Ovechkin Has Genius Reason For Mislabeling Capitals Hockey Bag With 69

While Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has carried his trademark No. 8 with him throughout his entire career, even donning his iconic number on the chain around his neck. However, he does keep off his hockey bag while on the road. Instead, he has another… interesting number printed on the label: 69.

As seen on Telegram, Ovechkin’s hockey bag when travelling features 69. Dmitry Orlov’s Instagram story also caught a glimpse of the Great 8 and his bag with the number.

Per sports.ru, the Russian left wing made the decision to mislabel his bag after having items stolen out of his No. 8 bag at an airport. So, for security purposes, he chose a different label so that thieves would not know the bag belongs to Ovechkin. However, with fans and others starting to notice that his bag features No. 69, he’ll likely have to change it again.

Fans started to notice Ovechkin’s bag and the number when Dmitry Orlov posted a video of his teammate and friend at an Artemi Panarin charity game. Both he and Ovechkin took part in the event.

(orlov_09/Instagram)

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Ovechkin is entering his 18th year in the NHL and is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. Through 77 games last season, the Great 8 dished 50 goals and 40 assists for 90 points. It marked his record ninth 50-goal season and also moved him into sole possession of third on the NHL’s all-time goals list as the top European goal-scorer of all time.

Heading into 2022-23, Ovechkin is still chasing down the NHL’s all-time goals record. He currently sits at 780 strikes and is 20 away from 800, 22 away from passing Gordie Howe and 195 away from passing Wayne Gretzky, who holds the record with 894 NHL goals.

The last player to wear No. 69 with the Capitals was Mel Angelstad in 2004. He and former San Jose Sharks forward Andrew Desjardins were the only players in NHL history to wear the iconic number.