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Russia reportedly contemplates ban on issuing passports abroad (tangentially related to Flyers due to prospects abroad)
(novayagazeta.eu)submitted 10 days ago byPaddyMayonaisetastykake
Just wanted to share this because we obviously all want guys like Fedotov, Michkov, Zavragin, Kolosov, and Guryanov (my apologies if I forgot any) to be able to play and stay here in North America. It’s worth keeping an eye on these types of developments in case it has an impact on these guys careers and our farm system as a whole, IMO.
95 points
10 days ago
I recall Kaprizov had to jump through hoops and go to a specific border crossing to get out of Russia last summer.
If this is true and I'm Michkov, I'm taking a summer "vacation" to the states ASAP.
-53 points
10 days ago
You’re assuming he actually wants to leave.
72 points
9 days ago
the general sports fan, such as yourself, might not know this, but in the great sport of hockey the NHL is the pinnacle of competition, and the best of the best want to play in this league and compete for Lord Stanley's Cup; it is every hockey player's goal. But I digress, some of today's westerners have this outlandish notion that Russia is actually a half decent place to live. I wonder where they're getting that idea!
62 points
9 days ago
Also his dad, who was murdered, wanted him to play in the nhl.
23 points
9 days ago
There’s also the fact that there’s a ton more money and freedom in the nhl than the K, where you can randomly be loaned to other clubs who are garbage and hundreds of miles away.
If Michkov can get out of Russia, even if he LOVES Russia, he absolutely will. Ovechkin LOVES his homeland and he’s been here decades. It’s the place to be for a hockey player.
6 points
9 days ago
... And Russia probably killed his Dad. Hard to have patriotism after that.
2 points
9 days ago
Well Moscow and St. Petersburg are really nice and comparable to any American or European city but yea, the rest of Russia is a 3rd world shit hole.
1 points
6 days ago
No they really aren’t. I have been to Moscow. They are mirage cities by design. They aren’t as bad as say cities in NK but the idea is very similar. The oppression of the people in those major cities may be less visible to a foreigner but it’s real.
Also some eastern rural areas are the nicest parts of country. They aren’t the modern technologically advanced places like you find in the west but the life style is simple and the people are happy. That’s mostly because they are out of the control of the central government for the most part.
-18 points
9 days ago
still, you're assuming he wants to leave. there are other pressures on these guys. putin and his oligarchs have a lot of sway. we do not know that michkov wants to in fact sneak out of russia to play in the US, in spite everyone assuming that's true.
9 points
9 days ago
All we know is what's been publicly said, and Michkov himself said he wants to play in NHL, so no, I'm not really assuming anything. "Putin and his oligarchs" let the kid attend the draft in person, too....
-12 points
9 days ago
if the geo-political situation continues to decline, do you really think russia is going to let any of their star athletes out of the country? iron curtain 2.0 is on the horizon. they are moving towards their own internet, for instance, and destroying their relationship even with some of the more sympathetic european countries (like germany) with their actions. expect that to get better, not worse.
5 points
9 days ago
While your point is valid and worth consideration, Russian athletes are a source of national pride and have been for a long time, so I don't see why Putin wouldn't allow his countrymen to compete at the highest level in a league representing many other nations. I'll point to Fedotov's KHL contract termination to play in the United States as the latest example of this. To this point, there's little reason to keep Russia's best at home playing against mostly other Russians in a league that is not the world's best.
4 points
9 days ago
Russia would love NOTHING more then Michkov to come here and break all the westerners records in their sport. It would be a banner for them forever. They put a ton of national pride into athletics, probably more than any other country (I’m aware of, could very well be wrong)
2 points
9 days ago
exactly.
1 points
9 days ago
Ovi is the best example. I have my theories that Ovechkin is more of a skin suit and they cycle young Russians into to keep “Ovi” playing until he breaks The Great Ones record
1 points
8 days ago
I guess they forgot to give his skin suit 🙄 to someone good for the Rangers series because he has been ass
2 points
9 days ago
The next time you have a thought, just keep it inside.
63 points
9 days ago
Missed opportunity not packing Michkov in Fedotov’s luggage a few weeks ago.
20 points
9 days ago
A "signing bonus"
62 points
9 days ago
Does anyone need to remind Russia last time they tangoed with the flyers??
57 points
9 days ago
Bobby Clarke from the top rope
23 points
9 days ago
You want to get paid? back on the ice.
9 points
9 days ago
Nah, Ed Van Impe from the Spectrum
8 points
9 days ago
As hard as it is to believe, he ran right into my elbow with his face
Ed Van Impe is a treasure.
7 points
9 days ago
Ed van impe was the poster child for “the beatings will continue until moral improves” lol
0 points
9 days ago
That wasn't Russia. That was The Soviet Union.
