Alex Ovechkin’s bromance with Ilya Kovalchuk is too wholesome for this world
By Mary Clarke
Find someone that looks at you the way new teammates — and best bros — Alex Ovechkin and Ilya Kovalchuk look at each other.
Tale as old as time. Song as old as rhyme. Alex Ovechkin and Ilya Kovalchuk.
Okay, that’s not how the song goes, but forgive us for opining on this historic occasion. Over the weekend, the Washington Capitals sent a 2020 third-round pick to the Canadiens for forward Kovalchuk as a trade deadline pickup before Monday’s madness. The deal is a nice pickup for the Capitals, who will add Kovalchuk — and his 13 points he posted in 22 games with the Canadiens — to their bottom-six and likely their power play.
From a purely hockey standpoint, the Kovalchuk deal adds depth to the Capitals lineup for a low price with Washington competing for another Stanley Cup run. From a human-interest standpoint, however? This move is the best thing that could have happened to the hockey world.
In case you weren’t aware, Washington captain Ovechkin is a proud Russian hockey player, as is his new teammate Kovalchuk. The pair have played on Russian national teams in the past, and are very good friends to boot. The deal has put the duo on an NHL team for the first time in their careers, which has sparked some incredible — and heartwarming — moments between the two players in their first few days together.
https://twitter.com/Capitals/status/1232342705663041536
https://twitter.com/Capitals/status/1232325002130792448
When the Capitals media were finally able to speak to Ovechkin and Kovalchuk after practice on Tuesday for the first time, the wholesomeness factor increased tenfold.
Ilya Kovalchuk on how long he and Alex Ovechkin have talked about playing together:
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) February 25, 2020
"Since we were 13 years old."
“We played together on the national team, but never for the same team. Usually, we battle against each other. But it’s always nice when you’re a little older, you get the chance to play together for sure,” Kovalchuk said to the media on Tuesday.
Ovechkin, of course, also had good things to say about his new teammate — and old friend — to the media.
Alex Ovechkin on the Caps' acquiring Ilya Kovalchuk:
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) February 25, 2020
"You never know what’s going to happen, but sometimes in the summer we would say, ‘It would be nice if you’re going to be one day on the Washington Capitals team.’"
The pair have yet to take the ice together in an official capacity during an NHL game, as the Capitals are scheduled to play the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night in Washington. However, If this is just the start of the Ovechkin and Kovalchuk on-ice bromance with the Capitals, count us in.
Next. Grading every NHL team’s 2020 trade deadline. dark
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