Washington Capitals star left wing Alex Ovechkin is still planning to play in the 2018 Winter Olympics, even if he's the only NHL player to do so.
Ovechkin said the league's announcement Monday that it will not participate in the upcoming Olympic games in Pyeongchang, South Korea did little to change his desire to play for his native Team Russia.
"Yeah, I didn't change my mind and I won't," Ovechkin told reporters Tuesday after morning skate at Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
"Because it's my country. I think everybody wants to play there. It's the biggest opportunity in your life to play in the Olympic Games. So, I don't know, somebody (is) going to tell me 'don't go,' I don't care, I just go."
In order for Ovechkin to participate in Pyeongchang, he would have to leave the Capitals during the season. The 2018 Winter Olympics are scheduled to take place Feb. 9-25.
Ovechkin, 31, is tied for seventh on the NHL's goal scoring list with 33 goals this season and also has 33 assists. Washington (52-18-8) leads the Metropolitan Division and owns the best record in the NHL.
Ovechkin's teammate and fellow Russian center Evgeny Kuznetsov also said he plans to play for Team Russia if called upon. Capitals goalie Braden Holtby stated his respect for his teammates' beliefs but doesn't think he would be willing to play for his native Team Canada if there is not a deal in place with the NHL.
Ovechkin said he believes there is still time for the NHL to work out a compromise.
"Right now, it's still time to make a decision; you can say whatever, but next year's schedule is not out yet," Ovechkin said. "So if the schedule is not going to the Olympic Games, then you can see they don't bluff. But again, still long time, still everything can change."
The NHL had been a willing participant in the Olympics since the 1998 games in Nagano, Japan.
