Trump Praises Ovechkin in Call with Putin: Hockey Legend Gains Endorsement from U.S. President
According to Tass, Yuri Ushakov, Russian presidential aide, revealed that Donald Trump acknowledged Alexander Ovechkin’s contributions to world hockey during a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin.
Ushakov stated: “Notably, one detail in the call—when discussing sports, the U.S. president affirmed Alexander Ovechkin’s impact on global hockey.”
The leaders’ conversation took place on the evening of October 9 and lasted approximately an hour and a half. According to Ushakov, the dialogue proceeded in a friendly atmosphere, with both sides ending the call nearly simultaneously.
The inclusion of sports in the discussion was not incidental. On October 5, the 41-year-old Ovechkin announced that the current season would be his final one in the NHL—having signed a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals this summer, marking his 22nd season in the league, set to conclude in the 2026/27 campaign.
The forward currently holds the NHL record for most regular-season goals with 929, surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s previous mark of 894 in April 2025. Including playoff games, Ovechkin has scored 1,006 goals—second all-time in NHL history, still trailing Gretzky’s total of 1,016.
The Capitals’ captain has begun his farewell season with strong performances: on October 8, he scored in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins and described the night as unforgettable.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1878625091656707/
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