After reading this... I decided to start some "conspiracy theory" that Ovechkin is claiming the injury to avoid the Russian pressure of bailing out of the country prior to their KHL All-Star game (Sunday, Jan 13th).

If he's injured, he wouldn't play in the KHL All-Star game.
Fans can't hate on him for not playing if he's injured.
And if he's not playing in that game... he might as well return to Washington.

Yes?