Russian Hockey Is A Mess

Last Sunday, I released a video detailing why the Kontinental Hockey League is an absolute mess. Fast forward to today, and to say that things have gotten worse not only for the KHL but for the entire Russian hockey system would be quite the understatement!
So what's happened to Russian hockey? What sanctions has it received and how will they affect the country's sporting program moving forwards? Well let's take a look at the most notable events of the last week and find out!
So in today's video, join me as we explore why Russian Hockey is a absolute mess!
#KHL #RussiaHockey #NHL #Hockey #IceHockey #Sports #KontinentalHockeyLeague #IIHF #NationalHockeyLeague #InternationalIceHockeyFederation #News #Beijing2022 #WinterOlympics
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[@1.21JJWatts]

On the bright side, imagine the All-Star team Putin will be able to hold hostage at his house so he can score 30 goals a day on his private rink.

[@day1avsfan907]

They would be lucky to play with a hockey phenom such as Vladimir Putin. Just like Tiger Woods would have been lucky to witness Kim Jong-il drain 11 hole-in-ones in Pyongyang during his first ever round of golf.

[@kjiptavskumboogie]

i wonder how biden would have looked in the rink

[@Jame5man]

Sports have always been a political tool. By banning Russia from participating in international competition they are losing prestige, bragging rights and an argument towards their supremacy. This is far greater than the individuals involved. This is directly attacking a country’s pride. It takes a lifetime to build a good reputation, but you can lose it in a minute. -Will Rogers

[@kjiptavskumboogie]

nobody can take away russian hockeys greatness and history

[@LinsteadDM]

As unfortunate as this situation is for young players who did nothing wrong... well neither did the vast majority in Russia who will pay the price for their government's policies. But sanctions are a part of making the cost high enough. Demand for change cannot simply come from outside sources and too many powerful people in Russia do not feel themselves at threat. Only through sanctions or war can you displace them. The sad truth is Ukrainians, Russians and to a much lesser extent, the entire world will feel the pain from this decision made by greedy men and women at the top of Russian society. Including the 16 year olds. It is an unavoidable aspect of this situation.

[@Kiham80]

Well spoken. Also worth mentioning is that Putin was voted into office. People voted for him after he started censoring the media. People voted for him when he started to extend his term limits. Ordinary people are vey much responsible for putting Putin in power, and ordinary people are needed to remove him from power. Hence sanctions need to impact ordinary people so they will do something about him. Otherwise you are left with North Korea 2.0.

[@Jayboto]

@@Kiham80 let’s be honest here, it’s not exactly a fair election process in Russia

[@Kiham80]

@@Jayboto I think it at least started out fair-ish.

[@GayFurryFromSS]

Bruh yeah, lemme just go to jail for a couple years for protesting. Surely the regime will fall after that.

[@APAL880]

It's NATO's fault, specifically America's fault. You guys are sheep.

[@my56chevy]

The blame lies on Putins shoulder. It's unfortunate that the KHL and all the Russian players suffer for this but I think they call it "collateral damage." Besides what about all the suffering the Ukranian people are being subjected too?

[@APAL880]

It's NATO's fault. NATO are the aggressors, especially the US. Russians in Ukraine have been persecuted and many have been murdered in the last 8 years since the CIA overthrew Ukraine's government. All NATO had to say was Ukraine would never be a part of NATO but they didn't. They kept pushing Russia. Do you expect Russia to not respond to our aggression? Stop being a sheep, why do you trust our evil overlords with whatever they tell us.

[@kjiptavskumboogie]

the ukrainian civilians are also collateral

[@my56chevy]

Absolutely!!!

[@romanvaulin3388]

Who disqualified USA and Great Britain in 2003 for Iraq invasion? In Iraq died almost 1 million people

[@APAL880]

And Iraq wasn't on America's border toppling their neighbor's government, provoking them and threatening their sovereignty. NATO is doing those things to Russia.

[@s.a.3894]

At least Russian paralympic hockey team will have plenty of new player material for possible future paralympics.

[@Smart-Towel-RG-400]

Damnn

[@dopecat4012]

And Ukraine won't have any male sports anymore, just women teams from now on.

