A former NHL legend has some harsh words for Washington Capitals star forward Alexander Ovechkin.
Former Buffalo Sabres goalie and Hockey Hall-of-Famer Dominik Hasek took to Twitter to share his thoughts on Ovechkin, who has outwardly supported Russia president Vladimir Putin. With Russia invading neighboring Ukraine, Hasek says that “chicken s--t” Ovechkin should be suspended from the NHL, along with all other Russian players, due to their home country’s attack on Ukraine.
“Not only an alibist, a chicken s--t, but also a liar!” Hasek tweeted about Ovechkin, with a photo included of Ovechkin speaking to reporters on Friday. “Every adult in Europe knows well, that Putin is a mad killer and that Russia is waging an offensive war against the free country and its people. The NHL must immediately suspend contracts for all Russian players! Every athlete represents not only himself and his club, but also his country and its values and actions. That is a fact. If the NHL does not do so, it has indirect co-responsibility for the dead in Ukraine.”
Ovechkin, a native of Moscow, said “Please, no more war,” when asked about Russia’s attack of Ukraine, and when asked of his support of Putin, said, “Well, he’s my President, but I’m not in politics. I’m an athlete. I hope everything is going to be done soon. It’s a sad situation right now for both sides.”
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Ovechkin has family still in Russia, where he spends much of his offseasons.
Meanwhile other Russian players in the NHL have outwardly opposed Putin, including New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin, who posted on Instagram support of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny last year. Shortly after that post, a story surfaced out of Russia, with a former coach as a witness, that Panarin struck a woman 10 years ago.
Panarin took a leave of absence from the Rangers, while former teammates in Russia said they had no recollection of such an event. The Rangers even issued a statement saying that it was a fabricated story.
Even when it comes to athletes that oppose Putin, Hasek says a statement needs to be made.
“I am very sorry for those Russian athletes, who condemn Putin and his Russian aggression in Ukraine,” Hasek wrote. “However, at the moment, I also consider their exclusion a necessity.”
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