This interview originally appeared in Sportsnet Magazine.
Sportsnet: Any new moves up your sleeve for this season?
Ovechkin: I hope.
SN: Like what?
Ovechkin: I’m a righty, but I’m gonna use left stick.
SN: That’s genius. World Championships went well.
Ovechkin: Yep, we won. Feel good. Have memories, but time to move forward.
SN: I hear you filmed another music video recently.
Ovechkin: Was easy, yeah. I don’t have much speaking to do. I just have to stand and look at the camera. One line.
SN: What’s the line?
Ovechkin: You gonna see the video. It’s a secret.
SN: The video was described as provocative.
Ovechkin: What is provocative?
SN: Ummm . . . that’s a tough one. Racy? [Ed. note: Translator clears this up.]
Ovechkin: Oh no, no, no. Not at all.
SN: Has your acting improved? You’ve done a lot of commercials and now two music videos.
Ovechkin: Yeah, yeah. Not far but I’m getting closer. We’re gonna win trophy. Grammy. Why not?
SN: Of all the goal celebrations you’ve done, what’s your favourite?
Ovechkin: Tough question. Probably the first one. Go down to my knee and celebrate.
SN: What about the time you pretended your stick was on fire, and you warmed your hands over it?
Ovechkin: Yeah, this was one of the greatest.
SN: Agreed. This is your 10th NHL season. Do you believe that?
Ovechkin: Getting old. Twenty-nine. Old.
SN: What do you remember about your first NHL goal?
Ovechkin: First NHL game, second period. Slapshot.
SN: Where did it go?
Ovechkin: In the net.
SN: Thanks. Top shelf?
Ovechkin: Thanks. Top shelf?
SN: Do you remember who was in net?
Ovechkin: We play against Columbus. I can’t remember who was in net.
SN: Do you know anything about Corsi and other fancy stats?
Ovechkin: No.
SN: You do know about plus-minus.
Ovechkin: It’s great.
SN: You get a little bit ripped for your plus-minus, and you’ve said it doesn’t matter. So now you’re saying it matters?
Ovechkin: I’m confused right now.
SN: Does plus-minus matter?
Ovechkin: Yeah, of course it matters. I get minus-35, so it matters. My goal is to be plus-one. Not minus.
SN: How would you describe yourself?
Ovechkin: Powerful forward.
SN: How about off the ice?
Ovechkin: Off the ice? Easy forward. Don’t go hard off the ice.
SN: What’s your house like in Washington?
Ovechkin: Small house. One bed, one bathroom. Good for me. [Ed. note: In 2012, Ovechkin bought a five-bedroom home with 7.5 bathrooms in McLean, Va.]
SN: I think you overpaid.
Ovechkin: No. How much I pay?
SN: I read you paid more than $4 million.
Ovechkin: I don’t have that kind of money.
SN: Good point. Where do you keep all your awards?
Ovechkin: I have only one room. So everything there.
SN: Are your trophies under your bed?
Ovechkin: No, trophies in Moscow. All in my old place in Moscow. Cups, medals, photos. All kinds of stuff.
SN: Do you Google yourself?
Ovechkin: Always.
SN: What do you find?
Ovechkin: Some funny stuff. Like how I spent $4 million on my house. [Laughs.]