[@AlexSilver9]

I feel the Ovi situation is kinda touchy. He's one of, if not arguably the best Russian born player in NHL history. Putin obviously wants that connection to strengthen his "likeability" given how he handles dissent. Ovi may genuinely like him, but I feel like that's lesser of two evils considering what happened to Artemi Panarin a couple seasons back. He and his family are vocal about not supporting Putin, and if I remember correctly Panarin had to take a hiatus from the league to ensure their safety.

[@ofs82]

I'd really hate for the likes of Panarin to suffer for being born in the wrong place when he's been such an outspoken critic of Putin for several years, but I think you're a bit too generous to Ovi there, yes Putin wants the connection to top celebrities and players for soft power and reputation, but plenty of other Russian players (the likes of Malkin and Kovalchuk were mentioned in the video as superstars who have some links to Putin, but not as explicit as Ovi) are able to skirt around that without being quite as explicitly linked to Putin as Ovi is. I think Ovi has gone above and beyond in terms of his support of Putin over the years (and those players mentioned above were also personally recruited by Ovi, effectively making him, whether he recognised or intended for it or not, a propaganda agent of Putin), and that's why he individually has come under a lot more scrutiny for it lately than a lot of the other Russians in the NHL. I mean, obviously Ovi didn't want war, he has even said as much, and I don't think he ever intended to become quite as synonymous with the regime in Russia as he has become, but he made his bed. By not just "not not supporting Putin", not even paying lip service to supporting Putin, but by being an active public face of the Putin regime, he has to accept that he will not be able to sidestep all consequences.

[@TheEDFLegacy]

@@ofs82 Indeed. Out of all the hockey players from Russia, his situation is the one that can't be looked away from. Which is sad, because he was so close to making history. Even if he does make history, it'll be tarnished forever.

[@deathtoluke]

He probably has absolutely no choice but to support Putin. I think people don't realise what sort of mafia situation there is in Russia. I know of someone who owned a bank in Russia. Putin's crew made a nice offer to buy it. It was rejected. Putin's crew made a significantly lower offer. It was accepted. He had no choice to sell and leave the country.

[@ofs82]

@@deathtoluke Again though, people like Malkin and Kovalchuk manage to at least tacitly support Putin without actively serving as a PR agent for him and getting as directly involved as Ovi. Lots of Russian athletes in a multitude of sports do what is necessary in respect of public support for Putin to make their lives easier and avoid a situation such as that with Panarin - but very few of them have taken such a hands-on approach to actively promoting Putin as Ovechkin does, and that's why he will find it harder than most to avoid the questions.

[@bdbdkdfotbrveiw]

@@ofs82 to be honest, Ovi was probably just a kid who thought it was dope to rub elbows with the president of his motherland, and had no idea how it would affect him politically down the line

[@peterkostek4397]

Well, although I feel sorry for the young Russian players losing their chance to experience life in the NHL, it pales in comparison to all the young Ukrainians who lives have been snuffed out by a ruthless Russian invasion. Putin is to blame but unfortunately the players will suffer the shame.

[@juhomantynen4638]

Although Russian hockey players lose opportunity and money, innocent Ukrainian civilians are losing their lives. It is clear which is more impactful on a personal level.

[@APAL880]

Nope, stop watching TV. It's NATO's fault. NATO are the aggressors, especially the US. Russians in Ukraine have been persecuted for 8 years since the CIA overthrew Ukraine's government. All NATO had to say was Ukraine would never be a part of NATO but they didn't. They kept pushing Russia. Do you expect Russia to not respond to our aggression?

[@klavspr]

Technically, Jokerit withdrew only from the playoffs, while Dinamo Riga withdrew from KHL and all its organisations.

[@Dexter037S4]

Jokerit's withdrew from the KHL as well, it's likely they'll be moving to the Allsvenskan or Mestis (As Liiga don't want them back, Considering the team's strength, I could see them joining the SHL Ladder instead of the Finnish one)

[@phil03242]

