Hall of Famer blasts ‘liar’ Ovechkin, calls on NHL to suspend Russian players amid Ukraine invasion

Alex Ovechkin’s much-anticipated press conference on Friday drew many different reactions. Some praised the Capitals star from saying “no more war,” while others criticized him for obfuscating when asked about his past support of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But few were as critical of the Capitals star as Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek, who called Ovechkin a “liar” and “chicken s***.”

“What!? Not only an alibist, a chicken s***, but also a liar!” tweeted Hasek, a Czech Republic native, about Ovechkin. “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.”

Hasek, 57, was responding to a story about Ovechkin’s press conference, in which the 36-year-old Russian native said: “Please, no more war. It doesn’t matter who is in the war, Russia, Ukraine, different countries. I think we live in a world that we have to live in peace.” 

What!? Not only an alibist, a chicken shit, but also a liar! 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(contin)https://t.co/BQnQaf76L7

— Dominik Hasek (@hasek_dominik) February 26, 2022

However, when Ovechkin was asked if he still supports Putin, he dodged the question. Ovechkin’s profile picture on Instagram is still a photo of him and Putin, whom Ovechkin campaigned for in 2017. 

“He’s my president,” Ovechkin said Friday. “But like I said, I’m not in politics. I’m an athlete. I hope everything is going to be done soon. It’s a hard situation right now for both sides.”

Hasek, who played 16 seasons in the NHL as a goaltender with the Blackhawks, Sabres, Senators and Red Wings, also called on the league to suspend all Russian players. 

“The NHL must immediately suspend contracts for all Russian players!” Hasek tweeted. “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.

“I also want to write, that I am very sorry for those Russian athletes, who condemn V. Putin and his Russian aggression in Ukraine. However, at the moment I also consider their exclusion a necessity.”