Ovechkin unsure if he can compete in the 2026 Milan Olympics

The captain of the Washington Capitals, Russian Alexander Ovechkin, spoke about a possible performance at the Olympics in Milan in 2026, as well as the non-participation of NHL players in the last Games in Beijing.

– Do you still have a dream – to win an Olympic medal? Milan is just around the corner in 2026.

“We’ll see… See how it turned out this year,” Ovechkin said in an interview with Match TV. – You can say that we were thrown away with the Olympics. But it all depends on the IIHF and the NHL. Whatever they have in their head will be in reality.

– And how did they announce to you that NHL players are not going to Beijing?

“We tried to make it all the way to the end. Someone said that he could go, despite the circumstances. We constantly talked with Koval (manager Ilya Kovalchuk – Match TV), talked with the guys who were supposed to go. But the International Ice Hockey Federation immediately told us: “No, we won’t let you play at the Olympics.”

– They didn’t let you into the tournament they organized?

– Yes. And the head of the NHL, Gary Bettman, said the same thing. Everything depends not on us, but on finances.

– Wayne Gretzky came to his Olympic gold not as a player, but as a manager. Will this option work for you?

– But we have a manager, Ilya Kovalchuk.

– Well, over the years, in 10-15 years.

Are we writing off Kovalchuk now, or what?

– Not.

– Well, where should I go? So I’m going to be a massage therapist!

36-year-old Ovechkin is the owner of the Stanley Cup in 2018, a three-time world champion (2008, 2012, 2014) as part of the Russian team.

Earlier, the Council of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) suspended Russian teams and clubs from participating in competitions under the auspices of the organization.

• “Our manager is Kovalchuk. And I’m ready to be even a massage therapist in the Russian team!” Big interview with Ovechkin