There is a fear in the NHL that Russian players will stay in their home country after the summer.
Minnesota Wild’s number one player Kirill Kaprizov was asked to skip the summer trip to Russia. PDO
57 Russian players played in the NHL last season, but next season’s number is subject to speculation.
The question is not about contracts and possible transfers, but about how traffic flows back to North America from Moscow’s Żeremetjevo Airport. Or will the Russian puck stars be able to, do they want to, do they dare to head back behind the rapako at all?
Due to the war in Ukraine, the fear of the Russians’ continuation has worried some of the NHL clubs’ eyeballs to such an extent that they have directly recommended the players to skip the trip home. In an interview with The Athletic magazine, the GM of the Minnesota Wild by Bill Guerin says he’s made a superstar just like that Kirill Kaprizov with.
Guerin had a conversation with Kaprizov, in which he recommended that he stay in North America or visit, for example, Norway, his friend Mats Zuccarello with.
It is much requested, because the family of Kaprizov, who is from Novokuznetsk, is in Russia. He told Guer that he saw his parents once all season and that he misses his brother and friends.
The Wild boss understands that he can only throw his hands up and hope for the best.
– People want to go home. They want to see their family and be with them no matter what is going on. I don’t blame him, says Guerin.
In addition to political pressure, the visa problem caused by the USA’s tougher attitude towards Russia may become an obstacle for Russian players to travel.
The NHL as a league has taken a cautious line in its reactions regarding Russian players. Unlike in some other sports and series, taala league clubs are allowed to keep Russian hockey players in their ranks and book them in the summer draft. The only small change has been that the Stanley Cup pitcher will not be seen on Russian soil this summer.
According to The Athletic, many of the club bosses believe that the Russian players will get back without problems, but there are those who fear a different scenario.
– I think many of us are worried. I don’t know that anyone knows what’s going to happen. Hopefully by then (fall) a peaceful solution will be found, but you never know what might happen, Washington Capitals GM Brian McLellan pondered in March.
Assistant Professor of Russian Politics at University College London Ben Noble reminds that it is very difficult to predict the Kremlin’s movements in the current situation.
– I don’t think that the concerns of NHL decision-makers are at all exaggerated, says Noble.
Valery Nitshuškin is Russia’s most recent Stanley Cup champion. He ended his season with a championship celebration with the Colorado Avalanche. PDO