I started playing hockey late and it was unclear until the very last moment if I was talented or not. But it turned out well.
— Alexander Ovechkin
The Olympic Games is the most important tournament for Russian guys.
I love driving cars.
If I have a bad game, coaches, teammates tell me not to worry, next game I'll score. When people tell you this, it makes you comfortable.
My father is my idol. He supports me all the time. He has given me the way to life.
You can't be 25 all the time.
Time move forward, and time move quick. So you just have to enjoy every second, every moment.
I think I will only marry a Russian, well, I mean, a girl from Russia.
Actually I love acting in commercials and I see no shame in that.
If you compare Russia and America, they are two different worlds. People, cars, clothes. Girls' figures. Especially girls' figures. Why do you think that is, that when an American goes to Russia for a week, he stays for two extra weeks? Girls! And when a Russian goes to America for a week, he leaves in five days. I'm serious!
Without training, I'm nothing. If I'm not training, I'm done. Any athlete, they have to train and they have to practice to win games. For sure. One hundred percent. You have to be training.
They call me Caveman because I don't care what others think of me.
Russian machine never breaks.
When someone asks to sign on the money I always refuse. Bad omen.
Mother Nature give me a hell of a body. My parents or whatever. Thanks, Mom and Dad. Mother of nature... From Russia with love.
People have own mind, own views.
Everybody has to have his own style, his own game. Everybody has to be himself. I'm listening to nobody. I have my own mind, my own heart.
I can't stand bad breath.
It doesn't matter what division you are in. You must prove that you deserve to be where you are every game. The proof is not offered with words, but with action.
I like living in Washington.
When I was young, a little guy, I always played videogames, NHL, and always paid attention to the photo on the box. I always wanted to have my photo there.
I live my life to the maximum.
To be honest, I don't remember what happened in '95, '96 and '97. It was hard years. My memory is deleting.
Anyone who plays in the NHL dreams to win the Stanley Cup and I dreamed as well to be one of them and raise the cup in Washington and bring it home to Moscow and celebrate with my friends and my parents.
Russians are sincere, understanding and cook well.
Moscow is a big city. It's all nerves - something's always happening somewhere. D.C. is a quiet, calm family town.
I'm not a real central-Moscow kid. I'm not used to luxury stuff.
I do a lot of squats, I do a lot of bench pressing. But legs are very important for me. It's more important than arms and shoulders.
Some people don't like telling about personal life. I don't like it, either, but you want to tell the fans where I'm growing up, how I did it, who supports me - see my house, my family. It's nice.
I just want to do my best for my country.
The road is the best spot to drive - just anywhere.
My view is my view. Your view is your view.
It means a lot to represent your country.
If I have a chance to hit somebody, it does not matter who it is.
The first thought is always about making the playoffs. That's the tough part. And once you get there, only then you can allow yourself to start thinking how you are going to play in the playoffs against other teams. And a lot is left to chance then. There's an element of luck as well: sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you do not.
It is not a secret that I want to get better every day with every game.
When you play hockey, you don't have any fear. As soon as you step on the ice everything goes away and you're focusing on the puck and focusing on the play.
My parents did a great job.
I don't want to be in a position like, O.K., just give me a contract and I'll be on the team and play every two games. I don't want to be like that.
It's only first place in NHL. Nobody remembers who's second place. Everyone remembers the winner.
I have a good relationship with Russians, and with Americans. So I'm neutral.
I am a family man. I do not want to be considered a womanizer or a ladies' man. I do not want to be attributed to romances that I never had. And example for me is my parents, who have created a strong family for life.
In Moscow, if you have money, you're king. If you don't - sorry, man, get lost. I mean, it's like this everywhere. But in Moscow, it's much more hard-core.
Just work out. Don't be lazy. If you take a day off, you're going to be fat and you're going to look terrible.
I like running all the time. When I run, I feel much better.
I have an excellent body, not an extra gram of fat. A washboard stomach.
I normally try to drive carefully.
I want to be a winner. But you can see Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Wayne Gretzky - that kind of people - where you can see and say yeah, this is players who win everything. I want to be in this page, too.
If somebody ask me to do something for my country, I will. If there's a world championship, I go.
My parents, they don't say to me you have to play hockey. They just see me and how I love what's going on on the ice, how I love this atmosphere.
