In a recent announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian hockey players with NHL aspirations are facing a major setback with a major new rule.
Russian Prospects Forced to Compete in the KHL Before Joining Other Leagues
The new ruling dictates that players must spend a mandatory number of years in the KHL before pursuing opportunities in other hockey leagues.
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.
This new development poses a challenge for any player that wishes to join the NHL and has raised concerns within the league. The NHL has historically opposed to nationality based bans but now faces the potential impact of this new regulation.
Do you think NHL teams will stop drafting Russian prospects?
