Most people here probably don't follow Russian politics, but over the last three months several top managers from companies tied to Putin's longtime oligarch allies have been arrested and are still in custody. To understand why that matters, remember Winston Churchill's famous line about Russia: Kremlin political intrigues are comparable to a bulldog fight under a rug. An outsider only hears the growling, and when he sees the bones fly out from beneath it is obvious who won..
My reading of the situation is that Ovechkin backed the wrong faction. If that's true, I wouldn't be surprised if his planned hockey academy in Russia ends up under someone else's control, giving him another reason to stay in the U.S.
One more interesting detail: according to reports, he purchased an entire floor in a building in Sunny Isles Beach this week. Someone who's genuinely preparing for a permanent move back to Russia usually doesn't make another major real estate investment in South Florida.
Just my interpretation, of course, but I think there's a better chance now that he'll spend at least one more season in Washington than many people realize.