PRAGUE — NHL teams playing in the Czech capital next month have been told their Russian players are not welcome. The Czech Foreign Ministry has told the NHL of its stance because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The ministry declined to say whether the NHL has replied. The Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks are to play regular-season games Oct.
7 and 8 at Prague's O2 Arena. The travel rosters have not been finalized, but Nashville has Russian forward Yakov Trenin and San Jose has forward Evgeny Svechnikov.
Defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov won't be available for the Sharks due to a torn Achilles tendon. «We can confirm that the Czech Foreign Ministry has sent a letter to the NHL to point out that, at this moment, the Czech Republic or any other state in the (visa free) Schengen zone should not issue visas to the Russian players to enter our territory,» Deputy Foreign Minister Martin Smolek said in a statement.