Alexander Ovechkin has long been associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his regime - and as recently as this summer, he appeared in a commercial with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
When Ovechkin's Washington recently played Ottawa, fans outside the arena protested against the Russian being allowed into Canada, and critics say it is wrong for the NHL to include Ovechkin in the league's marketing.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is currently in Finland, where Seattle and Carolina are meeting in two games in the NHL's Global Series. At a press conference, Bettman defended Ovechkin.
Aleksander plays in this league and is an exceptionally talented player who has achieved fantastic things in his career. What he does in his home country, what political views he has or what situations he finds himself in there is none of the league's business, Bettman said, according to Aftonbladet.
Bettman believes that many people are judging Ovechkin too quickly.
I wouldn't be too quick to judge what all this means for someone in his position, whose family still lives in Russia and who himself plans to live there. I don't think any of us know exactly what his personal situation is.
What do you think?