It is the unfortunate reality of Hockey being a team sport, really. Russia, whether in its current incarnation or as the USSR, has repeatedly weaponised the performance of its athletes to try to bring legitimacy to their government, insinuate they are superior to their geopolitical rivals and dissimulate its immoral actions. If we would be talking about individual sports it would be possible to have them compete as neutral athletes (altough they should still be banned from relay or team events and some higher standards should be put in place in regard to doping due the recent event) but any Hockey team sent to compete in international competitions is gonna be Russia's team, no matter the name and the uniform. In a similar manner, the KHL has an organisation and has a project is intimitely linked to Putin and his croonies and fit in their wider dreams to turn back the clock to before the 1990s, which in this case mean trying to go back to the days when Russian professional teams could compete against their NHL counterparts. Is any of this fair to the players? No, and I do have empathy for them but sometimes there is a situation where no right choice could be made and for the Hockey to not take strong measures to hinder Putin's ability to weaponise Russian performances in the game simply cannot be justified morally IMO. This being said, I do agree that banning Russian and Belarusan players from the International Draft is unjustified. Russian players in the CHL don't help Putin in the slightest. If anything, it will probably end up hurting the level of the KHL (and therefore diminish how much political capital Putin can get out of it), as these players stand a higher chance to not return home for their professional careers. Moreover, it will give these young men the opportunity to live in a democratic country and have access to free source of informations, and therefore the chance to learn that the propaganda they hear at home is just a tissue of lies.

[@GarkKahn]

Yeah It's not a black or white situation But everyone from a compromised country could be listed as "refugee" instead of some kind of intruder If for example in cuba they start i don't know massacring babies and all the continent decides to ban everything cuban related, what would the cubans trying to escape the island or the ones that already left do? if they manage to escape they'll face a world that rejects them just for being born in cuba because of an idiot that you also hate. So you either leave and resign to simply live homeless and jobless in a foreign land waiting for a miracle or stay in your country and pray not to die

[@TheSethEight]

Your free sources of information is a mess. When British foreign affairs Minister doesn't know names of Russian and Ukrainian citys that's a real mess. Your politicians are clowns, you are stupid fuckers. Continue Mee Too. Europe can't canceled Russian oil and gas. Europe looses. Economics of EU.

[@phil03242]

@@GarkKahn I mean, I am no lawyer but I'd argue that a player (or any other Russian) who is anti-war would quite probably qualify for refugee status in Canada without the quotation marks considering the current crackdown in Russia.... Not that I'd ever ask a Russian player to do that because I do agree with the NHL statement talking about their difficult situation. But broadly speaking I feel that the best solution for Hockey is to go after the collective entities used by the Putin government (i.e the KHL and Russian national teams, no matter the name and the uniform under which they play) and spare individual players as much as we can (by still giving them visas when they need it) while still taking the necessary measures against the aforementioned entities. It isn't a perfect solution but it is the best the Hockey world can do right now IMO.

[@redred222]

@@TheSethEight people are deciding that human lifes mean more then oil for once, i applaud any country that is giving sections against russia dont let putin push you around, and he wont win in long term, because hes not getting the other countries back unless he wants to go to war with 29 countries, dont care how strong his military is he cant win that war

[@1andonlyMiro]

The KHL has said that "someone" has made the decision for the Finnish players to not let them play in Russia. They have not said who that someone would be but they have said that otherwise the Finnish players wouldn't be leaving like this. In Finnish media there have been opinions on them playing in the KHL both for and against but the fact is the players have all made their own personal minds about this.

[@AlexAnder-ky2ce]

Where is this fact?

[@rimpatirallaa5975]

they will just go back to Russian super league like they did before KHL,but yeah losing all foreign players and mass investments and sponsors.. right now its a mess,theres a lot of players that are leaving now in mid playoffs

[@lordrayden3045]

That’s what I was thinking. A new RSL

[@MarkVrem]

The KHL pays in Rubles so all players lost 50% of their wages overnight.

[@lordrayden3045]

@@MarkVrem That’s why if I’m a foreign player then bail What are they going to do?

[@Dexter037S4]

It'll stay the KHL, since I doubt Minsk, Barys and Beijing will leave (China is likely to push for two more teams to replace the ones lost, likely in Shanghai and Shenzen).

[@lordrayden3045]

@@Dexter037S4 China doesn’t have enough talent to field three teams. If they are in the KHL they aren’t going to get North American players

[@lonelylionsingle7582]

The issue is that if they don't get banned their leader can continue to ignore their suffering until they fight back

[@JJJJ-gl2uf]

The sanctions against Russia need to go all the way in all sectors. No exceptions and no loopholes. The Ukrainian people fleeing have real problems, I have no sympathy for young Russians who may be losing out on playing time and the NHL draft.

