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NBC News
· collected 2026-09-16 · by David K. Li
NHL star Alex Ovechkin, who recently surpassed Wayne Gretzky as the all-time leading goal scorer in NHL history, appeared in a Russian television ad supporting President Vladimir Putin. The advertisement features Ovechkin alongside other notable figures including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and former Detroit Red Wings player Viacheslav Fetisov, expressing their backing of Putin’s United Russia party. This move has sparked controversy as it coincides with Russia's ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where over 250,000 soldiers have been killed since the invasion began in February 2022.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Alex Ovechkin, the NHL’s all-time leading goalscorer for the Washington Capitals, appeared in a campaign ad supporting Vladimir Putin's pro-authoritarian United Russia party. The Russian business newspaper Vedomosti published images of Ovechkin alongside high-profile Putin supporters such as Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and RT's editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan. Despite Ovechkin’s history as a vocal supporter of Putin since 2017, he became more cautious after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, noting his hope for peace while still referring to Putin as "my president." The war has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. Ovechkin’s political stance has drawn criticism from some former players like Dominik Hašek, who called it an imperialist war and condemned those supporting Putin. Despite the controversy, Ovechkin's team stated his off-ice activities will not affect his hockey career in Washington D.C.
Written for “Ovechkin Endorses Putin” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
-
Alex Ovechkin appeared in an ad backing Russian President Vladimir Putin, bringing renewed attention to the player’s controversial, longtime support for the authoritarian ruler.
right describes Ovechkin's support of Putin as 'controversial' and 'longtime', implying a positive stance.
-
The TV spot came to light just this week, showing Ovechkin standing in a group that included Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and retired Detroit Red Wings defenseman Viacheslav “Slava” Fetisov, professing their support of Putin’s United Russia party.
right describes the ad as supporting Putin's political party without criticism.
-
Russia has been an international pariah since Putin — who has run the country as president or prime minister since 2000 — launched the invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022.
left describes Russia's actions negatively, implying criticism of Putin.
-
Over 250,000 Russian soldiers, up to 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers and nearly 14,000 Ukrainian civilians are estimated to have been killed in the war.
left provides a stark description of casualties from Putin's invasion.
Leaning score -0.35 for article 14423 (high confidence, 4 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-17
Washington Capitals forward and NHL all-time leading goal scorer Alex Ovechkin appeared in an ad backing Russian President Vladimir Putin, bringing renewed attention to the player’s controversial, longtime support for the authoritarian ruler.
asserted
Ovechkin → appear → ruler
The TV spot came to light just this week, showing Ovechkin standing in a group that included Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and retired Detroit Red Wings defenseman Viacheslav “Slava” Fetisov, professing their support of Putin’s United Russia party.
asserted
that → come → party
The Capitals confirmed that Ovechkin appeared in the spot and said the player’s off-the-ice political work will have no impact on the upcoming NHL season.
asserted
work → confirm → season
“Alex Ovechkin is a Russian citizen who lives in Moscow with his family during the offseason and will live there following his retirement,” team spokesman Sergey Kocharov said in a statement to NBC News on Wednesday.
asserted
Kocharov → live → Wednesday
“This summer, while in Russia, he was asked by his country to participate in a video campaign.
asserted
he → ask → 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.”
asserted
he → tenure → city
Ovechkin has had a long, close relationship with Putin.
asserted
Ovechkin → have → Putin
Back in 2017, Ovechkin launched the “Putin Team” social movement.
asserted
Ovechkin → launch → movement
Russia has been an international pariah since Putin — who has run the country as president or prime minister since 2000 — launched the invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022.
asserted
who → run → February
Over 250,000 Russian soldiers, up to 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers and nearly 14,000 Ukrainian civilians are estimated to have been killed in the war.
asserted
soldiers → estimate → war
Hašek called Russia’s ongoing invasion “an imperialist war in Ukraine” and circled Ovechkin’s face in a picture of campaign supporters in an X posting this week.
“Because of each of them, many Ukrainians and Russians will be killed,” wrote Hašek, a native of Pardubice, Czech Republic, who played 16 seasons in the NHL, 9 with the Buffalo Sabres.
asserted
who → call → Sabres
Ovechkin, who turns 41 this week, has tallied 929 goals in 21 NHL seasons, all with the Caps.
asserted
who → turn → Caps
The three-time Hart Trophy winner overtook Wayne Gretzky on the all-time goal scoring list when he found the back of the net during an April 6, 2025 game against the New York Islanders.
asserted
he → overtake → Islanders
Ovechkin has hoisted the Stanley Cup once, leading Washington to the title in 2018.
asserted
Ovechkin → hoist → 2018
He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy that year, as playoff MVP.
asserted
He → win → MVP
The Caps open training camp on Thursday, ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
asserted
Caps → open → campaign
Washington’s regular season opener is set for Oct. 2 against the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.
asserted
opener → set → Hurricanes
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