Alex Ovechkin’s NHL-record 895th goal is drawing praise from around the world – including the United States’ geopolitical rivals.
‘I congratulate you on your outstanding record,’ Russian president Vladimir Putin said in a statement released Monday by the Kremlin. ‘You have surpassed legendary masters in the number of goals scored in National Hockey League regular-season games.’
As Putin told the Russian hockey legend, Ovechkin’s achievement ‘has become not only your personal success, but also a real celebration for fans in Russia and abroad.
‘I wish you health, good fortune [and] fighting spirit to conquer new heights in life and in sports,’ Putin concluded.
Harkening back to the Soviet-era Red Army hockey team, Ovechkin’s success on the ice has become a point of pride for the Kremlin and its leader, who has enjoyed support from the country’s most visible athlete.
Ovechkin started a ‘PutinTeam’ movement of athletes back in 2017 to rally support for the president ahead of the country’s widely disputed 2018 elections.
Alex Ovechkin’s NHL-record 895th goal is drawing praise from around the world
Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin is seen on a screen celebrating his 895th career goal
Putin and Ovechkin stand together during a reception for national team back in 2014
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At the time, Ovechkin claimed his praise of Putin was somehow non-political, stressing that he hopes for better relations between Russia and the US – a desire Putin-admirer Donald Trump has expressed publicly as well.
Of course, supporting Russia in any way has become controversial in the US since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, an American ally.
But while Ovechkin hasn’t made many recent public statements expressing outright full-hearted support for Putin – or chastising his home country for the war – he still has an image of himself with the Russian leader as his profile picture on Instagram.
Ovechkin surpassed Edmonton Oilers legend Wayne Gretzky on the NHL’s all-time scoring list during Sunday’s loss to the New York Islanders by netting his 895th career goal during a second-period power play.
The moment did come with some political overtones, though, as FBI director and Trump insider Kash Patel was, once again, seated alongside Gretzky in a VIP box for the game. Previously, when Ovechkin tied Gretzky’s record in Washington on Thursday, Patel was also seen alongside Gretzky.
‘Was that Kash Patel next to Gretzky?’ one fan asked on X, echoing a question asked by countless others on both sides of the US-Canadian border.
Another joked: ‘Did Kash Patel get adopted by the Gretzky’s (sic)?’
‘Gretzky having Kash Patel be his guest for the last two games is the lowest of notches,’ a Philadelphia-area sports fan added.
(From left) Kash Patel, Janet Jones Gretzky, Wayne Gretzky and Gary Bettman at UBS Arena
Thursday Patel watched Ovechkin with Gretzky and Bettman at Capital One Arena in DC
Gretzky has stayed silent on Trump’s tariffs against the US as the president has frequently stated his desire to make Canada the ’51st state’ and name Gretzky the ‘governor’
But nobody is angrier over Gretzky’s ties to Trump’s inner circle than native Canadians.
‘Pretty sure Gretzky first shook the hand of his good buddy Kash Patel,’ one critic wrote on X. ‘Gretz’ is a traitor to Canada.’
‘Gretzky with his good buddy Kash Patel–who wants to make Canada the 51st state,’ they added. ‘Canada should revoke Gretzky’s citizenship.’
Trump has stated on multiple occasions his desire to make Canada America’s 51st, and has since doubled down on the animosity between the two countries by adding tariffs to Canadian goods.
Last month, a famed Gretzky statue in Edmonton was smeared with feces after the Oilers legend attended post-election parties at the President’s club in Palm Beach, Florida as well as the inauguration in Washington.