Alex Ovechkin may be one of the greatest hockey players in history, but his wife, Anastasia, was reminded during a recent football game why she is thankful he chose the ice over the pitch.
While attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Anastasia found herself struggling with the intense heat as Spain beat Argentina 1-0 to be crowned champions.
The experience led to a humorous exchange between the couple, with Anastasia thanking Ovechkin for choosing hockey as his career.
Alex Ovechkin’s Wife Speaks on His Career Choice
The lighthearted moment perfectly highlighted the difference between playing hockey inside a cold arena and playing football outdoors in the middle of summer.
During the game, Anastasia joked about how difficult it was to deal with the heat. “I realized one thing: I’m incredibly lucky that my husband plays hockey, not football,” she said. “Because this heat is unreal, I can barely sit here. It’s impossible, I’m suffocating.”
She went on to explain why she would much rather deal with the cold.
“I’ve realized that cold is always better. You can always bundle up. But here? I honestly don’t know what to do,” she said. “Sometimes a breeze comes through and it gets a little easier. But most of the time it’s just scorching and I can barely breathe. So, thank you, Alexander Mikhailovich, for playing hockey.”
Ovechkin responded with a simple message to his wife.
“All for you, my love,” he said.
Ovechkin Returns for Historic 22nd NHL Season
The exchange came after Ovechkin took time to consider his health and future before deciding to return to the NHL.
The 40-year-old Washington Capitals captain signed a one-year contract extension that will take him into his historic 22nd NHL season. The deal carries a $4.25 million cap hit, although its structure allows Ovechkin to earn significantly more.
He has a $1 million base salary, a $3.25 million signing bonus, and a $4.75 million games-played bonus that activates after he appears in 10 games. If he remains healthy, Ovechkin could earn $9 million during the season while giving the Capitals a much lower cap hit.
With the new contract, Ovechkin will join Sidney Crosby as just the 24th and 25th players in NHL history to play at least 22 seasons.
Another Record Within Reach
Ovechkin already owns the NHL’s all-time regular-season goals record after passing Wayne Gretzky’s 894 goals on April 6, 2025.
He added another 32 goals last season at age 40, bringing his regular-season total to 929.
Including the playoffs, Ovechkin has scored 1,006 professional goals. That puts him just 11 shy of Gretzky’s combined total of 1,016.
While Ovechkin’s wife may prefer the cold temperatures of an NHL arena, the Capitals captain has plenty of reasons to keep playing.
With another season ahead, a stronger Washington roster around him and another major record within reach, Ovechkin’s focus is on helping the Capitals return to the playoffs and chase one more Stanley Cup.
