BREAKING: Russian Players Facing Major Ban Against Playing In The NHL
Photo credit: IIHF
There has been ongoing discussion about the eligibility of Russian players to compete in the NHL, especially in light of the conflict in Ukraine. Despite the NHL's firm stance that it would not impose bans based on citizenships, recent developments suggest that things could be different for Russian players.
Russian Players Facing Major Ban
During the holiday season, news from Russia revealed that President Vladimir Putin had issued an official announcement, stipulating that hockey players must spend a minimum number of seasons in the Russian league.
Of note to NHL prospects with KHL clubs:
Shumi Babaev mentions via MatchTV:
"We have an order from the President, according to which young players should stay here - in Russia."
They have been working on rules to not allow players to go abroad before a set amount of time.
Shumi Babaev mentions via MatchTV:
"We have an order from the President, according to which young players should stay here - in Russia."
They have been working on rules to not allow players to go abroad before a set amount of time.
This new directive will complicate matters for NHL prospects associated with KHL clubs. For instance, the Philadelphia Flyers may need to wait an additional three seasons before their top prospect, Matvei Michkov, can join the NHL.
Do you think NHL prospects should all play in North America to avoid that kind of situation?
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 26|142 ANSWERS BREAKING: Russian Players Facing Major Ban Against Playing In The NHL Do you think NHL prospects should all play in North America to avoid that kind of situation? | ||
| Yes | 87 | 61.3 % |
| No | 55 | 38.7 % |
| List of polls | ||