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Last go-round for Mike Knuble? Not if he has his way

Washington Capitals v Tampa Bay Lightning - Game Three

TAMPA, FL - MAY 03: Mike Knuble #22 of the Washington Capitals argues a second period disallowed goal in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at St Pete Times Forum on May 3, 2011 in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Capitals 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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When Mike Knuble signed a one-year deal with the Capitals there were some who wondered if it could mean that this would be Knuble’s last season in the NHL. After all, Knuble will be 39 years-old this season and he’s had a long career that’s seen him win a Stanley Cup back in 1998 with the Red Wings as well as become a power forward and power play specialist for the Rangers, Flyers, Bruins, and Capitals.

After helping become a locker room force for the Capitals last year as well being one of their more productive players on the ice, the Caps are hoping they can cash in on all their big hopes and dreams and get Knuble a chance to win another Stanley Cup before he’s set to call it a career.

But just when is he thinking he’ll hang it up for good? If it’s up to him, it won’t be for a few more years. Tarik El-Bashir of The Washington Post caught up with Knuble and finds out that he’s not looking at this season as a potential swan song.

“I’m out there playing for another deal,” he said. “I’m not riding off into the sunset. I want to make that point clear to everybody. This is no farewell song.”

Knuble spent last year on the top line with Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin and that’s a spot that he wants to hang on to as it provides him the best opportunity to cash in on rebounds and give the Caps an advantage there. He does admit to El-Bashir that he knows nothing is guaranteed and if he’s got to change his role, he will. That’s what a veteran will do to both help his team and stay in the game too.

As for how he feels the Caps shape up heading into this season, he’s liking how they look and how that sets up his future a lot.

“Since I’ve been here, this is going to be our best chance,” to win the Stanley Cup, Knuble continued. “There’s a huge window for our team. Our younger guys are starting to come into their prime. Believe me, I would love to stick around for another three years and be here for the whole window. But this year is a great chance.”

If Knuble can still find a way to produce between 20-30 goals per year at his age now, he might just get to play until he’s 42. For now, he’s got a long season ahead of him and one that he and the rest of Washington, D.C. hopes ends in a Stanley Cup parade going through the nation’s capital.