Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is under intense scrutiny after appearing in an advertisement supporting Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party. This ad features Ovechkin alongside pro-Putin figures like Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of state-controlled RT network. The campaign was first reported in the Russian business newspaper Vedomosti.

Hockey fans have expressed their outrage, with notable figures adding their voices:

• Former astronaut Terry Virts stated, "Alexander Ovechkin should not be allowed back into the USA, much less the @NHL."
• Canadian journalist Marcus Kolga called for a visa ban, emphasizing Ovechkin's support for Putin's regime as a violation of moral standards.
• A social media user declared, "Ovechkin needs to finally be banned from the NHL. He is an active supporter of the genocide Russia is committing in Ukraine."

Criticism also extended to the Washington Capitals, which faced backlash for their continued support of Ovechkin. A post featuring teammate Tom Wilson alongside Ovechkin drew ire, with one user remarking, "Caps player Alexander Ovechkin just appeared in a literal United Russia campaign video, alongside designated war criminals."

Ovechkin has a long history of supporting Putin, launching the Putin Team in 2017 to advocate for the president's campaign. In previous statements, he has claimed, "I just support my country," distancing himself from political implications. When discussing the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, he expressed hope for peace while maintaining his allegiance to Putin.

Notably, Ovechkin signed a one-year contract extension with the Capitals in July and has been a pivotal player for the team since 2004. He broke the all-time goal-scoring record last year, surpassing Wayne Gretzky with his 895th goal.