OPINION:
When Alex Ovechkin announced that this would be his last year playing in the National Hockey League, he changed his final season from “Meet the Press” to “This Is Your Life.”
The news that the Washington Capitals’ legendary scorer was calling it quits was met with tributes to a career that led to him being the greatest goal scorer in NHL history — quite a difference from the reaction last month when he was under fire for appearing in a political advertisement for the United Russia party, which is backed by Ovechkin’s buddy and murderer, Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“It was important for me to make this announcement before our first home game, so I have the chance to thank all the people around the game, everyone who has been so important to me and my family and helped me through the good times and tough losses,” Ovechkin wrote in a social media post Monday.
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It was particularly important to do so before the interrogations of his political allegiance to the Russian leader got out of hand. He got a glimpse of it at the Capitals’ media day, and it wasn’t pretty.
“I am excited about this season with my teammates, and we will do everything we can to make this year special,” he wrote.
“Special” likely means an Ovechkin celebration in every city on the road, plus a continuous season-long jubilee for The Great 8 at Capital One Arena.
In fact, the Capitals are counting on it.
“There’s going to be a lot of people that are going to games that it’s the last time this season or year [that they’ll get to see Ovechkin], so whether he scores a goal, whether he starts a game, whatever the case may be, it’ll be a warm, loud reception,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery told reporters.
And just like that, with the declaration that he will be done playing hockey, Ovechkin somehow became less contemptible than he had been earlier, when the world seemed to suddenly wake up and realize that the lovable Ovechkin had long embraced a poisonous political leader with blood on his hands.
“I’m for peace and love,” Ovechkin told reporters at the team’s media day last month.
Ovechkin has publicly supported Putin for more than a decade, but with few repercussions or media criticism, the story too messy for many. That seemed to change briefly when the United Russia political ad featuring Ovechkin surfaced.
Now, though, with his announcement that this will be his last season, it is more likely Ovechkin, 41, will be spending it garnering gifts and accolades — maybe a rocking chair in one city, a motorcycle in another — instead of questions about his devotion to a notorious war criminal. There may be some, but it will be like a spoil sport at a party.
It’s doubtful the timing of the announcement is coincidental. There had been much speculation that this would be Ovechkin’s last NHL season, but he had been hesitant in publicly declaring so, not looking forward to the hoopla of a goodbye tour. But what had been seen as a burden quickly became a blessing for Ovechkin, who will likely be embraced in every city on the road.
While he is being celebrated, his president and friend in Russia will be directing a new missile and drone campaign, according to The New York Times, that will send Ukrainian cities into cold and darkness, with the ultimate goal being to break the lives of ordinary people, including children, trying to survive the harsh winter.
Wednesday night at the home opener at Capital One Arena, it was Ovechkin’s children – his two sons, Sergei and Ilya — who walked their father onto the ice for his introduction. It was a heart-warming moment on the cold ice, bringing the morale of the sold-out crowd to a fever pitch.
“It was a memorable night, first game of the year at home,” Ovechkin told reporters after the game, a 5-3 Washington victory over Sidney Crosby and the rival Pittsburgh Penguins. “Lots of fans, it was special.”
The box score for Ovechkin? Two shots, no points and 14:05 minutes on the ice.
The box score for his pal and president? Nineteen civilians, including four children and 60 wounded in a Russian missile and drone attack Wednesday on Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions. It was a birthday celebration for Putin, who turned 74.
When Ovechkin made his retirement announcement, he said his plan was to return to Russia when he finishes playing here. “I’m Russian,” he said. “I’m going to live there when I’m done. My kids are going to be there. My family’s going to be there … I support my country.”
It’s a curious decision, if what Ovechkin’s supporters say is true — that he and his family live in fear of repercussions in Russia if they refuse to comply with Putin.
But it will allow Ovechkin to continue his work for peace and love, alongside the butcher he serves so well.
• You can hear Thom Loverro on “The Kevin Sheehan Show” podcast.
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