NHL all-time leading goal-scorer Alex Ovechkin recently appeared in a campaign ad for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party, and the Washington Capitals star will likely face questions about it when he meets with the media Thursday as training camp opens.
Entering his 22nd NHL season — all with the Capitals since they drafted him No. 1 overall in 2004 — Ovechkin appears in the ad along with former NHL player Viacheslav “Slava” Fetisov. Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek accused the players of supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Asked for comment on Ovechkin’s appearance in the ad, the NHL deferred to the Capitals, who issued a statement Tuesday saying that the star forward was asked to participate in the video campaign over the summer while home in Russia.
“Alex Ovechkin is a Russian citizen who lives in Moscow with his family during the offseason and will live there following his retirement,” team spokesperson Sergey Kocharov said in the statement issued to media outlets. “This summer, while in Russia, he was asked by his country to participate in a video campaign. As the longest-tenured athlete in Washington, D.C., and a pillar of the community, his focus and ours is on the season ahead and the continued impact he makes on the ice and in our city.”
Ovechkin, who turns 41 on Thursday, has displayed support for Putin in the past, including a social movement called “Putin Team” that he founded in 2017 ahead of Russia’s presidential election in 2018. At the time, Ovechkin told reporters, “I just support my country.”
Also, Ovechkin’s Instagram avatar is a photograph of him smiling alongside Putin.
Asked about Russia invading Ukraine in February 2022, Ovechkin said, “Please, no more war.” Regarding his relationship with Putin at the time, he said, “He’s my president, but I’m not in politics. I’m an athlete.”
With his 895th goal in April 2025, Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record, and has 1,687 points (929 goals, 758 assists) over 1,573 games.