It has now been more than four months since Russia began the invasion of Ukraine, and at present there is no indication that a resolution to the conflict seems imminent. I’m not an expert on this, but from what I understand, this is currently the case.
Why am I talking to you regarding this today? In fact, it’s because Michael Russo and Dan Robson posted a excellent text today in connection with the Russian players who play in the NHL. The two journalists from The Athletic were able to speak to several people in the NHL community, and at the moment there is a big doubt regarding whether Russian players will be allowed to return to North America for the 2022-23 season .
Russian NHL stars traveled home. Will they all be back?
Work visa complications and the war in Ukraine have created anxiety that players will face obstacles trying to return to North America, @RussoHockey and @RobsonDan report.https://t.co/yJs3Je75c6
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 1, 2022
Obviously, such a ban might prevent league stars like Alex Ovechkin, Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevskiy and Kirill Kaprizov (to name a few) from playing next year, but even at CH, Alexander Romanov and Evgenii Dadonov are two guys who might be forced to stay in Russia next season.
On and come back.
On the merits, it seems unlikely that Russia will prevent guys who have a work visa for Canada or the United States from leaving the country in the coming weeks. However, the situation is a bit more complicated.
During the 2021-22 season, several European players were able to travel to America without having a work visa due to an exemption granted because of the COVID-19 situation. The guys had to go to Newark, and there their file was processed and they just had to get a US visa when they were going to end up playing in Canada (they had to get it at a US consulate outside the United States ).
Anyway, to simplify things a bit, obtaining the necessary documents has been a challenge for many players and many of them still do not have them today.
For European players who are not in Russia, this should eventually be resolved, but for Russians, on the other hand, it might quickly become a problem since the American consulate in Russia does not currently issue visas.
Thus, we are trying to redirect players to other consulates elsewhere in Europe, but the demand is huge at the moment.
Add to that the story of young Flyers-signed goaltender Ivan Fedotov, who was arrested for failing to complete his military service, and clearly, it becomes a very difficult file.
Ivan Fedotov @NHLFlyers prospect, has been arrested in Moscow for « draft evasion. » His crime was wanting to go to the NHL and thus displeasing his CSKA bosses. His punishment will be going to the military, perhaps even to the war.
– Slava Malamud ???????? (laSlavaMalamud) July 1, 2022
And this is where I come back to Romanov and Dadonov.
I don’t know if these guys have their papers right now. What I do know, however, is that Dadonov spent the last year in the United States (so he may not have been able to get his papers in Canada last year) and that Romanov is in Russia now. At least he was there a few days ago.
Alexander Romanov was initially advertised for a 3-on-3 tournament in Moscow to be held yesterday when it was first announced, but he did not take part. When I asked the #Habsthey said that Romanov is in Moscow right now for a family visit, but was never going to take part.
– Andrew Zadarnowski (@AZadarski) June 26, 2022
If Dadonov is also in Russia at the moment and the two guys don’t have their paperwork to return to America for the start of the season, the Canadian might be deprived of the services of the two players.
There is still time before the file becomes critical, but already, it is a situation that the CH must monitor out of the corner of its eye. Like all the other NHL teams, by the way.
A lot of
– New episode of 32 Thoughts Podcast.
32 Thoughts Friday news podcast (and some of your Qs). Links to your preferred platforms here: https://t.co/3zMC6qDEhd Enjoy!
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 1, 2022
– What to expect from the Sabers this summer?
The Buffalo Sabres have a lot of cap room to play with, but what will they do with it this summer?
From @ProteauType: https://t.co/5qhoC1tI22
— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) July 1, 2022
– I like.
“Too many men” go get em! All proceed to charity @KadriFoundation https://t.co/KfY7tfghcp
— Nazem Kadri (@43_Kadri) July 1, 2022
– Huge news in the NBA.
Minnesota had to pay, among other things, four first-round picks for the three-time defenseman of the year. https://t.co/8l5VELB9MY
– AlleyOop360 (@ AlleyOop360) July 1, 2022
– The Jays are hungry.
Left-handed hitters, starters, relievers: everything will be on the table. https://t.co/H8cjpZr746
— Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) July 1, 2022
