David Pastrnak deletes picture with Ovechkin after backlash

Washington Capitals superstar captain Alex Ovechkin is now officially the second greatest goal scorer in National Hockey League history, having overtaken the legendary Gordie Howe earlier this season and now trails only Wayne Gretzky in total times having turned on the red light. His place in the Hockey Hall of Fame is already well established after his playing career ends, and he'll be looking to lead the Caps on another Cup run this spring.

However, Ovechkin has earned his share of criticism from fans and pundits alike (perhaps most notably from former NHL great Dominik Hasek) for his proximity to Russian president Vladimir Putin, as well as a reluctance to openly speak out more against their ongoing invasion of Ukraine. In fact, the Ukrainian government has even petitioned Canada to refuse Ovechkin entry into the country. 

'Ovechkin's refusal to speak out against the genocide in Russia is committing against Ukraine, and his ongoing support of Putin and the Russian regime is offensive to the Ukrainian community in Canada,' the letter, signed by Ukrainian Canadian Congress national president Alexandra Chyczij late last year, read.

Not surprisingly, Ovechkin was a participant earlier this month at the NHL All-Star game in Florida, which drew even more heated backlash from the likes of Hasek and others. And now, it appears as though Boston Bruins star forward David Pastrnak has found himself in the crosshairs of controversy. He posed for a picture with Ovechkin during the event and posted it to his social media page, but soon deleted it and replaced it with a picture of just himself after several negative comments.

The replacement picture: 

Was Pastrnak right to replace the photo of himself and his fellow hockey star, or should he have left it up?