The NHL's Global Series, Prague Edition, featuring the San Jose Sharks and the Nashville Predators, is at risk of cancellation, following recent statements from the NHL and now San Jose GM Mike Grier.
Czechia's government has taken a staunch approach in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine, and they are not allowing Russian athletes to participate in the country. This includes NHLers set to partake in the aforementioned Global Series match.
NHL legend Dominik Hašek spearheaded the campaign to ban Russian athletes and has called numerous times for the NHL to act similarly, to no avail.
Hašek wrote, "Last week, [the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic] sent an official letter to the [NHL] management, Gary Bettman and Bill Daly that it is not in the interest of the Czech Republic for Russian players to enter our territory and play matches here on October 7 and 8. Yes, we don't want an advertisement for Russian aggression here. We protect our lives and the lives of our allies first."
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According the Frank Seravalli, however, the NHL is not concerned about this and plan on having all of its players represented in October.
Players involved are
Yakov Trenin (Predators),
Yaroslav Askarov (Predators),
Alexander Barabanov (Sharks) and Evgeny Svechnikov (Sharks).
When asked about his thoughts on the subject, Sharks GM Mike Grier expressed confidence in the league to handle its business, but as far as the San Jose Sharks are concerned, all of them go or none of them go:
"I think the league is handling it, so I'm not anticipating any issues with our guys being able to go over. But it's ... we're a team. So if they say some guys can't go over, either we all go or no one goes. But I'm not anticipating any issues right now."
More clarity is expected as we draw closer, but this is a straight-up game of chicken. Who backs down first: the Czech government or the NHL?
Should be interesting...
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