Quote:
Originally Posted by lazypucker
Again, this thread is being dragged back to the stupid political discussions again!!
Can't we just enjoy a once-considered impossible record is about to be broken?
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No. Ovechkin's connection to Putin and the war in Ukraine should be a central part of any discussion on him breaking this record, as hockey has always played a role in Russian aggression and their propaganda machine.
During the Cold War, they used their red army performances to reinforce their messages at home in Russia of superiority over the West and over democracy.
Ovechkin breaking this record at this time allows Putin to use it as part of his nationalist messaging as he galvanizes tenuous support for his invasion of Ukraine and expansionist agenda. It's one of the reason why his early discussions with Trump involves bringing back a US-Russia hockey series.
Go ahead and enjoy the record breaking, if you want to ignore the context, but people can and should continue to call out this connection.