stolen bases, and also a 2.84 ERA and 542 strikeouts in 428⅓ innings.
A second UCL repair followed, preventing Ohtani from pitching beyond August 2023. It did not prevent another dream-like season. Ohtani dismissed outsized pressure, focused on becoming a better base stealer and produced some of the season’s most memorable moments even before hoisting the World Series trophy. He hit a walk-off grand slam to join the 40/40 club and put together one of history’s best single-game performances — with three home runs, two steals and 10 RBIs in Miami on Sept. 19 — to reach the 50/50 mark and solidify his first postseason berth.
Ohtani is unquestionably at the top of the sport.
Judge is up there, too.
“When I hear that, I think people are coming for the spot,” Judge told MLB Network. “You got to keep putting in the work.”
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Eli Lederman, ESPN Staff Writer
Five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 prospect in the 2025 ESPN 300 recruiting rankings, has flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan, he confirmed on social media Thursday.
Underwood announced the news with a video posted to Instagram with the caption “Hometown Hero.”
Underwood, a 6-foot-4, 210-pounder from Belleville, Michigan, is the top pocket passer in the class. With his flip, he becomes the highest-rated offensive commit in Michigan program history and the top prospect in Sherrone Moore’s inaugural recruiting class, which currently sits at No. 14 in ESPN’s team rankings for the 2025 cycle.
YES SIR ! #GoBlue🔵 The Best players in Michigan go to Michigan ! #ProcessoverPrize25
— Sherrone Moore (@Coach_SMoore) November 21, 2024
Underwood’s move comes as the latest piece of seismic quarterback movement atop the 2025 class ahead of the start of the early signing period Dec. 4. Five-star quarterback Julian Lewis decommitted from USC on Nov. 17 and subsequently pledged to Colorado earlier Thursday.
Committed to LSU since Jan. 6, Underwood remained the crown jewel of Brian Kelly’s 2025 class over the past 10 months. Yet Michigan remained in contact with Underwood throughout his senior season at Belleville High School — situated less than 30 minutes from Michigan Stadium.
The Wolverines intensified their pursuit of Underwood over the past two months, with sources telling ESPN that the program stepped up with a competitive NIL package. The Oct. 30 decommitment of four-star quarterback commit Carter Smith (No. 155 in the ESPN 300) from the Wolverines heightened the buzz around a potential flip by Underwood.
Michigan secures a potentially program-defining quarterback and one of the most significant pledges in program history less than 12 months after Moore replaced Jim Harbaugh after the Wolverines claimed the 2023 national championship.
If Underwood signs with the Wolverines on Dec. 4, he will be the first No. 1 recruit to join Michigan since the program inked defensive tackle Rashan Gary in 2016.
Underwood also would join Gary and defensive backs Jabrill Peppers (2014 class) and Dax Hill (2019) as the only five-star prospects to land in Ann Arbor since 2006, per ESPN rankings.
He will mark the Wolverines’ highest-ranked quarterback pledge since Michigan landed Ryan Mallett (No. 12) in the class of 2007.
Whether Underwood is prepared to take over as the starter in 2025, his commitment brings critical stability to the quarterback position in Ann Arbor as Moore closes a turbulent first season.
Michigan has struggled to identify a replacement for national title-winning quarterback J.J. McCarthy in 2024, bouncing between Davis Warren, Alex Orji and Jack Tuttle across a 5-5 start this fall. Warren and Orji hold eligibility beyond this season, as does former 2024 four-star quarterback prospect Jadyn Davis.
Michigan also holds a commitment from four-star quarterback Brady Hart in the 2026 cycle.
A composed passer with speed to test opposing defenses in the open field, Underwood has spent the past four years as one of the nation’s most coveted prospects, ranked ahead of top quarterbacks Lewis, Tavien St. Clair (Ohio State) and Keelon Russell (Alabama) in the 2025 ESPN 300.
Underwood burst onto the national scene in 2021, when he threw for 2,888 yards and 39 touchdowns in his freshman season at Belleville. He led the Tigers to back-to-back state titles in his first two seasons under center, then earned Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year honors as a junior in 2023, when he completed 64.8% of his passes for 3,329 yards and 44 touchdowns while guiding Belleville to a third consecutive state title game appearance.
With only one regular-season loss since September 2021, Underwood and Belleville entered the state playoffs this month as favorites to claim the program’s third state championship in four years.
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