If there’s any teammate that somewhat rivals Alex Ovechkin as a collector, Rasmus Sandin may be the guy.
The Swedish defenseman was one of the few players who ended up with a used hockey stick from Ovechkin when the Russian legend broke the NHL goals record on April 6 against the New York Islanders.
Well, sorta.
Sandin spoke about his prized collectible during an interview with Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas on the 32 Thoughts Podcast. The Capitals rearguard met with the media personalities in Milan, Italy for the European NHL Player Media Tour.
Kyle Bukauskas: All right, Rasmus. First of all, did you take any memorabilia, keep any keepsakes from the season that was the Ovi chase for 895? What did you take with you?
Rasmus Sandin: Lots. First off, every season, I kinda ask Ovi for some things to always bring home, so I can keep myself. Everything from a puck that we both played with or was like an assist or something. Now, he wants to keep a lot of it himself. Stick from that game, gloves, signed jersey… So yeah, bunch of things.
Elliotte Friedman: Wait a second. He gave you a stick from that game?
Rasmus Sandin: No, not from that game, but from that day.
Elliotte Friedman: Oh, from that day.
Kyle Bukauskas: Did everyone get one?
Rasmus Sandin: No, I asked for it pretty quick. I think he used it like stick handling in the locker room or something. And that was it, he never used it actually.
Kyle Bukauskas: Get a quick COA [certificate of authenticity] there and you’re good to go!
The fact that one of Ovechkin’s teammates ended up with any of his equipment during that stretch seems to be rare as the future Hockey Hall of Famer kept much of his milestone gear for a planned museum in Moscow. When asked on Breakdown Day by RMNB, no players or coaches mentioned getting any of Ovechkin’s sticks or used equipment from his 894- and 895-goal games — even anything tangentially related.
Most Capitals took home printed game sheets, some of which were signed by Ovechkin. The nine-time Rocket Richard winner also signed all of the players’ 895-goals-record hats they received from Fanatics with special messages.
Ovechkin already brought both his stick and puck from the 895-goal game back to Russia when he returned for the summer. Dave Meisel of Meigray, the company that authenticates Capitals’ game-used gear, also said during a podcast appearance in the spring that he expected Ovechkin’s historic jersey would also become part of the museum.
In the weeks leading up to the milestone, Ovechkin kept much of his gear and equipment when he scored and even asked teammates for their sticks, though Tom Wilson got Ovechkin’s blessings to hold onto the stick he used to assist on goal no. 895.
“[My] stick, I saved,” Wilson said. “I got to the bench, and Ovi said like, ‘Keep the stick.’ That was one of the first things he said to me. And I said like, ‘For you or for me?’ It was so loud, he didn’t even respond to that, so I was wondering like, ‘Is he going to try and take the stick for his museum or whatever?’ At that point, you kinda just have to, but then the next day he said, ‘No, no, like I’ll sign it for you.’ That was cool.”