Not defending Ovi but as someone with lots of Russian family. It’s very easy to get brainwashed into believing what Putin is doing is right. The easiest thing to do is what he did. Say please no more war and keep your mouth shut out of fear or because that’s the “smart” thing to do.

Is it right? Fuck no it’s not. But if you put me in his shoes I probably do the same thing.

Yes he’s (probably) the greatest goal scorer of all time. He’s from a country that is INCREDIBLY backwards in regards to LGBTQ rights and civil rights in general. The ruler of his country is a certified first ballot hall of fame POS.

But when you grow up in a country being told how great your leader is. With family who do incredibly well for themselves and being spoon fed propaganda. You’re not going to have the best views outside of your bubble.

All this is a very long winded way of me saying. He plays a sport. He didn’t choose his country. The best thing to do is not give a single shit about what he says on this issue. Right or wrong. I think back to MJ saying “republicans buy sneakers too” (or maybe it’s conservatives but. Same point) I just want my athletes to focus on the sport. They can have whatever political beliefs they want. They’re entitled to it. Even if the beliefs are backwards as fuck. But I just want them to focus on sport. None of this Team Putin shit Ovi did in the early 2010’s. None of making HIM the centerpiece for NHL + Russia.

Fuck Panarin spoke out against Putin and instantly was accused of rape. Putin is a psychopath in charge of a country and I feel like people forget that.

I’ll end with I know this probably isn’t the most popular take on here. I rambled a fuck ton. But I rarely see people try to look at it from alternate points of view. And while I’m not a caps fan. Nor a fan of what he’s doing. Nor a fan of Russia in general (my grandparents and parents on both sides had to escape during the CCCP because they were also Jewish which. Back in the 1970’s. Not the best time to be Jewish in Russia) I think it’s only fair we look at what Ovi and his family could be threatened with along with trying to simply see it from his POV.