One of the biggest anxieties for Capitals fans this summer ended quietly and without any trouble.
Alex Ovechkin re-joined the team on Friday, taking a casual swirl around MedStar Capitals Iceplex with around two dozen of his teammates.
The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir posted video on Twitter.
Alex Ovechkin has joined the informal skates. #Caps pic.twitter.com/uGriOsVGzv
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) September 9, 2022
The Capitals also published photos of Ovechkin cheesing as he made his way onto the ice. The team called it a “Gr8 day.”
It's a #Gr8 day! pic.twitter.com/GiX4RDYEEi
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 9, 2022
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 9, 2022
And indeed it was. Due to Russia’s war in Ukraine, several players had issues leaving the country or getting back to North America. Kirill Kaprizov’s issues were the most notable headline over the summer. The Minnesota Wild superstar was denied entry into the United States twice and reportedly under investigation in Russia for buying a military ID card in 2017, a charge his father denied. Kaprizov eventually left the country and arrived in the United States in early August. Meanwhile, after Russian goaltender Ivan Fedotov signed an entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers in May, he was taken to a military camp for evading service in July. Fedotov remains in Russian custody and his first hearing is on September 20.
Ovechkin and Dmitry Orlov were the only Russian Capitals who went back to their homeland this summer as Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alex Alexeyev chose to remain stateside.
“I haven’t heard anything,” MacLellan said in July if he had any worries about Ovechkin and Orlov returning to DC. “As far as I know, there’s no concern of them getting back to North America.”
In the end, there wasn’t. Both players are back in DC without much fanfare. Orlov left Russia in late August and has been skating with his teammates since then.
The 2022-23 season will mark Ovechkin’s 18th season in the NHL. With 780 goals, he sits 21 behind second-place Gordie Howe and 114 behind record holder Wayne Gretzky. Ovechkin turns 37 next Saturday. He has four seasons left on a five-year extension he signed in July 2021.
Standard Ovi arrives at Capitals' practice. No AS-V Pro skates, no new sticks for the time being.
📸: @Capitals #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/9VH0RHnybY
— GearGeek.com 🏒🤓 (@geargeekhockey) September 9, 2022
Headline photo: Elizabeth Kong/RMNB
