Ovechkin expressed interest in participating in a possible KHL-NHL meeting

Alexander Ovechkin, a Russian forward for the Washington Capitals hockey club, said on April 14 that he would be interested in participating in a potential meeting between the teams of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and the National Hockey League (NHL).

"Of course, it would be interesting to participate. But, as I have always said, it is better to ask this question not to the players, but to the league leaders, because they will decide when to hold this match, how to stage it," the hockey player told reporters during a press conference.

Ovechkin noted that the NHL and KHL have different schedules, and admitted that a series involving players from both leagues will take place in the next year or two.

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Earlier in the day, Russian Sports Minister and President of the Russian Olympic Committee Mikhail Degtyarev said that the games between Russian and American teams competing in the NHL and KHL could be held in St. Petersburg and Washington. He clarified that non-public negotiations are currently underway on this issue.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed the idea of holding hockey matches between Russians and Americans playing in the KHL and NHL during telephone conversations with his American counterpart Donald Trump on March 18. The US president supported the Russian leader's proposal.

The next day, Degtyarev announced that his department had already begun work on organizing matches between the KHL and the NHL. He noted that sport has always contributed to detente in international relations.