Nine Russians fought for participation in the NHL hockey games in Prague between San Jose and Nashville. But in the end, for various reasons, a maximum of two will start.
For San Jose, former world best back Erik Karlsson and, of course, domestic stars Tomáš Hertl and Radim Šimek will light up the O2 arena. Nashville will show defender Roman Josi, who nearly scored a hundred points last season, and extremely skilled shooter Filip Forsberg.
However, the Russians from both teams have attracted more attention than any of them in recent weeks. Former goalkeeper Dominik Hašek fought for them not to come to Prague. They say they would promote Vladimir Putin’s regime, which has been waging war in Ukraine for many months.
The case was even handled by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which called on the North American NHL to leave the Russian hockey players overseas because they would not get a visa.
In the end, however, it turned out that they have valid Schengen visas and that they will be traveling from preparatory matches in Germany and Switzerland, so their arrival cannot actually be prevented.
San Jose general manager Mike Grier had previously proclaimed, “It’s either we all go or no one.”
The Czechs joined immediately. “We stand behind the team, especially Barbie,” captain’s assistant Tomáš Hertl said to teammate Alexander Barabanov. “I played with him a lot last year and he’s a great guy. We’re in a tough situation right now, but he didn’t do anything and he shouldn’t be punished. He’s one of the nicest guys in the world.”
“I don’t agree with the war, but Barbie is not part of it,” added quarterback Radim Šimek.
Barabanov, who scored 39 points (10+29) in 70 games last regular season and is one of the team’s most important forwards, did not travel to Europe anyway. It wasn’t an invalid or canceled visa that stopped him, but an upper body injury. Coach David Quinn doesn’t expect him to arrive later.
Only winger Yevgenij Svečnikov can start for San Jose from the Russians. However, the older brother of the star Andrej from Carolina is not one of the prominent players. He didn’t stand out in Detroit or Winnipeg, where his ice time fell below eleven minutes.
He signed with San Jose just a month ago, not long after changing agents. He nodded to a one-year, two-way contract with a minimum salary of $750,000. In a recent training session on the ice of the Berlin Eisbären, he played on the fourth line.
Defender Nikolaj Knyzhov could also play for the Californian club, but he is injured, just like Barabanov.
Other Russians did not stay in the team. Beka Artyom Guriyev was sent to the junior team by San Jose, winger Danil Gušchin and another defender Artemiy Kňazev ended up on the farm.
Nashville sent forward Yegor Afanasyev and promising goalkeeper Jaroslav Askarov to the farm.
Only Jakov Trenin remained, who attracted attention in the summer by being the only protected free agent who did not agree on a contract with the club and ended up in arbitration. She awarded him a two-year contract with an annual salary of 1.7 million dollars, which did not satisfy Trenin.
“I think we lost the case,” he complained. “Like the club, we had a comparison with a player who got a two-year contract with an annual salary of 1.8 million. Our stats are almost the same, but I defend better and I’m better at breaking down and overpowering. That’s why it’s strange that they gave me less money than him.”
Trenin should get more space than his opponent Svečnikov in the Prague matches, thanks to 17 goals and hard play last regular season he was Nashville’s seventh most used forward, but overall the Russians will not be in the spotlight.