[@thekerr8728]

Says the Canadian?

[@APAL880]

Dummy. This fighting is NATO's fault. NATO are the aggressors, especially the US. Russians in Ukraine have been persecuted and many have been murdered in the last 8 years since the CIA toppled Ukraine's government. To prevent this war, all NATO would have had to say was that Ukraine would never be a part of NATO, but they didn't. They kept pushing Russia. Do you expect Russia to not respond to our aggression?

[@jok3r906]

Their is no other way to put it other than... Cold War 2?

[@leafsfan1539]

No this is a bit worse

[@alexyu1236]

The dynamo Riga Riga would hurt them over the Russian league. Latvians need a strong league to compete in and khl is the strongest. You increase your skills and your competitive being in tough situation playing against the best. If you go to lower league it can only hinder your hockey program

[@edwardburek1717]

Yes, Russian hockey is a mess, and it is going to be a mess for years to come thanks to just one person - the one person that, ironically enough, will screw up Ovechkin's chances of breaking The Great One's records. I reckon Ovi will still be playing in CCM gear, but the logos will be blanked out. Either that, or he'll have to dig out his old Bauer kit...

[@alexyu1236]

His chance still the same. Even if he does not nhl should rewrite its history and consider ovechkin the number 1 even if he doesn’t.

[@269productions]

Imagine if the USA got kicked out of the hockey community every time they invaded a country.

[@menderdermen7335]

Finally not brainwashed person

[@driver0s228]

Oh I see where your going with this. If someone does something wrong….it’s o.k. For you to do something wrong. Perhaps don’t look up to the U.S. as your role model. Be a better country.

[@269productions]

USA USA we have to corporations who feed you what to say!

[@269productions]

What if other countries tried to take away our Moscow Fried Chicken, McHamids, or Syria Shack, oh wait..... Oh how the Dominoes 🍕 fall

[@kj6446]

this is an excellent review of what has been going on in the hockey world. Thank you.

[@ramuelcruzada3207]

I wish the Asian teams (Barys Astana {or Nur Sultan} and Kunlun) will form a hockey league along with Korean and Japanese teams...

[@TheUnatuber]

Wow, a _BRITISH_ hockey fan! Subscribed just so I can keep a suspicious eye on you!

[@TheChronicFiend]

Great coverage odd man!!keep the good work up!!

[@ben22rivera]

I hear what you’re saying. But the nation as a whole needs to take on and feel every bit of the responsibility of this. It’s a country that has been allowed to get away with so many things for a long time. It’s time for the people to stop just blaming the one leader in charge and step up and have a proper revolution to have a more free and peaceable nation. They can and need to make a change for their country.

[@ariccua6101]

Didn’t see yet Dominik Hasek’s tweet or Zadorov’s IG post?

[@ngarcia103]

I should point out that at the World Junior level, a few months ago, Belarus won the Division 1A tournament to earn promotion to the 2023 event this coming December. As of the writing of this comment, that promotion still stands, as the IIHF hasn't yet made a decision on Belarus or Russia's participation in 2023 events. If Belarus is booted from 2023 as well, then Latvia (who finished second) would likely be promoted instead.

[@kieraCobbs]

Great video friend

[@Brad3995]

Goalie at 19:01 has a player stick?

[@milolabrett6549]

OMR your heart is in the right direction with Para- Olympics and also with CHL Russian prospects. But right now there isn’t anything going into Russia as simple as a Hockey Stick, sticks are imported most players arrive with at least 24 custom sticks of their own KHL season . But right now there are Russian players playing in CHL, USHL 16 to 21. Also Tier two Junior leagues both in Canada and USA, now we are talking about Hundreds of Russian minors between ages of 16 to 21, already in North America. Even Hockey Academy in North America that are 13 to 16 Russian minors, but in the bundle of hundreds . All of them rely on a stipend from Russia to float their boat in North America and it’s not happening now. Thank you OMR for your Update. Under the circumstances, I don't give a Rats Ass about anything Russian these days. Russia no longer belongs in Global Sport other than playing with themselves with wood twigs.

[@kjiptavskumboogie]

you an ban russia russia wont go away they will fight and they are brutal nothing like you can imagine

[@KazeShikamaru]

I say this. Don't punish the players but punish the suits and the morons. You make a good point here Odd Man Rush. I love the ending of the part of this video.

