Since the coronavirus put the 2019-20 NHL season on hiatus, players and their families have become more accessible through social media, with some members of the Washington Capitals (T.J. Oshie, Nick Jensen, and Nicklas Backstrom) welcoming new family members. Capitals Captain Alex Ovechkin has been spending time with his family, and in a recent “Being Honest” interview with Men’s Journal, Ovechkin talks what drives wife Nastya crazy, his favorite thing to do with son Sergei, and how many goals a season is acceptable for him, and more.
in a short video posted to their YouTube channel, Ovechkin answers a myriad of questions, discussing a wide-ranging array of topics.
When asked what he does that drives wife Nastya crazy, Ovechkin responded with his habit of playing video games on his phone, saying:
”When I go to sleep, I always, like, try to play [on the] phone, I think that’s what she hates most…Clash of Clans, Candy Crush, all those games. I’m not addicted, I just like the video games”.
The Capitals’ franchise player was then asked about the last time he shed some tears, to which he responded:
”The last time I cried was when we watched the movie, The Notebook. I was not like ‘cry-crying’, but like when it gets like here [indicates getting choked up].
When asked which teammate has the smelliest hockey equipment, Ovechkin responded by answering, the goaltenders [Braden Holtby and Ilya Samsonov], since “they sweat a lot”.
Ovechkin then discussed which hockey players have impressed him the most. The greatest goal-scorer of this generation responded by listing Jaromir Jagr, Joe Thornton, and Zdeno Chara, citing the trio’s longevity in the sport as the primary reason for his answer. Ovechkin was then asked how often he receives haircuts, to which he responded:
”I get haircuts every two months, and it costs $50”
MJ then asked Ovechkin what his favorite thing to do with his 20-month old son Sergei. The Caps’ Captain did not hesistate and like any proud parent, eagerly boasted about his son:
“Play with him with hockey sticks. He loves taking sticks and putting something on the stick and he gets mad if it [falls]. I’m always showing him how to handle the puck and he starts smiling”
Ovechkin, having reached the 700-goal plateau this season, was asked about how many goals a season is satisfactory for him to make him feel as though he’s done his job. The 2004 first overall pick responded without “40 goals”.
And when asked why he wears his trademark yellow skate laces, he responded with:
”It’s me”
The full interview can be seen here:
By Michael Fleetwood
