Kirill Marchenko and Brandon Duhaime of the Toronto Maple Leafs expressed their admiration for Alexander Ovechkin after he announced his retirement on social media at age 41. Marchenko revealed how much Ovechkin inspired him as a young player, while Duhaime, who played with Ovechkin in Washington before joining Toronto, regretted never assisting one of Ovechkin’s goals despite their brief two-on-one opportunity. The article highlights Ovechkin's NHL records and contributions to the sport, including his support for Russian president Vladimir Putin, which some find controversial due to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
As a youngster Kirill Marchenko so admired Alexander Ovechkin that he wore the same gear, shot with the same stick and still has the tinted visor.
asserted
he → admire → visor
“Titan blade, same yellow laces, I just copied his style,” the Maple Leafs winger said Monday about the longtime Washington Capitals captain.
asserted
winger → copy → captain
“It was an unbelievable feeling when I met him a couple of times.”
The 41-year-old Ovechkin, the NHL’s goal-scoring king, announced on social media Monday that this season would be his last.
asserted
season → meet → media
“Everybody knows that he’s one of the best players of all time,” said Marchenko.
asserted
Marchenko → know → time
He’s meant a lot to me and all Russian players.”
asserted
He → mean → me
“Pretty incredible career,” added Leafs forward Brandon Duhaime, a teammate of Ovechkin the last two seasons before he joined Toronto as a free agent.
asserted
he → add → agent
“I thought he had a few years left.
asserted
he → think → years
It was a true privilege to be able to see that live and play such a small part of that incredible career.
asserted
It → see → career
Duhaime was a Capital when Ovechkin surpassed Wayne Gretzky’s career scoring record of 894 goals on April 6, 2025.
asserted
Ovechkin → surpass → April
“The media coverage was crazy, every game was crazy once he came within five goals,” said Duhaime.
asserted
Duhaime → come → goals
“The crowds that were following, the people in the locker room.
asserted
that → follow → room
“It was amazing to see the way he handled himself.”
asserted
he → see → himself
Duhaime’s one regret: he never assisted on any of Ovechkin’s goals when they were teammates.
asserted
they → assist → goals
“We only had one two-on-one,” said Duhaime.
asserted
Duhaime → have → one
He’s a big supporter of Russian president Vladimir Putin, vilified by many for the invasion of Ukraine.
asserted
He → ’ → Ukraine
Duhaime said his politics never entered the room.
asserted
politics → say → room
“Nothing like that,” said Duhaime.
asserted
Duhaime → say → that
“He came to the rink every day and made you feel part of the team, made you feel special.
asserted
you → come → team
The six-foot-three, 239-pound forward has spent his entire career with Washington, winning the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2005-06, the Hart Trophy as MVP three times and leading the NHL in goals nine times.
asserted
forward → spend → goals
He was playoff MVP in 2018 when he led the Caps to the first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.
asserted
he → lead → history
There has always been a joy in the way Ovechkin plays, and celebrates, but his politics suggest there is something darker.
asserted
politics → play → way
There has always been a joy in the way Ovechkin plays, and celebrates, but his politics suggest there is something darker.
asserted
politics → play → way
He entered the season with 929 goals and will try and build on that number in his final campaign.
asserted
He → enter → campaign
“I’m not 20 years old,” he said later Monday after news came out, adding this was the right time to announce his decision, two days before Washington’s home opener.
asserted
this → ’m → opener
“I want to play with my kids when they’re growing up.
asserted
they → want → kids
I want to be healthy enough to do that kind of stuff.”
asserted
I → want → stuff
Toronto fans will get a chance to see him live twice more during the regular season as Washington comes to town Dec. 21 and March 29, 2027.
asserted
Washington → get → town
“When you’re talking about one of the all-time greats, guys like that make their own mark, unique in their own way,” said Leafs centre John Tavares.
asserted
Tavares → talk → way
“The game’s probably never seen that type of player.
asserted
game → see → player
He played through you, he would play around you, he would play on top of you.
“And when the puck was on his stick, really anywhere from the red line in, it had a chance to go in.”
asserted
it → play → chance
The Aporia
