Alex Ovechkin has professed himself “for peace and love” after the Russian hockey luminary featured in an advertisement for a party aligned with Vladimir Putin during the offseason.

The United Russia party's video emerged this week, mere days before Ovechkin's Washington Capitals were due to convene their annual media day on Thursday.

The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer has returned to the Capitals for a 22nd season.

In the commercial, Ovechkin is depicted standing behind Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Viacheslav Fetisov, a longstanding stalwart of Soviet hockey, likewise took part.

“I am Russian, and I support my country,” Ovechkin said Thursday.

“I am an advocate of peace and love, and I hope that in the world it is of no consequence who you are; I hope everybody comprehends that everybody desires peace, and everybody hopes that everything is going to be all right in the world.”

Ovechkin averred that he entertained no compunction whatsoever about participating in the advertisement.

"They solicited my compliance in the matter.

I acquiesced," he said.

"So it's as straightforward as that."

Ovechkin had previously articulated his endorsement of the Russian president in 2017, upon inaugurating a social movement denominated the “Putin Team.”

At that juncture, he remarked to reporters from reporters and The Washington Post, “I just support my country.”

Upon Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ovechkin, when queried about the situation, remarked, “Please, no more war.”

Inquired at that juncture as to his rapport with Putin, Ovechkin stated: “He’s my president, but I’m not in politics. I’m an athlete.”

Russia's parliamentary election this week features United Russia, alongside nine other parties, all of which adhere to Putin's policies.

The sole party that opposed the war in Ukraine has been barred from the ballot.

Ovechkin, having attained the age of forty-one on Thursday, affirmed his intention to take up residence in Russia upon his retirement from the NHL.

“I shall remain there. I shall live there; my children shall live there — family. Consequently, I advocate for peace and love, and I trust that all will be well,” Ovechkin said.

“My home is Russia. DC is my second home. I have a great many friends. I came of age here as a person, and I hold DC dear. This is my second home. Therefore, I trust that all will be well, and, as I have said — peace and love to all.”

There had been speculation that the previous season would prove to be Ovechkin's swan song, yet he elected to remain with the Capitals for at least one further year — and he remains noncommittal as to what the future might hold beyond 2026-27.

“My immediate preoccupation is training camp,” Ovechkin said.

“I must earn my place on the team.”

For exhaustive coverage of the NHL, one need but consult the AP’s full reportage here