ARLINGTON, VA — Alex Ovechkin’s first media appearance of the season could have been a victory lap.
Going into the offseason, Ovechkin’s potential retirement had been the Capitals’ biggest question mark, and his decision to come back for another season was one of the NHL’s top summer stories. Ovechkin returned to DC with his on-ice legacy well secured, now sitting at a record 929 goals on his 41st birthday. And after a series of splashy offseason acquisitions, Ovechkin may well captain a contending team this season.
Instead, Ovechkin began his media availability addressing his choices off the ice. His decision to appear in a campaign ad for the Vladimir Putin-aligned United Russia party has drawn widespread criticism, renewing questions about his support for the authoritarian regime and its actions in Ukraine.
Ovechkin echoed much of the Capitals’ statement on the matter, emphasizing his plans to return to Russia without directly discussing the party he lent his support.
“The thing about video, I’m Russian,” he said. “As soon as I’m done playing hockey, I’m probably going to stay there. I’m gonna live there, my kids are gonna live there, my family, so I’m focusing love. I hope everything is going to be okay.
“My home is Russia. This is my second home. I have lots of friends. I grew up here as a person. How I said, this is my second home. I hope everything is going to be okay, and how I said, peace and love with everybody.”
Ovechkin has been a longstanding backer of Putin, most notably launching the PutinTeam movement ahead of Russia’s 2018 presidential election. That support has drawn increased scrutiny following Russia’s invasion of and subsequent war against Ukraine, which has been widely condemned by the international community.
The commercial, which features Ovechkin and other Russian celebrities standing behind Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, surfaced earlier this week. Lavrov’s participation in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has earned him sanctions from the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and Canada; the US Department of the Treasury named him one of the “architects” of the war.
Though Ovechkin said he hasn’t faced any blowback from the ad, figures including US representative Joe Wilson, Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Dominik Hasek, chef José Andrés, and more have spoken out against his appearance.
Ovechkin’s insistence on a “peace and love” message mirrors his comments when Russia began its full-scale invasion Ukraine in 2022, when he urged, “Please, no more war,” but similarly declined to publicly condemn the country’s actions.
Did he have any hesitations about appearing in the ad this summer?
“No,” he replied.
Asked Thursday how his participation in the commercial came about, he said, “Well, they asked me to do that. I say yes. So, it’s simple as that.”
Ovechkin later elaborated on his rationale for agreeing to the ad:
“Well, I would say I’m Russian and I support my country,” he said. “So, how I said, I hope for peace and love and I hope in the world it doesn’t matter who you are. I hope everybody understands that everybody wants peace and I hope everything is going to be okay in the world.”
When asked about the video, Capitals general manager Chris Patrick told reporters he recognized how Ovechkin’s participation has drawn such criticism.
“It’s a difficult situation, and I understand why people are upset,” Patrick said. “That’s probably all I should say as a general manager of a hockey team and not someone well-versed in geopolitical issues.”
Even so, he still had sympathy for his team’s captain amid the backlash he’s since faced.
“I feel bad for him. It may not be a popular sentiment among people critiquing him right now, but it’s a hard situation for him.”
While Ovechkin’s actions have drawn outside condemnation and disappointment, Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery told reporters he does not expect it to be a distraction within the locker room.
“I know O as good as anybody inside this organization,” Carbery said. “I know his family, and I know what he’s all about. And I haven’t seen the video, but I know this: O has done an amazing job in my time here. I love him. I love his family. And he’s a big part of our team. And I think him being our captain and the relationship that I have with him as a coach here, yeah, it doesn’t affect me.”
Full transcript of Ovechkin’s comments
Alex Ovechkin: Well, first of all, I want to welcome you. Welcome back. The thing about video, I’m Russian. As soon as I’m done playing hockey, I’m probably going to stay there. I’m gonna live there, my kids are gonna live there, my family, so I’m focusing love. I hope everything is going to be okay.
My home is Russia. This is my second home. I have lots of friends. I grew up here as a person. How I said, this is my second home. I hope everything is going to be okay, and how I said, peace and love with everybody.
Q. How did it come about, and what’s the ramifications if you say, ‘I’m not going to do this’ at that time?
Alex Ovechkin: Well, they asked me to do that. I say yes. So, it’s simple as that.
Q. No hesitation?
Alex Ovechkin: No.
Q. Have you received any blowback about it?
Alex Ovechkin: No.
Q. I think the big question for people: they asked you, why did you say yes? Why did you agree to that?
Alex Ovechkin: Well, I would say I’m Russian and I support my country. So, how I said, I hope for peace and love and I hope in the world it doesn’t matter who you are. I hope everybody understands that everybody wants peace and I hope everything is going to be okay in the world. Alright? Alright, let’s do hockey questions.
