Washington (United States) (AFP) – NHL all-time scoring leader Alex Ovechkin explained his appearance in a Russian political video backing Vladimir Putin on Thursday by saying he supports his homeland. The Washington Capitals captain, speaking on his 41st birthday and the opening day of Washington Capitals training camp, said he had no hesitation in making the video for the United Russia Party. “They asked me to do that. I said yes. So, simple as that,” Ovechkin said. “I’m Russian. I support my country.”
The superstar left wing, set to begin his 22nd NHL campaign and 22nd season with Washington, has scored 929 career goals. In April 2025, he broke the NHL all-time goals record set by Wayne Gretzky. Ovechkin’s appearance in a video standing alongside other notable Russians in a political video backing Putin ahead of Russian elections drew harsh criticism from some, with US Representative Joe Wilson calling on the NHL to review Ovechkin’s involvement in the video.
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“The thing about video, I’m Russian,” Ovechkin said. “As soon as I’m done playing hockey, I’m probably going to stay there. I’m going to live there. My kids are going to live there. Family. I’m for peace and love and I hope everything is going to be OK. My home is Russia and DC is my second home. I have lots of friends, I grew up here as a person. I hope everything is going to be OK and peace and love for everybody…I hope everything is going to be OK in the end.”
Ovechkin had been questioned when Russian forces invaded Ukraine in 2022 and said, “Please, no more war,” but the conflict has been ongoing to this day. Ovechkin, who considered retirement after the Capitals missed the playoffs last season, said he was lured back by off-season moves he felt made Washington a Stanley Cup contender once again, after Ovechkin led the Capitals to the title in 2018.
“The new faces we have give us a chance to fight for a Cup,” Ovechkin said. “If it was truly a rebuild it would be hard for me. At 41, he’s taking nothing for granted. “It doesn’t matter how good you are on the paper, you have to show up on the ice,” Ovechkin said. “I’m focusing on training camp. I have to make the team…Every year it’s harder and harder.”
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