Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan is defending Alex Ovechkin, acknowledging the “difficult” position he and the rest of the NHL‘s Russian players are under amid the war in Ukraine.
The star winger has been criticized by some for his past support of Vladimir Putin and his lack of condemnation for the Russian president when speaking with the media last week. He has also lost multiple sponsors due to the conflict, including his MassMutual commercial being pulled off the air.
“[Ovechkin] is a good person.