[@APAL880]

The morons like Biden and NATO? I agree.

[@italusaf]

Punish governments not citizens.

[@McEla82]

Thanks for the video. Though I feel bad for the Russian players who are not guilty for the situation, I feel even worse for the Ukrainians. The World needs to stay unified and send a clear message to the Russian citizens that things are not alright, no matter what their state media claims.

[@APAL880]

You trust our media haha? After what they've done to us over the past two years?

[@hotor6]

Could you make a video where you analyze that what if NHL would expand to Europe for exemple Helsinki, Stockholm, Praha, Berlin and Zürich would get a team.

[@danielyourboi8872]

I would love it so much if that happened. Although it is SERIOUSLY unlikely that it could happen due to travel and other factors.

[@saturnotaku]

That is never going to happen. The logistics of professional sports team travel are mind-bogglingly complex, especially for leagues where a lot of equipment is needed like hockey or American football. The best you'll be able to hope for is the occasional NHL game played in Europe to start a season.

[@hotor6]

@@saturnotaku I mean yeah the logistics would have to be perfect but it could be done. For exemple Jokerit had over 9hr flights to Habarovsk.

[@quinnpaszkowski902]

I'm sure that a vast majority of Russian players will suffer from this unfortunately, but in a situation like this, the sanctions are a blow to Russia as a whole given their sporting prominence. Russians hockey players deserve better, but you can't play in front of a tarnished flag and be given the world stage.

[@alexdostaler]

This is super nuanced -- well-done!

[@TheBoyer19]

Are you Alex the rambler cause you two have very similar voices

[@jpgcne]

When is next live stream??

[@fubartotale3389]

Oh no! Their hockey is a mess?!?! That's really important, isnt it???

[@mechantl0up]

That Jokerit logo and jersey are quite nice.

[@jdday1757]

And that's another thing too. Some want these athletes to speak up against their country's government. Yea so their families can get "disappeared" I mean I know this isn't like back in stalin's days but it is still Russia. Remember what happened to the journalist talking shit on the government. And then got poisoned had to go to Germany for treatment then arrested upon returning to Russia. That dude had connections. Athletes not so much

[@kurtboyer299]

Above all else the KHL put a crappy product on the ice in Beijing. If the Russian national team gets any more slow-paced and methodical, they'll be a Vanilla Fudge album.

[@TheEsapirnes]

Basically none of the players/athletes have nothing to do with Putin, but he accepted a law which restricts what athletes are allowed to say/do.

[@lordrayden3045]

Didn’t they get kicked out of soccer World Cup too?

[@ManUtdBoy13]

Yes, because Sweden, Poland and Czech Republic refused to play them in the playoff for the WC and England refused to face them if they were to meet in the WC.

[@lordrayden3045]

@@ManUtdBoy13 Ok good, That will sting more than any hockey sanctions

[@ManUtdBoy13]

@@lordrayden3045 Depends. Russia is going to challenge that ruling to, i think CAS, which is the one who can overrule it. That being said, Sweden, Czech Republic and Poland still refuses to face them no matter what. FIFA even tried to pull a BS move by making them play under the name of "Football Union of Russia" which no one bought and all three teams demanded them suspended.

[@lordrayden3045]

@@ManUtdBoy13 Only way to win an appeal is to have people agree with you They are so isolated / pissed so many people off even the Swiss banks are cutting them off When the Swiss won’t bank with you / take your money you seriously need to sit back and re evaluate your life choices

[@stlfatman]

I'm not so much concerned about Russian and Belarusian teenagers' feelings as I am about the innocent Ukrainian families getting shelled for no other reason than the glorification of Putin's ego.

[@floodtech]

The reason why these young future hockey stars of Russia and Belarus seem to be getting punished is because of how highly Putin regards sports and it will hit Putin in the heart, it does suck as I look forward to seeing the young stars play in all age groups in the IIHF tournaments. Putin is backed into a corner right now as Russia has had some significant military losses in recent days but if he pulls out of Ukraine now he will be the laughing stock of failures. So I don't think this war will end soon unfortunately

[@jpgcne]

Tough luck for the players truthfully. Basically they can blame their own government for what's happening to them. Being punished is on that side in the end. Last video you posted I said you should have waited as things were getting worse. Egads. Things will get worse before better...

