What happened: The appearance put Alex Ovechkin in a United Russia Party campaign message backing Vladimir Putin. That revived criticism of the veteran winger's public support for the Russian president.

Why it matters: The issue keeps a non-hockey controversy around one of the league's biggest stars as Washington heads toward camp. It also shifts attention from Ovechkin's one-year return to the Capitals to the off-ice fallout surrounding him.

What to watch: Watch for any response from Ovechkin or the Capitals as preseason activity ramps up. The next turn is whether the backlash fades quickly or carries into camp.