Are other NHLers allowed to play for their nations during the Four Nations ?

[ViD]

I don’t see why Russia can’t square off against Slovakia (their political leaders might allow it) or Belarus at the very least.

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[Czechboy]

Who is stopping Russian from playing Belarus?

Have at it!

Slovakia, Germany, Czechs and Swiss are a bit more complicated.

From a completely non political view.. it'd be a tremendous B tournament. However, talent wise, Russia is obviously a Top 5 nation and it should be a 5 nations cup.

From a political view.. I give this thread 24 hours till it is derailed. My guess is the "Euro hours' have it cancelled by noon EST.

 

[WayTooCold]

Like Russia has ever needed permission from other nations to do whatever they want.

The 5 team tournament would be pretty good actually.
1. Russia
2. Czechia
3. Slovakia
4. Team Europe ( Germany, Swiss etc. )
5. Belarus

 

[Kuracmugger]

Like Russia has ever needed permission from other nations to do whatever they want.

The 5 team tournament would be pretty good actually.
1. Russia
2. Czechia
3. Slovakia
4. Team Europe ( Germany, Swiss etc. )
5. Belarus

Why would belarus and slovakia be on their own when germany and switzerland both have double the amount of NHL players and are better?

 

[WayTooCold]

Why would belarus and slovakia be on their own when germany and switzerland both have double the amount of NHL players and are better?

KHL heavy tournament. I forgot Team Kazakhstan. So 6 teams in total.

They all have very little NHLers in general. for example Russia have only 60 NHLers. While Sweden have 80. Even tho Russia has bigger population and the perfect environment to play hockey.

By the number of KHL players and they have their own KHL team Dinamo Minsk: KHL Totals by Nationality ‑ 2024‑2025 Stats

Belarus, Slovakia, Germany and Switzerland are on similar level on international ice. For example Germany played for Olympic gold medal in 2018.

 

[Kuracmugger]

KHL heavy tournament. I forgot Team Kazakhstan. So 6 teams in total.

They all have very little NHLers in general. for example Russia have only 60 NHLers. While Sweden have 80. Even tho Russia has bigger population and the perfect environment to play hockey.

By the number of KHL players and they have their own KHL team Dinamo Minsk: KHL Totals by Nationality ‑ 2024‑2025 Stats

Belarus, Slovakia, Germany and Switzerland are on similar level on international ice. For example Germany played for Olympic gold medal in 2018.

Germany and switzerland have 0 khl players

 

[WarriorofTime]

Probably not. They’d probably need permission from the nhl team.

 

[Albatros]

Yes, the SPC forbids such games.

 

[Crosby2010]

I sincerely wish Russia was playing in this tournament as it is. We have had international hockey at the top level taken away from us for almost a decade so the 4 nations is all we've had for a long time, so I'm happy with that so long as the players put in the effort. But in reality there is a team that can have the reigning Art Ross winner, a Vezina and a Conn Smythe winner, a 9-time goal scoring champ, a three-time Cup winner who is also a two-time Art Ross winner, a player who has led the NHL in points at different times this season and a player who got 120 points a year ago and possibly the Calder winner. And none of them are the same player. And this team isn't allowed to play. It's too bad, because nothing was stopping the NHL from allowing it.

 

[moropanov]

I sincerely wish Russia was playing in this tournament as it is. We have had international hockey at the top level taken away from us for almost a decade so the 4 nations is all we've had for a long time, so I'm happy with that so long as the players put in the effort. But in reality there is a team that can have the reigning Art Ross winner, a Vezina and a Conn Smythe winner, a 9-time goal scoring champ, a three-time Cup winner who is also a two-time Art Ross winner, a player who has led the NHL in points at different times this season and a player who got 120 points a year ago and possibly the Calder winner. And none of them are the same player. And this team isn't allowed to play. It's too bad, because nothing was stopping the NHL from allowing it.

Orc country shouldnt be allowed to join any tournaments in forseeable future even when war stops. They should stay banned until they have paid for theyr war crimes and Putin and his gang have been convicted as a war criminals. Its not enough that war stops they must pay all back before that no business with them and banned from all sports thats fair deal for theyr orcish behaviour Russia is enemy to all western nations they are our enemies as much and similarly as orcs where enemies of free people in middle earth Russian hockey players like Ovechkin etc are nothing but orcs in general ofc some better ones, but 90% are that typic persons and Putins supporters..

