Dominik Hasek threatens the NHL over Russian players.

The National Hockey League is the greatest hockey league on the face of the earth and as a result of its prominent status it now attracts athletes from every corner of the globe to come participate in the league, athletes who are going to have every different worldview you could possibly imagine. For this reason when major controversies occur around the globe you will often find athletes who have controversial views or opinions to share on the topic, views that would differ drastically from what you may find in other parts of the world. 

Once such recent example in the hockey world has been the outspoken activism of legendary NHL goaltender Dominik Hasek. While all of us have been concerned about the ongoing conflict between Russian and Ukraine, Hasek has been one of the most vocal supporters of harsh sanctions against the Russian government and has even chastised the NHL publicly on several occasions for not taking more serious actions against its own Russian players.

This week though Hasek has gone a step further and is now openly threatening to hurt the NHL's business if they do not give in to his demands. It was announced recently that the San Jose Sharks and the Nashville Predators would open the 2022 - 2023 regular season with a game held in Prague, the capital city of Hasek's native Czech Republic. Hasek made it clear that if any Russian players were still allowed in the NHL at this time that he would personally embark on a campaign to ensure the NHL's showcase in the Czech Republic becomes an abysmal failure.

From Hasek (translated from Czech with the help of Google Translate):

The NHL San Jose Sharks - Nashville Predators match should take place in Prague in October. If the NHL (given the situation) wants to allow any Russian player to play in this match, I will consider it an inexcusable act. If that were the case, I will do everything I can to ensure that this match does not take place in our country. I will appeal to the government of the Czech Republic, the event organizers, potential partners and the public. In the event that it is still held, so that it is ignored by as many public as possible and condemned worldwide.

Let us realize that with the public participation of Russian athletes in events, we are doing a huge advertisement for the Russian country and its actions. That is, the aggression of the Russian army against a democratic country, the killing of tens of thousands of Ukrainians and the commission of crimes against humanity. The NHL match in Prague should be a celebration of world hockey and must not become an advertisement for Russian crimes in Ukraine. That would be disrespect from the NHL for the Ukrainian country and its people. And it must not happen!

Ukraine does not deserve it, nor do NHL fans and players. And that includes the Russian ones, for whom I also want the best with this attitude. Not even the most beautiful game in the world is more than human life. I believe the NHL will make the right decision.

In spite of his claims of concern for the well being of the Russian athletes in the National Hockey League, Hasek has made it clear in the past that he feels they should be stripped of their livelihoods because of the actions of the Russian government, actions the players themselves have had no control over. Based on the rhetoric that has been coming from Hasek since the beginning of this conflict, I do believe that he is genuine in this threat against the NHL.