# Alex Ovechkin's Putin Support Sparks NHL Debate

> Alex Ovechkin's United Russia ad endorsement faces NHL backlash over 'peace and love' claims.
- Title: Alex Ovechkin's Putin Support Sparks NHL Debate · Newsweek
- Summary: Alex Ovechkin's United Russia ad endorsement faces NHL backlash over 'peace and love' claims. Ovechkin's political endorsement of Russia's United Russia…
- Keywords: alex ovechkin, united russia, nhl, vladimir putin, russian elections, washington capitals, stephen curry, lebron james, nikola jokic, denver nuggets, aleksandar vučić, Alex
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/alex-ovechkin-putin-united-russia-video-nhl-12459750
- Published: 2026-09-18T12:45:06+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: alex ovechkin, united russia, nhl, vladimir putin, russian elections, washington capitals, stephen curry, lebron james, nikola jokic, denver nuggets, aleksandar vučić
## Ovechkin's Putin Ad Controversy
Alex Ovechkin appeared in Vladimir Putin's United Russia election campaign ad for Russian elections.

> Alex Ovechkin is facing a torrent of criticism after American media discovered he had appeared in an election campaign ad for Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party ahead of this week’s Russian elections
## Ovechkin's Defense
Ovechkin claimed he 'wasn’t into politics' and supported 'peace and love for everyone' while being Russian.

> I am Russian, I support my country. I hope peace and love for everybody. I’m not into politics. It doesn't matter who you are, American, Russian or Ukrainian. I hope everything's gonna be good.
## Political Context
Ovechkin supported Putin since 2017 through 'Putin Team' campaign to strengthen Russia.

> The hockey star has openly supported Putin since 2017, when the Washington Capitals stalwart launched 'Putin Team,' a social campaign to unite 'people who are proud of their country and want to make Russia stronger.'
## NHL Contract History
Ovechkin signed a five-year $47.5 million contract with Washington Capitals in 2021 after Putin Team.

> The Capitals handed Ovechkin a five-year, $47.5 million contract in 2021, four years after the Putin Team incident, and months before Russian forces launched their full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
## NHL Precedent
Stephen Curry and LeBron James campaigned for politicians without NHL punishment.

> Stephen Curry appeared with his family at the 2020 Democratic National Convention and explicitly endorsed Joe Biden. LeBron James previously campaigned for Hillary Clinton in Ohio.
## NBA Example
NBA's Nikola Jokic supported Serbian election list without NBA investigation.

> In 2023, while playing for the Denver Nuggets, Jokić’s name appeared among more than 2,000 prominent Serbian figures backing an electoral list for the party of Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić
## Current Stance
Ovechkin faces criticism but NHL has not punished him despite years of political support.

> We’ve watched Ovechkin support Putin for years. That didn’t stop anyone from paying him tens of millions of dollars, making him the face of a franchise, and cheering while he rewrote the NHL record books.
## Key takeaway

Ovechkin's political endorsement of Russia's United Russia party faces criticism but NHL has not punished him despite years of support.