 

[ORRFForever]

I sincerely wish Russia was playing in this tournament as it is. We have had international hockey at the top level taken away from us for almost a decade so the 4 nations is all we've had for a long time, so I'm happy with that so long as the players put in the effort. But in reality there is a team that can have the reigning Art Ross winner, a Vezina and a Conn Smythe winner, a 9-time goal scoring champ, a three-time Cup winner who is also a two-time Art Ross winner, a player who has led the NHL in points at different times this season and a player who got 120 points a year ago and possibly the Calder winner. And none of them are the same player. And this team isn't allowed to play. It's too bad, because nothing was stopping the NHL from allowing it.

Yes, I don't get embracing Russian players while distancing themselves from a Russian team. Politics and sports should NOT mix - it has never made things better.

 

[archangel2]

Like Russia has ever needed permission from other nations to do whatever they want.

The 5 team tournament would be pretty good actually.
1. Russia
2. Czechia
3. Slovakia
4. Team Europe ( Germany, Swiss etc. )
5. Belarus

Team Europe? but you have Belarus?

 

[Namejs]

Yes, I don't get embracing Russian players while distancing themselves from a Russian team. Politics and sports should NOT mix - it has never made things better.

You're a single-minded North American with zero idea about how hockey or sports are perceived in Russia.

In Russia, an ethno-nationalist fascist state, everything is a direct extension of politics, and that includes sports. The overwhelming majority of Russian hockey fans do not care about hockey. For them as nationalist zealots (think North Korea), the only thing they care about is national pride and chauvinism.

For instance, the KHL as a league is a political pet project of Vladimir Putin that has cost the Kremlin over a billion in losses since 2008. Only just so they could lie to themselves and convince themselves they're competing with the NHL. Because it's a matter of national pride.

And you're telling us now that sports and politics should not mix?

There's nothing more political than sports in Russia.

If you're in favor of playing against a genocidal fascist regime, you're either morally reprehensible or a fool. There's no third option.

 

[Hanji]

Yes, I don't get embracing Russian players while distancing themselves from a Russian team. Politics and sports should NOT mix - it has never made things better.

The NHL embraces Russian players because they line the pockets of the owners.
However no money can be made off a Team Russia because Sweden, Finland, etc. refuse to play Russia.

It’s the European federations playing politics.
The NHL is solely about profit.

 

[Hanji]

You're a single-minded North American with zero idea about how hockey or sports are perceived in Russia.

In Russia, an ethno-nationalist fascist state, everything is a direct extension of politics, and that includes sports. The overwhelming majority of Russian hockey fans do not care about hockey. For them as nationalist zealots (think North Korea), the only thing they care about is national pride and chauvinism.

For instance, the KHL as a league is a political pet project of Vladimir Putin that has cost the Kremlin over a billion in losses since 2008. Only just so they could lie to themselves and convince themselves they're competing with the NHL. Because it's a matter of national pride.

And you're telling us now that sports and politics should not mix?

There's nothing more political than sports in Russia.

If you're in favor of playing against a genocidal fascist regime, you're either morally reprehensible or a fool. There's no third option.

Oh please.
All these European federations (IIHF) had no qualms giving Team China mass favoritism at the Olympics. Yep, the Beijing games used by an evil authoritarian genocidal state for propaganda purposes.
These countries will still even play against China now.

By your own standards all these European federations are morally reprehensible, or fools.

 

[archangel2]

no politics.

But on the actually subject. NHL players have contracts. For a player to play hockey anywhere outside of NHL games, the team must release them to said team. This included national teams

 

[Albatros]

Oh please.
All these European federations (IIHF) had no qualms giving Team China mass favoritism at the Olympics. Yep, the Beijing games used by an evil authoritarian genocidal state for propaganda purposes.
These countries will still even play against China now.

By your own standards all these European federations are morally reprehensible, or fools.

China was so massively favorized that they lost all their games finishing dead last. Even the women's team had their worst ever finish.