With the exception of Ted Starkey's excellent NHL Lockout articles, there's been a depressing shortage of hockey content on this site as fall turns to winter. So forgive us for jumping at the chance to present this Nike ad featuring Alexander Ovechkin.

OK, that's not quite true. Ovechkin's in the ad for all of three seconds (skip to the 33-second mark of the clip if that's all you want), but we'd encourage you to watch the whole ad, which features Steven Stamkos, P.K. Subban, Canadian Women's National Team defenseman Tessa Bonhomme, and Winnipeg Jets youngster Mark Scheifele.

And hey, look, everyone! Bonus footage, as tweeted out directly by Ovechkin himself.

Nice form, good finish, beautifully done. Now, if only the negotiators for the NHL and NHLPA could show as much creativity and improvisation as comes across in these ads. Oh, well, at least spring training begins in a couple of months.