Are young Russian hockey players going to be restricted from playing in the NHL? That’s the hope of former Detroit Red Wings skater Slava Fetisov who aims to ban young hockey players from joining the NHL until they’re 28. Fetisov currently serves as a Senator in Russia and hopes a new federal law will be put in place to keep young hockey stars in Russia.
The report, as seen in the Globe and Mail, outlines that Fetisov wants to keep Russia’s most talented young hockey players in the country in order to grow the sport. He said he wants to keep “our most talented guys, the ones who the people come to see.”
If the proposed restriction sounds familiar it’s because Soviet-era rules prevented Russian hockey players from skating in North America. Over time, those rules were relaxed and players – such as Fetisov – made the jump into the NHL. Fetisov went on to have a very successful career with the Red Wings, but he did so beginning at the age of 31. Fetisov proved a player can have both an impact in Russia and go on to build an impressive NHL resume, but the initial allegiance should be with the player’s home country.
Will Fetisov’s request be granted? It’s not a far-fetched idea considering that there have been wage disputes and more and more young Russians are looking at the NHL as a viable option.
