Alex Ovechkin reveals his plans after beating Wayne Gretzky's goal record

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Julien Trekker
July 27, 2024 (2:56 PM)

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The Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin revealed what he plans to do after beating Wayne Gretzky's goal record in a recent interview.

In an extensive interview on sports.ru, Alex Ovechkin opened up on multiple topics, including his off-season, the training camp, what he plans to do after retiring from the NHL, and adressed the rumours about him becoming the Sports Minister in Russia.

First, he said that he won't retire as long as he enjoys the game. He added that he finds the offseasons tougher than the rest of the year, as he particularly dislikes to get back in shape following the summer:

"As long as I enjoy [playing], as long as I get a thrill out of it, there's no point in finishing. The hardest period is after vacation. You've played volleyball, gone to the gym for fun, and when you come out [from vacation], you need to run cross-country, lift heavy weights, go on a diet. And then you think: �Why do I need this, I have everything, I have enough of everything.' But after three to four days of suffering like that, you get into a routine and realize that you still love this business. If I didn't love it, I would have finished already.

I hate preseason. I really hate it. I don't like to just train. This is the hardest thing. Imagine, you arrived after your vacation, you have a tan, everything is fine, you're happy. And your coach calls you and says, �Well, Sash? Tomorrow we begin training.' You go to training, then rest, then another training session. I hate it, I can't stand it."

Later, he mentionned that he likes staying in Russia, and that he'll leave North America when his NHL career ends:

"In Russia, all my friends, relatives, Nastya's relatives are here too. I feel more comfortable in Russia at the moment than there. [When] our season is ending, and we want to fly home right away because we miss home, our family, our friends.

I'm building a new house, in the Moscow region. I hope we'll move next year. A normal little house. I won't say how many square meters. Why do I need to know? I'll invite you to visit. You'll leave the camera outside the house."

Then, he talked about becoming a minister, a scenario that could happen after his retirement.

Here's what he said on that topic:

"I am not ready to answer whether I am ready and want to become a minister,» Ovechkin said. «It is hard � you will not see your family again, you are on the road. It would be better if I came to your show every day.

It will be hard for me to change Throughout my entire conscious life I have been waking up, training, playing, and at some point it will all end, I will have to find another way. But we will go, we will search, but what to do?

At 40, sitting on the couch, drinking and watching TV, YouTube is not an option. It's not for me. I need to do something and develop somehow.

When I leave America, I will miss hockey. My childhood dream was to go to the NHL, not to America. I could have ended up in Canada. I can easily say that Washington is my second home, I feel comfortable there. Everyone knows me there, everyone loves me, I know and love everyone there. But home is home."

Ovi is only 42 goals away from beating Wayne Gretzky's legendary mark and fans hope to see him back on top of his art next season.

Source: RMNB
Ovechkin explains when he'll retire from hockey and what he might do after his career is over: �It will be hard for me to change'