Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin signed with Dynamo Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League Wednesday. The NHL star announced the signing himself in Russian on Twitter.
The signing comes as little surprise, as Dynamo general manager Andrey Safronov told Russian newspaper Ria Novosti last month that his club would try to land Ovechkin.
Ovechkin was seen practising with the Dynamo on Wednesday, as per this photo by Sovietsy Sport’s Pavel Lysenkov:
Alex Ovechkin. Already on the practice with Dynamo. Man in red. #caps twitter.com/plysenkov/stat…
— Pavel Lysenkov (@plysenkov) September 19, 2012
Ovechkin’s Russian agent, Gleb Chistyakov, told Yahoo! Sports that his client was negotiating with both Dynamo and Moscow’s other club, CSKA.
Ovechkin, who celebrated his 27th birthday on Monday, began his professional career at age 16 in his home nation, playing with Dynamo from 2001-02 to 2004-05 when the club was part of the Russian Superleague, predecessor of the KHL.
— Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) September 17, 2012
Two years ago, Ovechkin was hired as an adviser to Dynamo, the defending KHL champions for whom he attends promotional events.
In 151 games played with Dynamo, the winger has scored 36 goals and 33 assists.
Ovechkin told another Russina newspaper, Sovietsky Sport, that he is prepared to play the entire 2012-13 season overseas.
“If the league keeps holding its ground, the lockout may last the entire year,” Ovechkin told the paper. “We are not planning to give up, either. That way I could spend the entire season with KHL. It’s quite possible.”
KHL rules stipulate that contracts with NHL players must include an opt-out clause in case the lockout is resolved and the North American season is saved.
Alex Ovechkin will wear number 32 on his jersey for Dynamo – the same he had before leaving for the #NHL. #Caps #KHL
— Dmitry Chesnokov (@dchesnokov) September 19, 2012
Alex Ovechkin and Dynamo Moscow vs. Ilya Kovalchuk and SKA St. Petersburg in Brooklyn, NY. January 19 and 20, 2013…if the lockout goes on
— Dmitry Chesnokov (@dchesnokov) September 19, 2012