[@kjiptavskumboogie]

gazprom will finance this league is not like they dont have the funds

[@leabee9990]

when the young elite of the nation are no longer able to profit from their talents they will rise up can demand changes with in they leadership.

[@petergeyer7584]

Sanctions that don‘t hurt are empty. I feel enormous sympathy for Russian people, but a stand has to be taken against a government that recklessly tears apart the peace of Europe. Putin has always been about Russian prestige, and he often uses young athletes to win that prestige. Now with Russian hockey (and figure skating, and gymnastics, and football, etc.) being banned at every level from international competition, all Putin has achieved is reducing Russian prestige.

[@APAL880]

The war is NATO's fault. NATO are the aggressors, especially the US. Russians in Ukraine have been persecuted and many have been murdered in the last 8 years since the CIA overthrew Ukraine's government. To prevent this war, all NATO would have had to say was that Ukraine would never be a part of NATO, but they didn't. They kept pushing Russia. Do you expect Russia to not respond to our aggression? Why do you trust our evil overlords with whatever they tell us?

[@lordrayden3045]

After you last video, I got myself a Jokerit shirt

[@JM-gj7de]

"Russian Hockey Is A Mess"...GOOD!!!

[@michaelh10]

Did the americian players get removed from the league when USA invaded iraq under false claims of weapons of mass destruction? No

[@jorgepalomares8025]

And today(and many decides) the USA is still doing business with other cruel regimes who trest their people like animals. The hypocracy.

[@SpooksDinat]

Another problem is if these Russian athletes regardless of their age, if they protest against Dictator Putin, they could face jail time, ranging from 3-15 years.. At least from what I've heard anyway, so in any scenario, these folks are pretty much screwed in a case, which is an absolute shame...

[@redred222]

you know whats a shame the people dying in ukraine, they did nothing wrong, and russian people let there leader do that by giving him all the power they did that, when they first elected him since the boomers of russia wanted the country back to what it was 50 years thats on the old generation once again, anyone over the age of 50 is killing this world, there generation is nothing but the most selfish war mongering people ever

[@SpooksDinat]

@@redred222 I mostly agree with your statement, there are Russians that want to see the reunification of former Soviet lands under Russian rule, but not all Russians are in agreement with the war, and there have been confirmed reports, videos, etc. of Russian people in and out of Russia that are against this war. However the sport leagues/events are not wrong in making their decisions to ban Russian and Belarusian players from participating in future events, and I fully support their decisions.

[@TheEDFLegacy]

I totally agree... I feel terrible for the Russian players who aren't caught up in all this. My criticism is for the likes of Oveshkin, but many are innocent here. Only thing I will say is that there is no good answer here; by doing what the organizations did, they're sending a clear message to Russia, and that may lead to long-term change, even if it ruins some people's careers. At least for them, it's better to lose a career than it is to lose one's homes, friends, or even their own lives.

[@saydaddy91]

I’m sorry I’m totally against the Russian government’s actions in Ukraine but can we acknowledge the irony of a British guy saying “and that’s why you don’t invade your neighbors”

[@danieltokar7404]

Ireland is rolling on the floor laufhing😂

[@matcheer9909]

Russian dissent is illegal. Dissent face arrest and conscription into the army 💥

[@counterfit5]

There's no way that could backfire /s

[@redred222]

and the protests are getting bigger and bigger, this how revolutions start, the people decide that no matter the punishment they have had enough, thats whats going to happen and you know what happens in russia when revolutions happen, ends bad for the leader of the country

[@Zbgaming23]

Most iihf fans didn’t want perm bans

[@kjiptavskumboogie]

my position is that without russia all tournaments looses value because like it or not Russia is one of the top producers of talent and has been a great hockey nation since the 60's now the competition is weaker

[@FindingFlorida24]

The point isn't to be cruel to Russian players...I theory ,it's to wake up the general population that the war is completely wrong and hopefully turn on the leaders ect...similar to sanctions...seems cruel but it's needed sometimes

[@FindingFlorida24]

And im not saying the sanctions did anything...just saying in theory these are the thoughts behind it

[@themanformerlyknownascomme777]

@@FindingFlorida24 but they don't work, and they have a history of not working, but idiotic polititions keep pushing them.

