Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals forward and NHL’s all-time leading scorer Appeared in an ad supporting Russia President Vladimir Putin has drawn new attention to the controversial athlete’s long-standing support for the authoritarian ruler.
The TV spot, which came to light just this week, showed Ovechkin standing among a group that included Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Viacheslav “Slava” Fetisov, professing support for President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party.
The Capitals confirmed Ovechkin’s appearance and said his on-ice political activities will not affect the upcoming NHL season.
“Alex Ovechkin is a Russian citizen who lives in Moscow with his family during the offseason and plans to live there after his retirement,” team spokesman Sergei Kocharov said in a statement to NBC News on Wednesday.
“While in Russia this summer, he was asked by his home country to participate in a video campaign. As D.C.’s longest-serving athlete and a pillar of the community, his focus and ours are on the season ahead and the continued impact he will continue to have on the ice and in our city.”
Mr. Ovechkin has a long and close relationship with Mr. Putin. Back in 2017, Ovechkin launched a social movement called “Putin Team.”
Russia has become an international pariah since Putin, who has run the country as president or prime minister since 2000, launched an invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022. 250,000 Russian soldiersto 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers and Approximately 14,000 Ukrainian civilians It is presumed that he died in the war.
hall of fame goalie Dominik “The Dominator” Hasek has been particularly outspoken against the Putin regime and its supporters.
Hasek called Russia’s ongoing aggression an “imperialist war in Ukraine” and circled Ovechkin’s face in a photo of campaign supporters. This week’s post is X.
“Many Ukrainians and Russians will be killed because of them,” wrote Hasek, a native of Pardubice, Czech Republic, who played 16 seasons in the NHL and nine with the Buffalo Sabres.
Ovechkin, who turns 41 this week, He has scored 929 goals in 21 NHL seasons, all played for caps.
3rd time heart trophy winner Wayne Gretzky found the back of the net in a game against the New York Islanders on April 6, 2025, and became the all-time leading scorer.
Ovechkin has lifted the Stanley Cup once, leading Washington to the title in 2018. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy that same year. as playoff MVP.
The Caps will begin training camp on Thursday ahead of the 2026-27 season. Washington regular season opener They are scheduled to face the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes on October 2nd.