NHL player agent Dan Milstein, who represents a majority of the Russian-born players in the league, told ESPN his clients are experiencing disturbing levels of harassment and that draft-eligible players are already being discriminated against because of Russia.
The discrimination and racism these Russian and Belarusian players are facing is remarkable, according to Milstein. Parents and players are calling me. They are concerned about whether they will be able to play or not.
At the age of 16, he became a political refugee and moved to the United States. More than 75% of the NHL's Russian- and Belarusian-born players are represented by him.
Nikita Zadorov is one of the few NHL players to speak out publicly against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Zadorov, who was born in Moscow, posted a message on Friday. A flurry of derogatory messages to Zadorov's account has already begun.
While some of my clients can speak freely in the safety of being in North America, their family could be scrutinized back home. As I speak to my friends back home, my childhood home is being bombed. This is a difficult time and I haven't slept in six days. The people are picking on the wrong crowd. I can speak on behalf of my clients. They are not being treated like that.
One of his clients was on the road this week and was harassed by someone on the street.
He was called a Nazi and yelled at to get back to his country. People want to be dead. These are people. Hockey players. These guys pay millions of dollars in taxes to support the U.S. and Canada and do charity work back home. Don't look at them as attackers. Stop being racist.
Several of his NHL clients have received death threats. The wife of an NHL player posted a photo of their baby on social media and received direct messages telling her she hadNazi kids.
When they are on the road, and they have a wife and a newborn child at home, there are major concerns.
The NHL condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Monday. The NHL has paused its Russian-language social and digital media sites and suspended relationships with business partners in Russia. The NHL said it was concerned about the well being of the players from Russia, something that the league has followed through on.
The agent said all teams have accommodated his requests for extra security, something he said he is very grateful for.
While he believes his NHL players are safe due to guaranteed contracts, he wonders about barriers for future players and opportunities. On Tuesday, the equipment manufacturer said it would stop using Russian players.
15 Russian-born players are projected to be selected in the NHL draft in 2022, including potential first-rounders, according to the representation of Milstein. He wonders if some players will slip out of the draft because of the war, as many of them are already seeing their draft stock fall.
Some hockey executives are concerned about the public opinion of certain players when they are drafted, and they are also concerned about the ability of those players to come out of Russia and play. These are the lives of young men. Innocent young men are being punished.
The USHL and CHL are considering banning Russian players from being drafted next year, something that would ruin the dreams of these teenagers and potentially change the trajectory of their entire careers.
Several owners and general managers in those leagues disagree with it.
Dozens of players in the American Hockey League and junior hockey league in the United States and Canada have expressed concern in their current situations and are represented by Milstein.
One of the clients in the Canadian Hockey League was booed by his own team in the locker room. The incident was brought to the general manager's attention by the player.
People need to be aware that this is happening.
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