Alex Ovechkin is with the Hershey Bears in spirit after making a joke during his final media session at Breakdown Day, Saturday.
When asked if he was considering retiring, Ovechkin said, “I just packed my stuff. I’m going to Hershey. They have playoffs, so I’ll see you there.”
The Bears responded to Ovechkin’s supposed AHL assignment on X, saying, “heard Chocolatetown is pretty gr8. but in all seriousness you’ll love @Hersheypark.”
The Checkers added, “haha good one he can’t really do that though right?”
Days later, at Game 3 of the Atlantic Division Finals, Ovechkin was not at Giant Center, but an Ovi Bears jersey was. Lee Stevens, a longtime Bears season ticket holder, was spotted rocking a customized white Ovechkin home jersey along the glass during pregame warmups.
“Him playing here would be crazy,” Stevens said. “I didn’t think he would actually come down here, but it would be absolutely mind-blowing if he ever played just one game. To be able to see what he could do in all levels. I would be excited to have him be proud to wear the chocolate and white.”
She added, “I think he’d score four goals in a game, easy. And I think he’d be good presence to spark the guys to be and do better.”
Technically, even if Ovechkin wanted to play for the Bears and somehow made it through NHL waivers, he would be ineligible to play for Hershey in the Calder Cup Playoffs because he was not on Hershey’s roster as of March 7 at the NHL trade deadline.
Further problematic is the jersey itself, which I would label a jersey foul. Ovechkin would not be able to wear number 8 in Hershey because Mike Nykoluk’s number 8 is retired and in the rafters.
Perhaps, though, he could get his former number from Dynamo Moscow, no. 32, if he could work out a deal with the current owner of the digits: winger Justin Nachbaur. Ovechkin being the captain could also be awkward because defenseman Aaron Ness is currently the team’s on-ice leader.
Regardless, for those who wonder what Ovechkin would look like in a Hershey Bears jersey and play in the AHL, this is it. And it’s incredible.
