How Many Russians Are in the NHL?

If you’re a hockey fan, you’ve probably wondered how many Russians are in the NHL. While the number has fluctuated over the years, there are currently around 60 Russians playing in the league. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the history of Russians in the NHL, and how they’ve made an impact on the sport.

The current number of Russians in the NHL

As of the 2019-2020 season, there are currently 27 Russians playing in the NHL. This is down from a high of 34 Russians in the NHL during the 2005-2006 season. The decrease in the number of Russians in the NHL can be attributed to a number of factors, including the rise of other European hockey leagues and a general decline in the popularity of hockey in Russia.

A brief history of Russians in the NHL

Since the NHL began allowing non-North American players in the 1970s, Russia has been one of the main sources of talent. In fact, Russians have been so successful in the NHL that they are often considered some of the best players in the world.

The first Russian player in the NHL was Vladimir Petrov, who played for the Atlanta Flames from 1973 to 1981. He was followed by Alexander Mogilny, who became one of the most prolific scorers in NHL history. Other early Russian stars include Sergei Makarov, Igor Larionov and Slava Fetisov, all of whom played key roles on Stanley Cup-winning teams.

In recent years, Russians have continued to make a big impact in the NHL. Players like Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Pavel Datsyuk are among the best at their respective positions and are surefire Hall of Famers. However, there are currently fewer Russians in the NHL than there have been in past years.

As of 2019, there are only 58 Russians playing in the NHL (2.5 percent of the league). This is down from a peak of 77 players in 2010-11 (3.4 percent). The decline is likely due to a combination of factors, including stricter limits on international player signings and an increase in competition from Russia’s own professional league (the KHL).

The benefits of having Russians in the NHL

Having Russians in the NHL can provide many benefits to the league. For one, Russians are typically skilled hockey players that can add a lot of talent to any team. Additionally, Russians tend to be more physical than other players in the league, which can add an element of excitement and competition. Finally, Russians typically have a strong work ethic and are willing to do whatever it takes to win, which can be a great asset to any team.

The challenges of having Russians in the NHL

Since the early 2000s, the number of Russians in the NHL has slowly but steadily declined. In the 2018-19 season, there were only 33 Russians playing in the league, down from a high of 85 in the 2005-06 season.

There are a number of reasons for this trend, including the fact that Russian players are increasingly choosing to stay home and play in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), which is widely considered to be on par with or even better than the NHL.

In addition, economic and political conditions in Russia have made it more difficult for NHL teams to sign Russian players. For example, the 2018 international sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and other Western countries made it harder for Russian players to get visas to play in North America.

Finally, some experts believe that Russians simply don’t fit well into the culture of North American hockey. While Russians have traditionally been some of the most skilled players in the NHL, they are often accused of being “lazy” or “soft” when it comes to playing a physical style of hockey. This has led some NHL teams to shy away from signing Russian players.

The future of Russians in the NHL

When the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991, it resulted in the talent pool for the NHL becoming much deeper. Russia quickly became a hockey power, winning Olympic gold in 1992 and being a consistent medal contender ever since. With that said, the number of Russians in the NHL has steadily declined over the past few years.

In the 1980s, there were only a handful of Russians in the NHL. But by 1990, that number had jumped to 18, with stars like Vladimir Konstantinov and Igor Larionov leading the way. In 1991-92, there were 27 Russians in the NHL, including future Hall of Famers Sergei Fedorov and Slava Fetisov.

But as of 2019-20, there are just 23 Russians playing in the NHL, down from a peak of 38 in 2008-09. There are several factors that have contributed to this decline.

One is that the Russian Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) has become a more attractive option for Russian players in recent years. The KHL is a professional hockey league that was founded in 2008 and currently consists of 28 teams, all based in Russia or other countries in Eastern Europe.

Players in the KHL can earn much higher salaries than they can in the NHL, so it’s no surprise that many of Russia’s best players have decided to stay home instead of coming to North America. Another factor that has contributed to the decline in Russian players is FIFA’s ban on transfer fees for players under the age of 18.

This ban was put into place to prevent clubs from buying young players and then selling them for a profit later on. But it also means that Russian clubs can keep their best young players at home until they turn 18, instead of losing them to NHL teams once they turn 16 like they used to. As a result, we’re seeing fewer young Russians come over to play junior hockey in North America and develop into NHL prospects.

Looking ahead, it seems likely that the number of Russians in the NHL will continue to decline as more and more opt to stay home and play in the KHL. But even though there are fewer Russians playing in the NHL than there used to be, they still remain some of the league’s most skilled and entertaining players to watch.