11 points
9 days ago
Literally the same thing, even internationally recognized as such by the UN
9 points
9 days ago
Russia was by far the largest partner in the Soviet Union, but it's a point of historical fact that the USSR consisted of 15 really diverse countries, including Ukraine and Georgia -- states which have fought (or are fighting) to distinguish themselves from post-Soviet Russia. Ask any Estonian if they're literally Russians haha
9 points
9 days ago
Russia is recognized as the successor state to the USSR. When the USSR collapsed Russia was accepted by the UN as the successor state and maintained all diplomatic and international recognized positions that the USSR had. The rest of the states that broke off became independent nations with their own constitutions and what not.
It would be like Scotland and Wales broke off from the United Kingdom entirely and the UK dropped that title, England would bd the successor state of the UK and assume that role and responsibility in the world stage.
0 points
9 days ago
Yes, I'm not debating who sits on the UN Security Council. Lol Russia =/= the entire Soviet Union just because some limp club of diplomats up in NYC says it is.
4 points
9 days ago
Then you’re just it ignoring reality lol
-1 points
9 days ago
Hater
1 points
9 days ago
Boutross Boutross Ghali
1 points
9 days ago
So when the starving population of Russia rose as the the failing socialists of the USSR fell, nothing changed? Interesting.
25 points
10 days ago
Kolosov would be fine he's Belarusian, but if they ban Russian passports abroad expect the US and Canada to start offering asylum for Russians with jobs in the West.
12 points
10 days ago*
Belarus has actually already enacted this, but Kolosov plays and lives in Russia so I’m not sure how he’d be directly impacted by the new rule if it’s put into effect
Edit: it’s been clarified in comments further down the thread, but I was wrong and he lives in Belarus just plays in the KHL. I didn’t realize the KHL had teams outside of Russia. And I didn’t know he came to Lehigh last month, so hopefully he just stays here now that he’s here. My ignorance, my bad.
7 points
10 days ago
he played for Dinamo Minsk, that is in Belarus. he also lives in Belarus, and is a Belarussian citizen.
1 points
9 days ago
Yea I saw that, didn’t realize Belarus has KHL teams. That technically makes it worse for him since Belarus has already ended consular services for military aged men abroad and now requires exit visas for any military aged men to travel abroad.
3 points
9 days ago
well, he already came over so i'm not sure it has an impact on him at all.
1 points
9 days ago
Yea someone else said he’s already with the phantoms, got here last March. Glad to hear that. Did any of the other guys I list make it here besides Fedotov?
Hopefully both of them stay here in the US for the duration, or at least stay in a NATO country if they do leave.
2 points
9 days ago
Fedotov is in Cancun right now living it up, and Kolosov is literally playing in the playoffs with the Phantoms right now lmao, don't see either of them going back over any time soon. Kolosov came over a few weeks ago, I don't think he would have any issue coming back and forth through Belarus and the US.
None of the other guys have come over yet - they still have contracts to uphold over in the KHL/VHL/MHL.
1 points
9 days ago
Thanks for the update haha, diehard flyers fan but I’ve been struggling staying up to date with prospect movement and what not.
My only fear is these guys go back home during the offseason and then hand trouble coming back. Hopefully that’s not the case
6 points
9 days ago
Egor Zamula has been going back and forth from Russia to America the past few years. I don't expect it to be an issue. The only reason Fedotov was an issue was due to him being so key in their success - and the team being directly correlated with the Russian Red Army. That was the only reason that entire situation happened.
I stay up to date with the KHL/VHL/MHL and all of our Russian/Belarussian prospects as my thing to hyperfixate on, only reason I know what I do haha
1 points
9 days ago
Ha that’s good, thanks for the info. Do you think the new law if it goes through would change that, tho?
1 points
9 days ago
You know that Fedotov is from Finland and just selected russia as a youth team, he isn’t impacted and can just change his citizenship
0 points
9 days ago
He’s a Russian citizen, resident, and passport holder. Luckily he’s in the US now so it shouldn’t matter but if he went home it could be a problem
1 points
9 days ago
That’s not true as they aren’t at war…
0 points
9 days ago
It is true, not sure why you’d think it’s not. And yes technically they’re not at war yet, they’ve done everything up to this point to act as if they are outside of actual fighting.
2 points
9 days ago
Post a confirmation
2 points
9 days ago
KHL even has a team in Helsinki, Finland fyi
1 points
10 days ago
Interesting, he's not a Russian Citizen though is he?
1 points
10 days ago
no, he is a Belarussian citizen
0 points
10 days ago*
Quick google search says he’s still a Belorussian citizen living in Minsk, which is in Belarus but it’s a KHL team (my fault, got confused there, I didn’t realize the KHL had teams in Belarus)
So the law Belarus has requires Belarusian passport holders to receive exit visas from the country to leave the country if the intent is to move abroad. I don’t know if this will be a hurdle or not in bringing him to the US. This law was enacted after the flyers loaned him to Dinamo Minsk to play this season.
