Ovechkin Reveals He Is Not His Sons’ Favorite NHL Player

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has reached "legend" status in the NHL and is considered among the greatest goal scorers of all time as he chases down Wayne Gretzky's all-time record. And while he's become a fan favorite and icon across the globe, he is not his sons' favorite hockey player.

Ovechkin is in South Florida for the 2023 NHL All-Star Game and discussed his experience so far and what it means to share the experience with his sons, Sergei and Ilya, for the first time. This is Ovechkin's eighth career All-Star appearance and his first since 2018 when he participated in the festivities before Sergei was born.

"It's great. We spend time together, enjoy, play hockey, see great players on the ice, off the ice," Ovechkin told NHL Now on Thursday. "I'm going to enjoy it, my family's going to enjoy it and it's great."

He then revealed that his sons always look forward to seeing their dad in action but that he's not the one that they're most excited to watch. In fact, it's one of his new teammates: Nicolas Aube-Kubel.

"I'm not [their favorite]," Ovechkin noted. "I'm not. No. Aube-Kubel. Nicolas. No. 96 Washington Capitals."

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Regarding the All-Star Game, Ovechkin said that Sergei is most excited to meet Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid.

"He's kind of tired of me," Ovechkin joked.

Ovechkin's sons have been in the building for several of his milestones this season, including when he passed Gordie Howe for second on the NHL's all-time goals list back on Dec. 23. For his milestone picture, he held both sons on his lap as they held each of his pucks from the night: one that tied him with Howe, and one for his 802nd goal that moved him past Howe. In 52 games this season, Ovechkin has registered 32 goals, tying him with Mike Gartner for the most 30-goal seasons in NHL history (17). He sits 83 goals away from breaking Gretzky's all-time goals record.