One day after the Washington Capitals issued a team release that captain Alex Ovechkin was to make a "special announcement" September 6, The Washington Post's Tarik El-Bashir has confirmed that Ovechkin has signed a long-term endorsement deal with Nike.
Ovechkin's IMG agent, David Abrutyn, confirmed the deal with El-Bashir late Thursday:
"I can confirm that Alex has signed a long-term global partnership with Nike," Abrutyn said. "Alex is going to be supporting all of the products that Nike makes - apparel, footwear, performance apparel, casual wear, accessories and other elements of the Nike family of products. So he will be wearing their performance product when he's playing and practicing, when he's training and in his lifestyle."
Ovechkin's deal with Nike, as Abrutyn pointed out above, will cover casual wear and footwear, among other things, but not equipment. Ovechkin's deal with CCM, the company that has sponsored him since he arrived in the NHL in 2005, recently expired and he was seen at Kettler Capitals Iceplex Friday using Bauer equipment during an informal practice with teammates. Abrutyn did not specify if Tuesday's "special announcement" regarded another endorsement deal, but did say that "there will be news on that at a later date."
The length and amount of Ovechkin's contract with Nike were undisclosed.