PALM BEACH, Fla. -- NHL owners haven't made a decision yet, in regards to sending players to the 2018 Winter Olympics, but at least one star has a green light from his owner to participate.
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has said in the past that he's playing in the Olympics for Russia, regardless of whether the NHL participates.
On Friday, Capitals owner Ted Leonsis gave his full support of that decision.
"He knows I have his back on this one. If this is what's so important to him and he wants to go to the Olympics, he should be able to do that," Leonsis told ESPN.com. "Alex has meant so much to us. He doesn't ask for much back. ... I'm not shy about saying it, I would support the player in this instance."
Leonsis emphasized that this is all a hypothetical at this point. For one, the NHL and the NHL Players' Association have not worked out a decision about player participation in the next Olympics. Leonsis also said that Ovechkin has never formally asked him to leave the Capitals to play in the next Olympics.
On Thursday, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said owners are suffering from Olympic fatigue and the idea of shutting the league down during the Olympics isn't one the NHL is eager to embrace right now.
The league hopes to come to a decision on this issue soon, in order to finalize scheduling for the 2017-18 season.
"We're running out of time," Bettman said.
In September, Ovechkin told ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun that he had every intention of playing in the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.
"It's a situation where you don't know what's going to happen. But obviously I said I'm going to play," Ovechkin said. "I will go there."
It's a decision his owner supports.
"Alex and his family have been incredibly supportive of Washington and the Capitals. We have a great relationship," Leonsis said. "There are times when you have to say, 'What is in the best interests of the player?'"
