NHL makes huge decision on Russian players for upcoming NHL entry draft

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S. Harper
April 23, 2022 (12:56)

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Its been a crazy time in the world with the terrible attacks on the people of Ukraine by Russia and their president Vladimir Putin. This has caused a rift amongst people over Russia and its people and businesses.

This includes in hockey, where the NHL has cut ties with the Russian hockey league the KHL. The IIHF has also removed Russia from competing in future tournaments and the Canadian Hockey League has announced that the league won't allow teams to draft players from Russia or Belarus. This had people talking would the NHL do this also?

According to a report from NHL insider Pierre LeBrun, the NHL will NOT enforce a ban of Russian-born players in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft as some other sports associations have done in recent months.

From LeBrun:

"No, the NHL is not contemplating barring Russian players from being drafted on July 7th and 8th at the NHL Draft in Montreal. I guess the other thing that we'll have to keep an eye on is whether some of those Russian prospects will be downgraded in the eyes of NHL teams when the draft arrives. I've talked to a few scouts and front offices that are having that internal dialogue. But, for now and I don't think it's going to change, absolutely Russian players are allowed to be drafted.

One of the best up and coming Russians is the 2023 draft eligible Matvei Michkov, who looks like he is ready to ear up the NHL as the next Alexander Ovechkin.