Capitals say Ovechkin was asked to appear in United Russia ad

Alex Ovechkin appeared in a campaign advertisement for Vladimir Putin's United Russia party, and the Washington Capitals said Tuesday that their captain had been asked to participate while he was home in Russia this summer.

Team spokesperson Sergey Kocharov said Ovechkin is a Russian citizen who lives in Moscow with his family during the offseason and plans to return there after retirement. Kocharov added that the Capitals and Ovechkin are focused on the season ahead and his work on the ice and in Washington.

The video shows Ovechkin standing behind Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Former NHL defenceman Viacheslav Fetisov also appears in it. Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek criticized the spot as support for Russia's war against Ukraine. The NHL deferred to the Capitals when asked for comment.

Ovechkin has publicly supported Putin before. He launched the "Putin Team" movement in 2017 and said he supported his country. After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, he called for an end to the war and said he was an athlete rather than a politician.

Ovechkin, the NHL's career goals leader with 929, turns 41 on Thursday. He is expected to speak with reporters that day when Capitals training camp opens ahead of his 22nd NHL season.