Hockey
Ovechkin returned to Russia and began negotiations with two clubs. He pulled a friend in the KHL
We recall Ovechkin’s return to the KHL in the 2012/13 season.
In recent days, conversations have been actively conducted on the topic of the future Alexander Ovechkin. So, on May 30, the wife of Ovechkin Anastasia Shubskaya confirmed that the season-2025/26 would be the last for Alexander the NHL.
At the same time, Russian fans want to believe that the next year will not be the last in Ovechkin’s career. Alexander repeatedly said that he would like to play again for the Moscow Dynamo. And this time, the return of the greatest sniper to the “blue and white” should go without problems. Although 13 years ago, the captain of Washington planned to become part of his native team, he almost ended up in CSKA.
Negotiations with CSKA
When a locout was announced in the 2012/13 season in the 2012/13 season, many players decided not to pause a career, but to continue to perform in Europe. The priority choice, of course, was the KHL. Clubs from the domestic league quickly equipped with superstars, which incredibly raised interest in matches. For example, Zdino Hara signed a contract with the Prague Lev, Chris Letang began to play for SKA, Victor Hedman and Ryan McDon replenished the composition of Barys.
Naturally, Russian hockey players also arrived: Pavel Datsyuk (CSKA), Vladimir Tarasenko, Sergey Bobrovsky, Ilya Kovalchuk (all – SKA), Evgeny Malkin, Sergey Gonchar (both Magnitogorsk Metallurg), Alexander Semin (Torpedo) and others. And, of course, the fans were waiting for the captain of Washington Alexander Ovechkin in the Dynamo Moscow.
However, the “white-blue” were in no hurry to invite a star pupil. Ovechkin admitted that he was unpleasant, but to make hasty conclusions, and even more so did not take offense. Indeed, the situation was quickly resolved, and soon the striker Kapitals replenished the composition of his native club, taking the 32nd number.
– It wasn’t that it touched me, but it was unpleasant to hear. Each situation changes for the better or worse, someone could say something, someone is not so translated, so I never offended such things. I am not one of those people who may be offended. I will not hide it, it was unpleasant for me when I read that the team did not need me. But now this is in the past, I am in Dynamo, ”Ovechkin said in an interview with RIA Novosti Sport.
The most interesting thing is that Ovechkin could be in another Moscow club – CSKA. The general manager of the Army Club Sergey Fedorov almost agreed with Alexander, with whom he shared the locker room at Washington.
– I knew that Dynamo was interested in me, my representative, who is in Russia, immediately informed me of this. However, we made the promise of CSKA that we will negotiate only with them. But then there was a small delay. We asked if we can negotiate with another team. As a result, they began to talk with Dynamo and agreed, ”said Ovechkin.
Ovechkin won the Gagarin Cup
The “blue and white” received not only the captain of Washington, but also his friend Nilels Backstrome, who went for Ovechkin in the KHL. Also in the team was played by another representative of the NHL – Leo Komarov.
Already in the first match against the Dynamo Minsk, Alexander was noted by the Golevoy program, and Muscovites won a confident victory – 7: 2. After the match, the 32nd number noted that he expected the worst performance from himself, because he trained alone for a long time. However, the superstar player quickly gained momentum and for 31 matches knocked out 40 (19+21) points.
And on January 12, a new collective agreement was signed in the NHL, and the “regular woman”, reduced to 48 matches, started. Ovechkin and Bekstrem (“10+15” for 19 matches) did not finish the regular season completely, but they headed the list of the best Dynamo scorers.
The most interesting thing is that in the end the captain of Washington became the owner of the Gagarin Cup, although he did not participate in the playoffs. The metropolitan club won the trophy and decided to inflict the names of Ovechkin and Komarov on him. And the Russian leader Kapitals even took part in the Dynamo championship parade.
Source: Sportbox
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