A recent photo of Alex Ovechkin causing some concerns

Ovechkin has spent 19 seasons in the NHL and is exceedingly likely to break Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal scoring record - a record long thought to be entirely untouchable.

The soon-to-be 39-year-old is believed to be contemplating his NHL retirement at the conclusion of his current deal and, according to reports, may want to finish his career in the KHL.

While we're still a long ways away from training camp, a recent photo shared by the Spittin' Chiclets podcast crew depicts Ovechkin carrying around a lot of extra weight this summer - something that may make it challenging for him next season, at least conditioning-wise.

Ovi will be 39 when the 2024-25 seasons commences, and while, yes, he's a professional athlete, it can be tough for someone to shed weight that late into his 30's, even with the Capitals' training staff at his beck and call.

With just 41 goals to go to tie Gretzky's 894 career goals and 42 goals to break the record, Ovechkin doesn't really need to do anything put post up in "Ovi's office" and pull the trigger for the next two seasons and he should get there with relative ease. But still, if the Capitals have any hopes of truly being a contender, they'll need everyone at the top of their game - their captain included - and carrying around an extra 20 lbs may not allow him to move the way he wants to.

No, this isn't body-shaming. Ovechkin could skate circles around everyone who reads this with his skates on the wrong feet. This is more about peak performance. In order to perform at the highest level, you have to be fit. In the NHL, playing against top competition, it's not easy to compete when you're not so fleet-of-foot, nor is it easy to get yourself in good position and get to the right place at the right time.

Will Ovechkin show up to training camp in good shape? Perhaps, but if the start of this summer is any indication, Ovi has a lot of work ahead over the next few months to get himself back into game shape before the 2024-25 season begins.