Alex Ovechkin, the NHL’s all-time goal leader, recently put off retirement to play at least one more season for the Capitals, but his return is already drawing massive backlash after he appeared in a campaign video for Russian president Vladimir Putin’s political party. This dropped amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, which kicked off more than four years ago with the Russian invasion of the country. Ovechkin’s presence in the ad has fans across the league fuming, making his supposed “final year” about way more than just scoring goals.
What Went Down In The Video
So, what exactly did Ovechkin do? He was featured in a video for Putin’s United Party, standing right there alongside prominent Russian politicians. Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov delivers a message in the video, but Ovechkin doesn’t speak. He’s just standing behind Lavrov and with other politicians. For a ton of fans, that mere appearance was offensive. We’re talking about Putin, who many characterize as a dictator, where election results are widely considered fraudulent. Plus, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was straight-up condemned by huge sports organizations like FIFA and the International Olympic Committee, both of which banned Russia as a result. This isn’t some quiet endorsement; it’s a very public statement.
The Backlash Is Immediate and Fierce
You knew this was coming, right? The internet absolutely exploded with reactions. Andrew Desiderio didn’t hold back, tweeting, “an NHL team is slobbering over their star player who just appeared in a campaign video for Putin’s political party, standing alongside actual war criminals Ovechkin chose to participate in this video. And the @Capitals are cool with it apparently!” That’s some serious heat. Gram Slattery echoed that frustration, saying, “Really sad and disgusting. As a proud adopted Washingtonian, always loved going to the Caps games from time to time. Think I’ll skip as long as Ovechkin is around.”
This isn’t new for Ovechkin, either. Rachel Hopmayer pointed out that Ovechkin has been a longtime supporter of Putin’s and has even featured the Russian president in his Instagram profile picture for years. She highlighted that Ovechkin previously tried to avoid war conversations by calling for an end to all war and saying the conflict with Ukraine was “not in my hands.” But this video? That’s a whole new level of involvement. Vesa Rantanen pulled no punches, questioning, “How long will the NHL media continue to blatantly ignore the fact that Ovechkin openly supports Putin’s horrific war in Ukraine?” He even went as far as to say the NHL’s PR department, “formerly known as the media,” would keep turning a blind eye. Clearly, fans are tired of it.
What’s Next for Ovechkin and the Capitals?
Here’s the kicker: Ovechkin was born in Moscow, Russia, and played for Dynamo Moscow before hitting the NHL. He also openly supported Putin ahead of the 2018 presidential election. So, his stance isn’t a secret. The big question now is, what do the Capitals do? As of right now, they’ve been totally silent. Not a peep. This isn’t just about on-ice production anymore; it’s about the team’s image, their fan base, and the broader message they send by not addressing this. Will the Capitals finally break their silence, or will they let this controversy simmer as Ovechkin heads into what could be his last year?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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