Vladimir Putin congratulates Alex Ovechkin on 'outstanding' NHL goals record

The Associated Press

· Posted: Apr 07, 2025 12:37 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Alex Ovechkin for mounting an "outstanding record" arsenic the NHL's all-time apical goal-scorer.

In a connection aft Ovechkin's 895th vocation extremity broke a necktie for the grounds with Wayne Gretzky successful the Washington Capitals' 4-1 nonaccomplishment Sunday to the New York Islanders, Putin said the accomplishment was thing Russians would celebrate.

"I congratulate you connected your outstanding record. You person surpassed legendary masters successful the fig of goals scored successful National Hockey League regular-season games," Putin said successful a connection released by the Kremlin connected Monday.

Breaking Gretzky's grounds "has go not lone your idiosyncratic success, but besides a existent solemnisation for fans successful Russia and abroad," Putin added. "I privation you health, bully luck [and] warring tone to conquer caller heights successful beingness and successful sports."

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Monday Putin and Ovechkin had not yet spoken by phone, but Putin's connection of congratulations showed the president "highly values Ovechkin's sporting result."

WATCH l Ovechkin breaks Gretzky's vocation goals record:

Ovechkin has been a backer of Putin successful the past and successful 2017 acceptable up a radical called Putin Team connected societal media to amusement enactment for the Russian president, who was re-elected the pursuing year.

Ovechkin has drawn disapproval for supporting the Russian autocratic person whose warfare successful Ukraine has been condemned by planetary leaders.

At the time, Ovechkin told The Associated Press and Washington Post, "I conscionable enactment my country" and said, "It's not astir governmental stuff."

Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyaryev referred to that infinitesimal successful his ain connection of congratulations aft Ovechkin broke the grounds Sunday.

He posted connected societal media Ovechkin "remains a subordinate of the Putin squad and astatine the aforesaid clip 1 of the main faces of satellite hockey, a favourite of millions and the NHL apical scorer."

WATCH l Gretzky congratulates Ovechkin after record-setting goal: