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The war in Ukraine has further increased the level of Uncertainty for NHL teams Interest in drafting prospects of Russian origin stemmed from questions about their availability to play in North America.
Although neither team has openly stated that it will avoid selecting the Russians altogether in the two-day draft that opens on Thursday in Montreal, Russia is likely to be closed in the first round for the first time since 2005.
“I don’t know if anyone has the answer,” said Seattle General Manager Ron FrancisWhose team currently has 12 picks in seven rounds, including No. “It’s definitely unknown right now so it makes it, I think, a little bit more risky than it was in previous years.”
A general view of the NHL logo behind the target at the Prudential Center on April 24, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey.
(Rich Gressel/Getty Images)
While there has always been a risk of Russian prospects deciding to stay at home to play, now the concerns are high. travel restrictions in place For anyone wishing to travel to Russia and Belarus during the war. NHL officials wonder whether a pick will actually be allowed to be thrown out.
NHL Prospect taken into Russian custody for allegedly avoiding military service
It doesn’t help that the NHL and its Russian-based counterpart, the Continental Hockey League, don’t have a transfer agreement in place. This prevents NHL teams from buying out KHL contracts, a constant deterrent for any GM hoping to raid the second-best league in the world.
Without disclosing the Canadiens’ strategy, Montreal GM Kent Hughes He said it would be up to each team to weigh the risks of selecting a Russian player.
“It is quite easy to say that the war in Russia creates a level of complexity or perhaps even greater uncertainty,” Hughes told the Associated Press. “Indecision has to be balanced with a player’s ability to pick any team.”
Canada’s Conor Bedard (16) scores over Russia goalkeeper Yegor Guskov (29) during the third period of an exhibition hockey game before the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships tournament in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, December 23, 2021. Yegor Guskov is one of several Russian goaltenders eligible to be included in the 2022 NHL Draft.
(Canadian Press, File via Jason Franson/AP)
Last week, Philadelphia Flyers According to the player’s agent JP Barry, goalkeeper Chance Ivan Fedotov was suddenly assigned to a remote military base in northern Russia. Selected in the seventh round of the 2015 draft, Fedotov signed with the Flyers in May after completing his contract with CSKA Moscow in the KHL.
“I think in past years, there’s maybe a little worried – Is that man about to come?” said Francis, before referring specifically to Fedotov. “It’s probably on a different magnitude.”
While the NHL has not issued any instructions on how to format Russian players, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the uncertainty could create further hesitation for teams.
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Daly said, “Would I be surprised if some slip based on their inability to get to where they’re supposed to go? Potentially.”
This year’s draft class includes several Russian prospects with first-round potential under normal circumstances.
Team ROC goalkeeper Ivan Fedotov # reacts leaving the rink after beating Team Denmark 3-1 in the men’s ice hockey quarter-final match between Team ROC and Team Denmark on day 12 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Wokesong Sports Center on February 28. Is. , 2022 in Beijing, China.
(Elsa/Getty Images)
Defenseman Pavel Mintyukov is ranked sixth among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting since playing in the Ontario Hockey League last season. Wingers Danila Yurov and Ivan Miroshnichenko, who played in Russia, are among the top 10-ranked European skaters.
Miroshnichenko’s situation is more complicated as he was unable to complete his season after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in March. He has since completed his treatment and plans to participate in the draft.
Detroit General Manager Steve Yazerman Said the Red Wings are, as always, evaluating top Russian prospects.
“We’re preparing our lists or organizing our lists as we normally would,” Yagerman said. “Ultimately, we want to draft really good prospects, and make sure they’re good kids.”
Central Scouting chief Dan Marr is confident Russian players will be selected, but does not estimate how long they may have to wait.
“I don’t even want to try and guess what NHL clubs are thinking,” Marr said. “If you’re sitting there and you have a solid prospect for the NHL, are you going to take him or are you going to take him forward and cross your fingers and hope that that world will from now on.” Have a different year.”
Mar said that he and his staff created a fake draft in which the first Russian player was not selected until the second round.
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Last year, 29 Russian players were drafted – the most since 2003 – after Fedor Svechkov was selected by Nashville at number 19, the only player to make it to the first round.
A year after drafting the four Russians, Buffalo Sabers GM Kevin Adams Chances of getting more selections this year cannot be ruled out. Putting together the Sabers’ draft board, Adams asked his staff to rank each player as usual before placing an asterisk next to Russian prospects to allow further discussion.
“If we get to a point in the draft where we think there’s real value, we’re going to talk about that,” Adams said, referring to selecting a Russian player. “So, we’re open to that.”
With three first-round selections and four in the top 41, Adams acknowledged that the Sabers have more draft capital than other teams to risk on a Russian player.
“I think it’s a unique place for us,” Adams said.