Russian NHL stars receiving ‘disturbing levels of abuse’ – agent

An agent representing numerous Russian-born NHL players says that several are being targeted with what he calls “disturbing levels” of abuse in the days which have followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Dan Milstein, who was born in Kiev but is now a US citizen, represents around 75% of the league's Russian and Belarusian players, including the likes of Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and says they are being “discriminated against” because of the military campaign current taking place in Ukraine. 

“The discrimination and racism these Russian and Belarusian players are facing right now is remarkable,” said Milstein to ESPN. 

“We're being set back 30 years. I have players calling me, parents calling me. They're concerned whether they'll be able to play, whether they'll be safe.”

Milstein also counts Nikita Zadorov of the Calgary Flames among his clients, the Moscow native who has made clear his opposition to the war on social media, and Milstein says that this has made him a target for online harassment. 

“While some of my clients can speak freely in the safety of being in North America, their family could be scrutinized back home and anything could happen,” he said. 

“I'm a proud American, so I ask let's come together united. My own childhood home is being bombed as I speak to my friends back home. I haven't slept in six days because this is such a difficult time. But people are picking on the wrong crowd. I can speak on behalf of my clients: They want world peace like everybody else. They're not being treated like that.”

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Milstein added that one of his clients was called a ‘Nazi’ and told to return to Russia while out in public this week.

“He was yelled at to, ‘Get back to your country,’ and was called a Nazi and other words,” Milstein said of the unnamed player. 

“Clients are being called Nazis. People are wishing that they are dead. These are human beings. These are hockey players. These are guys contributing to our society, paying millions of dollars in taxes to support the US and Canada and doing all kinds of charity work back home. Stop looking at them as aggressors. Stop being racist.”

Earlier this week, the NHL released a statement condemning Russia's role in the war in Ukraine, while also suspending operations with business partners in Russia and ceasing the league's Russian social media accounts.

Milstein added that the wave of sanctions Russia faces from the West will likely inhibit the careers of young players hoping to forge their paths in the NHL.

“Some hockey executives have already expressed concern in the upcoming draft whether those players will ever be able to come out [of Russia] and play, and some of them are concerned about the public opinion when certain players are drafted,” Milstein said.

“I try to understand the teams, and of course public opinion matters, but this is pure discrimination. And these are young men's lives we're talking about. Innocent young men who are now being punished.

“I have several owners and general managers in those leagues telling me they disagree with it,” Milstein added.

“But they are also telling me they can't say this publicly because of the fear of public opinion.”