Photo: John Locher/Associated Press

After the Capitals won the Stanley Cup in June, captain Alex Ovechkin (among others) was asked repeatedly about his feelings on winning the trophy that had long eluded him throughout his career and what it meant to him. However, in a recent interview with Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Ovechkin talks in-depth on what winning the Cup meant to him, what impact his wife and family have had on his life, and life growing up in Russia. 

Upon being shown a compilation of his and the Caps’ celebrations in the days following the victory, Ovechkin replied simply, “I think we deserved it”, and discussed how the team overcame previous letdowns after dominating the NHL in the regular season and the feeling of relief and confidence that came with winning. Ovechkin also talked about how his wife, Nastya, has made him look forward to coming home after a day at practice or a game.

Ovechkin also discussed his relationship with longtime running mate Nicklas Backstrom, saying, “There’s no one I’d rather give it to”. The interview in full can be seen in the video below.

By Michael Fleetwood