Alex Ovechkin has spent nearly two decades thrilling hockey fans in the NHL, but over the weekend, his words off the ice caught just as much attention as his play. Speaking during the Ovi Cup gala match, the Washington Capitals captain shared his hope that hockey, a sport beloved in both the United States and Russia, could help bridge tensions between the two nations.
It’s not the first time Ovechkin has been asked about this subject, but his comments this time came with a simple message: stick to the love of the game.
“Both Countries Love Hockey” – Alex Ovechkin’s Hope for Unity
In a conversation with CNN’s Fred Pleitgen after the game, Ovechkin made it clear he sees hockey as something that can unite people even in difficult times.
“Both countries love hockey, so I hope it’s going to connect well and we will see,” Ovechkin told Pleitgen in the locker room post-game.
He also emphasized that he’s an athlete, not a politician, while still recognizing the serious situation.
“He’s my president. But I’m not in politics, I’m an athlete. I hope everything is gonna be done soon. It’s [a] sad situation right now for both sides.”
Those words carry weight not just because of Ovechkin’s status in the sport, but because of his well-known past connection with Russian president Vladimir Putin. In 2017, Ovechkin started a social media group called Putin Team to show support for him, later telling reporters, “I just support my country… It’s not about political stuff.”
While his comments in the past have sparked plenty of discussion, Ovechkin has often tried to keep his public stance focused on sports and national pride rather than political details.
Over the past few months, the conversation around Ovechkin also shifted to something more personal: comments from his wife, Anastasia Shubskaya, about their family’s future. In an interview with Russian outlet aif.ru, Shubskaya revealed that after nearly nine months away, they have settled back in Moscow. She went on to suggest that Ovechkin’s next NHL season could be his last.
“Alexander still has a contract for a year. So we will play the next season, and then fly back to live in Moscow, to our homeland. We will stay in Russia, yes,” Shubskaya said.
The statement quickly made headlines, with fans wondering if it meant Ovechkin was officially planning to retire from the NHL after the 2024–25 season.
However, Ovechkin later addressed the situation himself, essentially clearing the air. He stopped short of confirming that the upcoming season would be his last in the NHL.
This year has been a pretty eventful one for the Capitals legend.
Not only did Ovechkin make hockey history by breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record, but he also made business history. In April, Fanatics confirmed that the Capitals captain set a single-day merchandise sale record, becoming the top-selling athlete across all sports on its platforms.
The sales boom came after Ovechkin’s milestone goal, which came on a second-period power play against the New York Islanders. According to Fanatics via Sports Business Journal, Ovechkin-related merchandise accounted for seven of the ten best-selling items across all Fanatics platforms that day.
Ovechkin’s tally now stands at a proud 897 goals as he enters what could very well be his final season in the NHL.
