Capitals owner backs Ovechkin on Olympics

If Alex Ovechkin wants to play in the 2018 Olympics, he has the support of Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis.

While the NHL has not decided if it will go to Pyeongchang, the Russian star has said he will play regardless, and Leonsis stood behind his captain in an interview this week.

"The Olympics are incredibly meaningful to Alex and his family," Leonsis told Alex Prewitt of Sports Illustrated. "So my commitment to them was, I will always do what's in Alex's best interest, and I said it 10 years ago, I'll say it today: If Alex Ovechkin says this is really important to me to go represent and play for my country, I'm going to support him.

"What's the worst that could happen? We'll get fined or something. I hope it doesn't get to that. But I've got to have my captain's back, and I will."

Ovechkin isn't the only Capital who plans to play in the event. Last month, teammate and countryman Evgeny Kuznetsov said he will join Ovechkin in 2018.

The International Olympic Committee has set a Jan. 15 deadline for the NHL to commit to the games.