Alex Ovechkin calls Washington Capitals’ Screaming Eagle sweater the ‘best jersey in the NHL’

0 Comments

Share:

On Wednesday night, the Washington Capitals will wear their black Screaming Eagle jerseys for the first time in one year, nine months, and 23 days. And no person may be more excited on Planet Earth about that than Alex Ovechkin.

“Yeah. I love it, the fans love it,” Ovechkin said after practice Tuesday. “So, best jersey in the NHL.”

Ovechkin, the NHL’s reigning First Star of the Week, was less committal though on if he could continue his hot streak in the Screagle against the Nashville Predators.

“It doesn’t matter what you wear,” Ovechkin said. “You just have to play the game.”

Ovechkin scored in every game he wore the then-Reverse Retro 2.0 jersey during the 2022-23 season, notching an astounding 11 goals in seven games. During that span, he scored a hat trick, passed Gordie Howe for second on the NHL’s all-time goal list, and tied the record for the most 30-goal seasons (17) in NHL history.

Ovechkin pleaded with the Capitals to keep the jersey in their repertoire after the team’s final game wearing it on January 14, 2023, saying, “I hope they gonna think about it and put it back next year.”

Now, after a season without the sweater, Ovechkin is whole again. The captain first found out about the jersey’s return when the team surprised him on his 39th birthday. Ovechkin unwrapped a box and pulled out the 50th-anniversary alternate jersey.

“Yes! It’s good. It’s so good,” an excited Ovechkin said in September. “Love it. Thank you for surprise. It’s back, babes!”

Ovechkin’s fondness comes for good reason. He played his first NHL game wearing the team’s old black Capitol Dome jersey, notching two goals against the Columbus Blue Jackets on October 5, 2005. The team’s white away jerseys featured the Screagle on the front — the same sweater he scored The Goal with against the Phoenix Coyotes.

Ovechkin’s teammates dig the design, too. During an informal poll of the best sweater in team history, 14 of 17 Capitals players, including Ovi, picked the Screaming Eagle.

The sweaters are also popular among fans. Since being re-released, the jerseys have been among the top sellers online in the Capitals’ section of the NHL store.

Capitals bring in Rachel Flanagan, assistant for PWHL’s Toronto Sceptres, as guest coach at practice

With Logan Thompson posing as a media member, Aliaksei Protas gives ‘absolutely zero’ credit to Logan Thompson for his success

Matt Roy fully participates at Capitals practice and ‘definitely a possibility’ to play in Predators game

Jakob Chychrun brought his new puppy to the Capitals family skate

Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome are one of the NHL’s top scoring duos to start the season