Translated Zadorov interview:
D: In 2022 there was a huge scandal in Russian hockey. A wild scandal. CSKA goalie Ivan Fedotov, who'd had a great season and won the Gagarin cup.
Z: He did. CSKA did win the cup in 2022.
D: He got called for military service. Is it true that after that many Russian players never came back to Russia?
Z: They would go through draft board lists before mobilization. Some guys paid for their exemption from service. It's not hard to do in small cities. And these cases became public. Yes. Many players decided to stay away from Russia not to risk their season.
D: How did you feel about Fedotov's case?
Z: This is what our country can do to you. I've heard that he was offered a contract by CSKA and he declined it. They said they wouldn't let him go to NHL. He said he would go. And one person sent him to military service.
D: One person?
Z: Yes. Igor Esmantovich? Him or Sechin.
D: There was a rumor that Fedotov got punished for being to daring.
Z: He was too rude. Well, there was a rumor that he said: “f*** you and your war, I'm going to NHL.” I don't know if it's true or not. He served in the navy. In the north. A year later he came back.
D: He did. Many people were shocked by the reaction in the hockey community. Almost none of the players defended him. Some players made their cautious statements. The biggest stars stayed quiet. Alexander Ovechkin was asked if he would comment on Fedotov. And he said: “Why would I?”
Z: He said that recently?
D: No, he said it back then.
Z: Okay.
D: Why is everyone silent?
Z: You need to ask Ovechkin. Are you asking why is everyone else silent? Why? Nobody asked me. We talked about it off camera.
D: Nobody asked you about the war? You made your statement on your Instagram.
Z: I posted an anti-war picture. I would say the same stuff two years ago. Nobody asked me. This is how Russian reporters work. There is censorship in sports, too.
D: Well, these are laws of the day.
Z: Things are different in Russia, I know.
D: Nobody wants to be exposed. They might go to prison for that. We shouldn't judge them too much.
Z: Yes, yes.
D: You didn't support Fedotov because nobody asked you about him?
Z: Yes. I don't like writing long posts on my Instagram. I don't like discussions. If a reporter calls me I would never refuse to talk to him. If it's a decent reporter I would talk to him. I've met a lot of bad guys. I did my research on the reporter and his media. I wouldn't talk to a reporter of Sport-Express.
D: Wow, what an approach.
Z: This is my approach.
D: A master of research. When we were skating you told me about your injuries. Hockey is dangerous. You might lose a finger one day and come back on ice the next day. You might break your jaw and come back really fast. This is a great illustration of the Soviet song that there are no cowards in hockey. When I watched everyone staying quiet.
Z: Well, they might be too scared to talk about the war.
D: Let's leave it aside. This is sad, though. They are scared to break Russian laws even when they are abroad. But what about Fedotov? You won't go to prison for supporting him. Hockey players didn't defend their guy. They are cowards.
Z: Hockey doesn't get a lot of media attention in Russia. NHL doesn't get any media in the States, neither. Do you know anything about McDavid or Crosby? They are the best players in the world. Nobody talks about them. This world is very private. We know everything about Lebron. Same with Tom Brady. There isn't a lot of hype around hockey. Everyone in Russia knows our superstars. Everyone knows Ovechkin. He never made any statements.
D: This was a special case. This was special. There are examples when the totalitarian system was defeated. In 2019 the reporters defended
Ivan Golunov after the cops framed him. And the actors defended
Ustinov.
Z: You can no longer protect anyone.
D: Fedotov came back a year later and signed a new contract. He had an offer from Philadelphia Flyers.
Z: He's got a contract with them.
D: He can come to Philadelphia any time.
Z: He's signed to Flyers.
D: He can leave anytime.
Z: He's got to leave. He's signed the contract. You need a transfer card to transfer between leagues. This is a card that IIHF gives you. When left from CSKA to London Knights IIHF brought my card to Canada. His transfer card is now in Philadelphia. He's an NHL player.
D: He just needs to fly there.
Z: Yes.
D: Fedotov chose to sign a new contract with CSKA and stayed with the guys who sent him to the military.
Z: Yes.
D: What does it mean?
Z: They scared him.
D: He posted a picture from Dubai.
Z: What if they threatened his parents? You know how this works. You can threaten anyone. I'm sure about that.