[@69opsman]

The NHL and CHL must send the Russian players home, this is needed so people in Russia ask why they are back. This is war and I highly doubt we would have let Hitler Youth or the SS have players over here. We don't need these type of people in our leagues gaining personally from our way of life while attacking it at the same time. Don't kid yourself the Russian players wholeheartedly support their country.

[@themanformerlyknownascomme777]

and people like you with your policies of alienation are exactly why they support their country.

[@leabee9990]

sadly the entire sporting music and cultural exchange programs must be suspended and prevent this tyrant leader of Russia from having a platform to promote his agenda. it will go a long way to solving the topping problem at the Olympics once and for all.

[@themanformerlyknownascomme777]

except all your doing is helping Putin, discriminatory policies like yours are just proving what Putin says to the Russian people, your plans backfired before and will backfire again.

[@younglobwedge]

Lolol jeez, even hockey KZbinrs getting in on some good old propoganda.

[@that_puffsley_guy]

As frustrating and disappointing it is for these players that really have had nothing to do with Putin's actions in Ukraine, the only real way to make Putin feel the sanctions is to completely isolate Russia in every possible way. I feel horrible that these athletes are being subjected to these sanctions but sport brings in a ton of money for the Russian government.

[@menderdermen7335]

The war will end, when the oligarchs will feel it

[@themanformerlyknownascomme777]

except your plan of iscolation will only fuel conflict further as you prove Putin's words to the Russian people, even if Putin dies tomorrow the seeds of animosity the actions you suggest will sow trouble down the road. Hell, this inofitself is really just the fruits of Yesterday's failure to integrate Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union.

[@dudarsky]

why would Dinamo Minsk withdraw? Belarus is Russia right now, it's no longer independent.

[@user-se7wf9dv6r]

Totally unwatchable because of the irritating ads...frankly, the people who make and appear in these ads are W#$#. Thx!

[@russstephanson6987]

What about the Ukrainian players? How many potential players will die, be crippled or just not develop because of the impact of the war? There is a good chance Ukraine's hockey program will be set back decades. I have little compassion for the Russian players. It is time the EU created their own professional hockey league to replace the KHL as it likely won't survive.

[@menderdermen7335]

Oh c'mon my friend is from Donbass, where he getting bombed from Ukranian side(as he said). As i know now Russians are giving his family food, water, shelter and safety...

[@themanformerlyknownascomme777]

the majority of the EU wasn't in the KHL in the first place.

[@mark13hazard]

they are screwed

[@mp40submachinegun81]

i agree that it is dumb to punish athletes. they dont have influence, and i worry the dangers of isolating russia from the world. isolating germany after ww1 was a direct cause of ww2.

[@JaneNayes]

Yeah NATO is just poking the bear

[@northernelitegoaltending]

It's not fait to them but it's not dumb,

[@mp40submachinegun81]

@@northernelitegoaltending its completely dumb.

[@redred222]

@@JaneNayes no putin thinks nato wont do anything, but most of the world is condemning russia, and him threatening the world is just pissing everyone off, putin wants to be hitler or something then it russia that will end in ruin

[@ManUtdBoy13]

@@mp40submachinegun81 There are kids in Ukraine that has died and will die thanks to Russias invasion. I have no sympathy to Russian athletes compared to them. Also, Russia deserves what they getting. Say all you want about "poking the bear" but Russia has been poking NATO and whole of Europe for decades now, and we had enough to actually show what happens when you mess with a collective.

[@wiseguy3675]

If you represent the enemy, you become the enemy. Right or not, that's how it works.

[@TOTN17]

I'll be getting a KHL sub next season assuming its still available

[@craigdurling7283]

Players are not being punished for government actions. Sanctions you are questioning in this video such as exclusion of Russians from CHL or Paralympic Games will hopefully get attention of the Russian public. The only way this ends is if the Russian people rise up against their own government.

[@jordangraff2254]

Imagine Bettman wisened up and suspended ALL Russian players from the NHL..... Bet Ovi would find his balls and speak up against Putin then 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@themanformerlyknownascomme777]

all you do is convince guys like Ovi that Putin was right.

[@jordangraff2254]

@@themanformerlyknownascomme777 considering Ovechkin is a massive supporter of Putin and has huge ties to the Russian government 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@themanformerlyknownascomme777]

@@jordangraff2254 and people like you are why

[@kjiptavskumboogie]

since russia could beat the champions every year i dont consider them real champions real competitior compete they dont call for bans

[@leabee9990]

doping issue.

