How Many Russian Players Are in the NHL?

How Many Russian Players Are in the NHL?
As of the 2017-18 NHL season, there were 44 Russian players in the NHL.

The NHL’s Russian Legacy

The Soviet Union and international play

The Soviet Union was a dominant force in international ice hockey competitions for several decades. In the 1972 Summit Series, the Soviet team stunned the hockey world by defeating a team of Canadian NHL All-Stars in a eight-game series. The Soviets went on to win the Olympic gold medal in hockey seven times between 1956 and 1988.

Many of the Soviet Union’s top players defected to North America in the 1980s, and the Russian national team has struggled to compete at an international level since then. However, Russian players have still made a big impact in the NHL. As of 2019, there are nearly 100 Russians playing in the league.

The 1980s: The first Russians in the NHL

In the 1980s, the first Soviet players began defecting to play in the National Hockey League. Early defectors included Viacheslav Fetisov and Sergey Makarov, who were able to play in the NHL because they were considered “statuses quo” players, meaning they had played in international competitions and were not under contract with the Soviet ice hockey federation. These players helped pave the way for future Russian NHLers.

The New Wave of Russian Players

In recent years, there has been a surge in the number of Russian players in the NHL. From Alexander Ovechkin to Evgeni Malkin, these players have made a huge impact on the league. But how many Russian players are there in the NHL?

The 1990s: A new generation of Russian players

In the 1990s, a new generation of Russian players began making their mark in the NHL. Vladimir Konstantinov, Sergei Fedorov, Igor Larionov, Alexander Mogilny and Pavel Bure were some of the first players to defect from the Soviet Union and join the NHL. These players helped change the way hockey was played, with their skilled puck-handling and speed. They also brought a new level of excitement to the game, with their highlight-reel goals and flashy style of play.

The arrival of these players coincided with a new era in NHL history. The league expanded from 22 to 30 teams, and the game became more fast-paced and exciting than ever before. These Russian superstars quickly became household names and helped grow the popularity of hockey around the world.

Today, there are over 100 Russian-born players in the NHL, making up nearly 10% of the league. With stars like Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Ilya Kovalchuk leading the way, it’s safe to say that Russian players have made a lasting impact on the game of hockey.

The 2000s and beyond: The Russian influence in the NHL

By the early 2000s, the presence of Russian players in the NHL had become increasingly commonplace. In the 2002-03 season, there were nearly 60 Russian-born players in the league, comprising nearly 10 percent of the total NHL player pool.

This trend has continued in recent years, with Russians regularly making up a significant portion of NHL rosters. In the 2017-18 season, there were more than 50 Russian-born players in the NHL, including some of the league’s most prominent stars like Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin.

The influx of Russian players has had a major impact on the league, both on and off the ice. Russian players have brought a new level of skill and competitiveness to the NHL, helping to make it one of the most popular leagues in the world. And as the number of Russians in the NHL has grown, so too has interest in hockey back in Russia, furthering the globalization of the sport.

The Future of Russian Players in the NHL

The NHL has seen a recent surge in Russian players. In the 2017-2018 season, there were a total of 36 Russian players in the NHL. This is the most Russian players the NHL has seen in a single season. The previous high was during the 2001-2002 season when there were 35 Russian players in the NHL.

The KHL and the NHL

With the recent announcement of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) expanding to include a team in China, it seems that the rest of the world is only now taking notice of what has been happening in Russian hockey for the past few years. For those who have been paying attention, it is no secret that Russian hockey has been on the rise for some time now, and that the number of Russian players in the NHL has been steadily increasing.

In fact, Russian players made up 12.1% of NHL rosters at the start of the 2017-18 season, which is up from just 8.8% ten years ago. And while it is true that many of these players are not native Russians, but rather born in other countries with strong hockey traditions such as Canada and the United States, it is still an impressive number.

So what has caused this increase in Russian players in the NHL? There are a few factors. First of all, the quality of play in the KHL has increased tremendously in recent years, to the point where it is now considered to be on par with or even better than the NHL in some respects. This has made it easier for Russian players to make the transition to North America, as they are already accustomed to playing against high-level competition.

In addition, there has been a growing trend among NHL teams of hiring European scouts and making use of advanced scouting technologies such as video analysis to identify talented young players from all over the world. This has led to more Russian players being drafted by NHL teams and given an opportunity to play at the highest level.

Finally, it is worth noting that many of today’s top NHL stars are Russians who came over during or after the great player exodus of the early 1990s. The likes of Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Sergei Bobrovsky and Vladimir Tarasenko have all had a tremendous impact on the league and helped to change perceptions about Russian players in North America.

As we move into the future, it seems likely that Russian hockey will continue to produce a steady stream of talented players for the NHL. With Russia set to host the 2018 Winter Olympics and with more and more young Russians making their mark in North America, there is no reason to believe that this trend will not continue.

The NHL’s Russian stars of tomorrow

The National Hockey League (NHL) has seen a recent influx of Russian players, with many of them becoming stars in the league. With so much talent coming from Russia, it’s exciting to think about which players could become the stars of tomorrow. Here are some of the NHL’s most promising Russian players.

Alexander Romanov is a young defenseman who has already made an impact in the NHL. Romanov was drafted in the second round by the Montreal Canadiens in 2018 and made his NHL debut in 2019-20. He quickly became one of the team’s top defenseman, impressing with his skating, physicality, and offensive ability. It’s clear that Romanov has a bright future in the NHL and could become one of the league’s best Russian players.

Vladislav Namestnikov is another promising young player from Russia. Namestnikov was drafted 27th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2011 and has since had stints with the Lightning, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, and Colorado Avalanche. He’s currently enjoying a career-best season with the Avalanche, scoring 16 goals and 36 points in 58 games. Namestnikov is a versatile forward who can play both center and wing and should be a key piece for Colorado for years to come.

Evgeny Kuznetsov is a highly talented center who has been one of the Washington Capitals’ best players for several years now. Kuznetsov was drafted 26th overall by Washington in 2010 and has since scored 171 goals and 477 points in 584 games. He’s been especially impressive in the playoffs, scoring 32 goals and 77 points in 98 games. Kuznetsov is a gifted playmaker who can also score goals, making him a dangerous player both offenisvely and defensively.

Artemi Panarin is one of the NHL’s most exciting players and he happens to be from Russia as well. Panarin was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010 but didn’t make his NHL debut until 2015-16. He’s since played for the Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and New York Rangers, winning the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year, scoring at least 27 goals three times, and being named to two All-Star teams. Panarin is an electrifying player who always seems to make something happen when he’s on the ice. He should be one of the NHL’s top stars for years to come.