Capitals say Alex Ovechkin was asked to film United Russia ad while home this summer

After NHL career goal-scoring leader Alex Ovechkin appeared in an ad for Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party that came to light this week, the Washington Capitals said their long-time captain was asked to participate in the video campaign while back in his home country this summer.“Alex Ovechkin is a Russian citizen who lives in Moscow with his family during the offseason and will live there following his retirement," team spokesperson Sergey Kocharov said Tuesday in a statement sent to The Associated Press. “As the longest-tenured athlete in Washington, D.C., and a pillar of the community, his focus and ours is on the season ahead and the continued impact he makes on the ice and in our city.”Ovechkin is seen in the commercial standing behind Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Viacheslav “Slava” Fetisov also participated, leading to backlash on social media from fellow Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek, who called it support for Russia’s war against Ukraine.The NHL deferred to the Capi