[@emilretee6932]

Russia just win tournament, with Belarus and some juniorteam.🤣🤣🤣

[@Whatisahandlehuh]

Russia …. In general is a mess. Hockey aside lol

[@hugh2hoob668]

*Manninnenenenen* 😅🤣 0:25

[@deathtoluke]

It is a little unfair to punish any player over what has happened over the last 2 weeks" True statement.

[@aricthompson9868]

During the cold war athletes were allowed to come over, especially in the NHL. I say if they want to come over, more importantly, leave russia I say let them.

[@adderi]

Stop calling it a conflict - it is an invasion - Russian invasion. Russian hockey superstars can say what they think, but do they though?

[@menderdermen7335]

Conflict is something in common. Are you hater of word "conflict"

[@jenzim3639]

and no one took a clue when russia started wearing cccp jerseys????? fuck were blind

[@vbolshakov87]

Hi man! Thank you very much for the video. Being Russian citizen myself and a hokey fan for a long time, I can say you are deep in the topic. Back in March I expected that a lot of young players from Russia will leave KHL and go to NHL/AHL/US junior leagues. My big frustration was that most of them stayed in Russia. They have skills to work abroad but they decided to stay in a country that … you know. Another small remark please say „Belarus“ players, not „Belorussian“.

[@thehybrid210]

Why should they leave tho? KHL is genuinely the best league apart from the NHL

[@aaroraisanen4650]

The KHL is unfair to teams that are not russian. When many players from Jokerit had covid the russian team they were supposed to play against were handed a 5-0 win. But when russian team has covid and cant play against foreigner team the game is scheduled for the future. KHL is just Putlers playground.

[@FirstLast-zk5ow]

Yeah, it's a mess. They only won Silver at this Olympics :( At least the incredibly strong Canadian and American teams came in 5th and 6th. The Russians only wish that they were that good 🤣

[@im.waldo.]

Were in for a good one eh folks

[@omgautubeacount]

Russian athletes can do what they did in the Cold War, defect or denounce Putin

[@Wabin22]

Great stuff man! However I think it's important to point out that Putin have used sport and sporting events as a major way to boost himself and his propaganda machine. Therefore it might be unfortunate for these athletes but they are in a certain point of view also supporting Putin and the war simply by participating and compeating for the russian national teams. Putin has used them to increase his power and cruelty to the russian people and these athletes are fully aware of it. They are just as guilty.

[@themanformerlyknownascomme777]

however these aren't his main sources of power (it's control OVER (not 'in-conjunction' like Western Leaders belive, but OVER) economics) making these sanctions a loss for everybody, just more painful to the athletes (not to mention it also runs the risk of alienating them, I know the Russian Olympic team doesn't have a lot of nice things to say about the committee and it's politicking).

[@mechantl0up]

Russian hockey has systematically supported Putin and his current genocidal destruction of Ukrainian cities and its population. There is no mechanism available that allows one to punish the system only without impacting the players. So the players also must go.

[@themanformerlyknownascomme777]

except that will backfire.

[@calvink.guentherjr]

U do not know Russia. Suspend them all.

[@calvink.guentherjr]

This video is sad. Russia should be banned and isolated. NHL. Everywhere. This is actually embarassing. Wow. Dude. Embarrassing.

[@austinarsenault9040]

i think we shouldve banned all american players when they invaded libya and iraq

[@Aebischer1984]

Finally someone else mentioned this. The hypocrisy is astonishing.

[@MarkVrem]

@@s.n.7064 Some truth to this comment. The Oligarchs might have been a necessary evil 30 years ago. But the Russian economy has failed to go beyond them it seems. I'm no expert on Russia but they need a generation of NEW MADE MONEY. Guys who don't owe their success to pure being in the right place at the right time. But self-made guys that represent a new vision. A second Political party if not more. Basically.

[@jonmaddness741]

Yes they are responsible. Not taking action, you made this happen.

[@adderi]

When players in KHL are taking part of a pre-game formation of a Z. Good luck guys, Take all the rubbles you need. Implies all players; russian, finnish, kazak, chinese, whatever etc. Just good luck!