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President Donald Trump reportedly gave Russian President Vladimir Putin an Alexander Ovechkin jersey and puck during their Monday meeting in Finland.

Agence France-Presse reporter Dmitry Zaks tweeted, “Putin spokesman Peskov says Trump gave Putin Alexander Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals jersey as a gift. And a puck. (Putin plays hockey).”

Putin spokesman Peskov says Trump gave Putin Alexander Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals jersey as a gift. And a puck. (Putin plays hockey) — Dmitry Zaks (@dmitryzaksAFP) July 16, 2018

I love this a lot. It’s one of the most important meetings of Trump’s entire presidency, and he’s bringing a puck and jersey as a gift for Putin. Ovechkin is arguably the most famous Russian athlete on the planet. I really can’t think of anybody in sports right now from Russia with more name recognition than him. (RELATED: PRESIDENT TRUMP REVEALS IF HE’LL INVITE THE CAPITALS TO VISIT THE WHITE HOUSE)

Of course it’s a great idea for Trump to give him a jersey from Ovi. The only thing here is, I’m pretty sure Putin could just call up the Washington Capitals star on the phone if he wanted a jersey. I don’t think Trump needed to be the avenue an Ovechkin jersey had to go through in order to get to the Russian president.

Even so, it’s a pretty cool gesture from the most powerful man in the world. It’s also a nice reminder that the most talented men in Russia come to America to cash in. It’s never a bad time to remind Putin his guys play in this country and not his own. Is that a bit of a power move? I think so.

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