Before this year's NHL draft, there was a sense of caution and risk associated with drafting Matvei Michkov, along with other Russian players from the KHL, due to global politics and the war in Ukraine. These factors have added an air of uncertainty about whether they will come to North America or remain in Russia.
The Philadelphia Flyers, who had the 7th overall pick, chose to ignore these warning signs as they believed it was worth the risk to draft Michkov's rights.
Unfortunately, the Flyers have encountered another issue with a Russian player, Ivan Fedotov, who will continue to play in Russia as ongoing discussions about his status with the Flyers continue.
It appears that the Russian Ministry of Sports, along with members of the Russian Duma (the Russian parliament), has decided to impose restrictions on young hockey players wishing to join foreign clubs. Oleg Matysin, who serves as the Sports Minister, made a statement on this idea, saying,
