Alex Ovechkin Draws Interest From Former Russian Club in Case of NHL Lockout, But Team President Balks

When the last lockout hit the NHL in 2004, 388 players went to Europe, filling the ranks of the foreign leagues while the labor dispute continued in the U.S.

If NHL players and owners fail to reach an agreement for this year's season, the same thing could happen again.

One player who could be in high demand is Russia's Alex Ovechkin, who played with Moscow Dynamo in 2004-2005 during the lockout (after being picked No. 1 in the 2004 draft). Ovechkin has an advantage over other foreign-born NHL stars in finding work in Russia, as the Kontinental Hockey League has a limit of five foreign players on its rosters, with Ovechkin's Russian-born status possibly helping a club further stock up with NHL talent.

But, while signing Ovechkin would seem like a no-brainer for some clubs, his former team wasn't exactly falling over itself for a chance to grab the Washington Capitals star.

Moscow Dynamo, which won the KHL last season, originally showed interested in picking up Ovechkin if an NHL lockout were to happen, but Dynamo president Arkady Rotenberg said Sunday that the team is just fine without Ovechkin's help.

"I'm actually against it," Rotenberg said, according to Rianovosti. "And I don't see any prestige in it. I think that Ovechkin is necessary."

He said the team's management and coach would have to "persuade me strongly" to give Ovechkin a chance.

Ovechkin, once an incomparable talent in the NHL, has hit some hiccups in recent seasons as he struggled with Capitals' coaches and saw his once-prolific scoring totals go down. His popularity — and his ability to snatch up a job in his home country, if need be — may have also taken a hit.