Insider Trading: NHL has no plans to ban Russian players from draft

James Duthie: Wimbledon became the latest major sporting event to ban Russian players in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, so we wonder is there any chance the NHL could prevent Russian players from being drafted this spring?

Pierre LeBrun: It’s a question we have asked before as recently as the GM meetings in Florida and I got the same answer again on this day when I circled back to a league official in lieu of what’s happened at Wimbledon and the answer was “no.” The NHL is not contemplating barring Russian players from getting drafted on July 7 and 8 in Montreal. I guess the other thing that we’ll have to keep an eye on is whether some of those Russian prospects are downgraded in the eyes of some NHL teams when the draft arrives. I’ve talked to a few scouts in front offices that are having that internal dialogue, but for now and I don’t think it’s going to change – Russian players absolutely allowed to be drafted.

James Duthie: Dreger, you mentioned the idea of the World Cup, (drawing) perhaps more players to the World Championship as they try to get on the radar of their respective nations. You have some names that could be out there for Canada this year?

Darren Dreger: I do and it feels like the perfect time to resurrect the “Dreger Cafe” in Finland just given some of the names that could be in play. There is still some uncertainty because the NHL regular season hasn’t wrapped up just yet, but if you look at the Montreal Canadiens, there’s a strong chance you’ll see Nick Suzuki, maybe Josh Anderson representing Team Canada. Cole Caufield representing Team USA. If you look at the Winnipeg Jets, Pierre-Luc Dubois has expressed some interest in playing for Team Canada and the Ottawa Senators have been perhaps the