Player agent Milstein reveals Russian NHLers are being threatened, discriminated, harassed

A lot of people are trying to make a small or big gesture in order to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin and his desire to take over Ukraine… On Monday, the International Ice Hockey Federation banned the Russians — and the Belarusians — from international hockey for the foreseeable future in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On Tuesday, CCM Hockey made the decision to drop superstar Alex Ovechkin and other Russian NHLers from its marketing materials in response to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Moments later, player agent Daniel Milstein, the agent for about 80% of NHL Russian players, made a statement on what’s now taking place in the NHL, revealing that players were being discriminated, threatened as well as their families. This is what he told Greg Wyshynski of ESPN about the situation:

“Most Russian people I know, especially hockey players, want world peace. Nobody likes the war. They’re being discriminated against right now because they’re Russian. Their lives are being threatened.”

"My clients aren't as nervous for themselves," Milstein said per ESPN. "But when they are on the road, and they have a wife and a newborn child at home that are alone, there are major concerns."

On a TNT broadcast Sunday Wayne Gretzky opined that Russia not be allowed to play in August’s World Junior Championships in Edmonton, a re-do of the tournament that was postponed over Christmas due to a COVID-19 outbreak. When asked about the upcoming CHL import draft, Milstein wants the league to re-consider : these are kids, victims, we’re talking about. He represents 15 Russian-born players in the 2022 NHL draft class that he projected to be selected, including potential first-rounders

“This isn’t the national team. These are 16- and 17-year-old children that you are discriminating against. That you’re denying the opportunity.”

“We pride ourselves in North America that we have the best league and best players. But now you’re discriminating, just because they’re born in Russia. People view German Nazis more favorably – and quote me on this – than Russians this week.”

Sure, we are now in world where sports communities can show governments what we truly think of them. But Milstein wants to remind everyone that the collateral damage on some people is considerable.

Per Whyshynski, Milstein is a political refugee who escaped the Soviet Union on the last day of its existence, and who has lived in Kyiv. He is now a United States citizen and represents more than 75% of the NHL's Russian and Belarusian-born players, including Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy, Islanders goalie Ilya Sorkin and others.

This is a big statement coming from him.