Biden Administration Ponders Forcing Out Russian Ice Hockey Stars Including Alex Ovechkin as a Means of Putting Pressure on Putin
The Biden Administration has reportedly considered a unique and unprecedented move that could have significantly impacted the National Hockey League (NHL) and NHL history. The proposal involved expelling Russian hockey players, including star players like Alexander Ovechkin, from the United States.
This potential action was not directly related to the US exchanging arms dealer Victor Bout for detained WNBA star Brittney Griner. Instead, it was proposed as a means to pressure the Kremlin, tying together efforts to save Navalny and other Americans held by the Russians, such as former Marine Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.
The report, released by The Wall Street Journal, also mentioned the potential expulsion of Russian hockey players, but it is unclear how this could have left many NHL teams frustrated. No specific details about this connection were provided.
One of the players potentially affected by this expulsion was Alexander Ovechkin, an NHL star who, as of 2025, has surpassed Wayne Gretzky's career goal record, reaching at least 897 goals, and is on pace to break the historic 900-goal milestone imminently in the 2025-26 NHL season. Any expulsion or restriction of Russian players, including Ovechkin himself, could directly impede his ability to continue adding to his record, potentially freezing his totals prematurely.
Such a restriction could also have symbolic effects by overshadowing his legacy due to political controversy, despite his extraordinary achievements. The NHL has a notable history of elite Russian players, with Ovechkin representing perhaps the most iconic figure. Expelling or banning Russian players would disrupt team compositions, the league's global talent pool, and possibly alienate a key segment of fans.
Moreover, such a move would mark a politically charged intervention in sports, altering league dynamics and potentially diminishing the quality and international appeal of the competition. The potential impact of sending Russian players on the situation and the league is a topic of discussion among many people. However, Jake Sullivan, the national security advisor, ultimately decided against expelling Russian hockey players.
The proposed prisoner swap could have involved exchanging Vadim Krasikov, a Russian hitman and FSB officer serving a life sentence in Germany, for Navalny. This raised concerns about the optics of exchanging a murderous intelligence officer for a political prisoner. The big prisoner exchange involving Whelan, Gershkovich, and Krasikov took place in 2024, but it occurred months after Navalny's death.
In summary, while there is no direct evidence from the search results that such an expulsion is actively occurring, if implemented, it would severely impact NHL history and players like Ovechkin who are at the pinnacle of the sport. Ovechkin’s record-breaking historic run — surpassing Gretzky with 897 goals and poised to reach 900 — could be abruptly curtailed and his legacy affected.
- The proposed expulsion of Russian hockey players, such as Alexander Ovechkin, from the United States could hinder Ovechkin's ability to add to his historic goal record in the NHL, potentially freezing his totals prematurely.
- If implemented, the expulsion of Russian athletes like Ovechkin would have far-reaching effects on the NHL, disrupting team compositions, the league's global talent pool, and potentially alienating a key segment of fans, marking a politically charged intervention in sports.