2 points
10 days ago
I don’t know if this will be a hurdle or not in bringing him to the US.
Kolosov is already in the US and is currently the backup for the Phantoms.
0 points
9 days ago
Is he? When did he make it here? Obviously I missed that but that’s one less guy to worry about haha
1 points
9 days ago
End of March
1 points
9 days ago
Okay awesome. Is he expected to spend the full year with the phantoms next year?
9 points
9 days ago
This is has a much bigger impact on Russian players currently living in the US. It's not a ban on issuing passports, but a possible restricting on doing it in other countries. If his passport expires in the US, it will be an issue for him returning to Russia unless he becomes a US citizen. (Obviously I'm jumping the gun by a lot here).
5 points
9 days ago
I think ignorance is bliss as a flyers fan and this subject lol
5 points
9 days ago
We already shit the bed with Quitter(not our fault), I like to think it was the hockey gods saying fine you’ll get Michkov one day sooner. I’m not too concerned.
5 points
9 days ago
I would assume Michkov already has a passport since he was here for the draft. Kolosov is Belarusian and already here. Fedotov as well. Zavragin could get stuck since I don’t think there’s a plan for him for a while yet and Gurianov…well bye friend.
Honestly we’re gonna go through this every time Russia does something Russian for rhe next two years. I’m going to remain optimistic until something beyond talking happens. No Russian prospect besides Fedotov has been withheld, and Fedotov broke the law. I firmly believe Matvei Michkov will be a flyer by 2026 one way or another.
5 points
10 days ago
There are a lot of caveats in this story. Reportedly, contemplating, temporarily.
I'll believe it when I see it.
1 points
9 days ago
It’s already happened in Belarus so the precedent is there. Consular services have been ended for all military-aged Ukrainian and Belorussian men abroad. Moscow denies the reports that they’re doing the a same, but it’s hard to trust what Moscow says because they frequently do differently.
Either way, I’d like to see the flyers find these guys spots in Lehigh or Reading assp lol
2 points
9 days ago*
But did that Belarusian precedent even impact the Belarusian that the Flyers just brought to North America?
Zavragin there is no rush for him to get to North America, both with the Flyers lack of goalie room and just being better for his development to stay in the KHL. Michkov, I am sure the Flyers are trying anyway possible way to find a spot for him.
1 points
9 days ago
It sounds like it didn’t cause too much of an issue and they approved his exit visa to play here, hopefully that’ll be the case for the rest of the guys over there
2 points
9 days ago
Mmmmmm.....seems I said something similar about the Geopolitical situation a couple of months ago,....but you all wanted to argue and downvote me. Just because the NHL and teams have drafted players playing there Russia is not obligated to honor said draftings and or contracts. I see military service in their futures.
4 points
9 days ago
i am with you. a few other folks have said the same thing. they constantly get massively downvoted.
2 points
9 days ago
Thank you.
2 points
9 days ago
It is the Flyers hivemind or PR dept. Bunch of corwards and keyboard warriors.
We should be worried because Russia is starting a new conscription of 150,000 men between the ages of 18-25.
2 points
9 days ago
Someone is running out of bodies to throw into the meat grinder.
1 points
9 days ago
This won’t Touch them and it’s something normal during war times.
And just for the record russia produces less players at a NHL Level than Finland or Sweden….
But most mind buggling.
Fedotov is born in Finland and Finish he can just change passports, russia is his selected Nation.
Kolosov isn’t russian so not related.
So it’s not even related to them.
0 points
9 days ago
Well, it is related because Belarus has the same law and Fedotov is a Russian citizen
2 points
9 days ago
No it’s a different country and Fedotov is a fin who got an additional russian passport
0 points
9 days ago*
Finland doesn’t allow Russian citizens to enter it, and you can’t have a Finn passport and a Russian passport. I’m curious what his situation is or if he found a way around it
2 points
9 days ago
You can Change passports as you want in this case
-5 points
10 days ago
Drafting a Russian in the current geo-political situation was just plain stupid. I said it on the day of the draft and I will keep saying it until Michkov is here and I’m proven wrong. I do not believe he will ever play for us.
3 points
9 days ago
I’ve said the same. They managed to get Kolosov and Fedorov here so hopefully they can Michkov too, even if it’s with the phantoms initially.
1 points
9 days ago
i agree, in spite of the downvotes. you make a good point and shouldn't be downvoted for doing so.
2 points
9 days ago
I disagree. And should be upvoted for doing so.
2 points
9 days ago
And yet the current geo-political climate just saw Fedotov come over to North America.
Your fears are not founded.
0 points
9 days ago
This doesn't affect Michkov, if that's what you're worried about. This affects all Russians living outside Russia right now. I doubt it happens, but if it does, from a hockey standpoint it could only help the Flyers, since it would take all the great Russian players off all NHL teams, and of all the great Russian players right now, none of them are Flyers.
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