Alex Ovechkin's decision sparks major backlash over Darren Dreger's retirement prediction

Alex Ovechkin just made Spencer Carbery's summer a lot quieter, and one insider's read is taking heat today.

The backlash angle is simple. Darren Dreger's recent belief was that all signs pointed to Ovechkin being done in the NHL, and that take got clipped hard once Ovechkin announced he was coming back.

That is why fans jumped on it so fast. This was not a vague call on a depth winger. It was a retirement read on one of the biggest names the league has ever had.

And Ovechkin did not just leave the door cracked. The AP reported he declared “I'm back!” and signed on for a 22nd NHL season, which instantly made the earlier read look old.

The reason the reaction got so loud is obvious. Ovechkin still led Washington with 32 goals and 64 points in all 82 games last season, so the player was never limping quietly toward the exit.

Carbery's role matters here too. The Capitals just signed him to a multiyear extension on June 18, which told everyone the club still believes its window has some life in it.

" Not a good look...

Darren Dreger on OverDrive said 'all indications' and his belief is that Alex Ovechkin's career in the NHL has concluded "

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Washington gave Ovechkin reasons to keep going

This is the part that makes Dreger's call look even rougher. Washington did not spend the last week acting like a team ready for a farewell tour and a soft reset.

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The Capitals added Jordan Kyrou on June 23, then landed Alex Tuch in a sign-and-trade on June 26. That is a push to win, not a shrug toward the future.

Ovechkin had already hinted this was the biggest factor. NHL.com reported he was “very, very impressed” by those additions as Washington weighed its next talks with him.

That is what makes the backlash stick. Dreger was reading a retirement mood while the Capitals were building a better sales pitch right in front of everyone.

To be fair, the uncertainty was real. Ovechkin had said in April that he would think about 1 more year, and Washington did not have his answer before free agency opened.

But once the return became official, the miss became loud. When you are talking about the league's all-time goals leader and a 22nd season, the hockey world does not let a bad read slide.

That is why this blew up today. Alex Ovechkin is back, Spencer Carbery gets his captain again, and a top NHL insider is wearing the fallout from a call that aged badly in public.

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