MOSCOW, August 19. /TASS/. NHL Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin is ready to play for the Russian national ice hockey team at the 2018 Winter Olympics even if the NHL bans him from coming to South Korea, he told journalists on Wednesday.

"The same situation was with the [2014] Sochi Games, they said NHL could not be allowed to come," Ovechkin said. "I hope the sides will reach an agreement."

"Anyway, I and other players will definitely come [to the Olympics2018]," he added.

The 2018 Winter Olympics will be held from February 9 to 25, 2018, in Pyeongchang, South Korea.