Attack Washington Capitals and triple world champion Alexander Ovechkin able to play for a long time, but he is not the hockey player who will go on the ice, realizing that he does not benefit the team, the former head coach of the Russian national team told Vladimir Pluschev .
Earlier, Ovechkin, 38, expressed hope that he would still be able to participate in the Olympics. The 2026 Olympics will be held from February 6-22 in Italy. The NHL had previously announced that it would release players from the league for the 2026 and 2030 Games.
“We all hope that the situation will change.” I can’t say in the near future, but it will change. Players like Sasha still work long hours, and in certain circumstances he will be used in the national team. Maybe he will play for Dynamo too.
— Ovechkin will be 40 at the Games in Italy and 44 in 2030. Is it realistic to see him on the ice, given that there are a lot of older players in modern sports?
— Gordie Howe appeared in court at the age of 42. It all depends on the person, on how he prepares. Some people “burn out” at the age of 20 and end their careers. Sasha, on the other hand, devotes himself entirely to the sport and never shies away from power struggles. If he believes in it, you can wish him good luck. I think that no one will object to his appearance on the ice. If Sasha believes that he cannot be useful to the team, he will not become an icon for whom everyone will play,” Plyushchev told .
Ovechkin, as part of the Russian national team, participated in 13 world championships, three Olympic Games (2006, 2010, 2014) and two World Cups (2004, 2016). The Russian missed the 2018 and 2022 games due to the NHL’s decision not to release players from the league for competition.
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Source : MatchTV
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
