NHL opens the door for Russian players after years of shutting them out

The NHL is charting a careful path back toward including Russian hockey players in international competition, announcing that athletes from Russia will be eligible to participate in a newly formatted 2027 All-Star Game under a "Rest of the World" banner. The move stops well short of welcoming Russia as a nation back into the fold, but it represents the most significant step yet toward reintegrating some of the sport's top talent on a global stage.

The revamped All-Star showcase, set for Feb. 6 at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y., will feature a 3-on-3 format with five teams: Canada, the United States, Sweden, Finland, and the catch-all Rest of the World squad. That final team will carry the NHL shield as its logo, with no Russian flag incorporated into any promotional materials. A skills competition for players aged 25 and under will also be part of the festivities.

A delicate balancing act on the world stage

The question of Russian involvement in international hockey has been one of the sport's thorniest issues since athletes from the country were banned from IIHF events and excluded from the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Winter Olympics following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Now, the IIHF appears to be reconsidering its position, and the NHL is watching closely.

NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh addressed the situation during the opening of the Stanley Cup Final in Raleigh, N.C., saying the Players' Association has been clear that its Russian members want to compete at the highest international level. "In a perfect world, we'd love to see them back in competition," Walsh said.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly revealed that he had spoken with the IIHF earlier that day and relayed that hockey's international governing body does not expect boycotts from Finland, Sweden, or the Czech Republic if Russia is eventually welcomed back to international tournaments. However, Daly cautioned against getting too far ahead of the process, noting that no formal decisions have been made about Russian participation in upcoming IIHF events for the 2026-27 season.

The league has also yet to decide whether Russia will be part of the 2028 World Cup of Hockey. Daly indicated the NHL will monitor developments in world affairs and take cues from the IIHF's decisions, though the league will not feel bound by them.

The NHLPA surveyed its members in person about Russian participation in best-on-best hockey as recently as last fall. Assistant Executive Director Ron Hainsey acknowledged that some players from certain countries were firmly opposed at that time. "A few months ago, there were more than a few hands that went up really quick," Hainsey recalled. But he noted that sentiment has shifted in the months since and is likely to continue evolving before any 2028 decisions need to be finalized.

Business is booming for the NHL

Beyond the international intrigue, Commissioner Gary Bettman painted a rosy picture of the league's financial health. He estimated that regular-season games this year sold at roughly 96 percent capacity, with playoff arenas exceeding 100 percent. The league is on track to generate somewhere between $7.5 billion and $8 billion in hockey-related revenue this season.

New broadcasting deals are fueling much of that growth. Lucrative French-language and U.S. rights agreements are on the horizon, while Rogers' massive $11-billion commitment for English-language Canadian rights begins next season. The league is also expanding team schedules to 84 games starting in 2026-27 and continues to entertain expressions of interest in expansion.

Bettman also touched on his own future, acknowledging more openly than ever before that he cannot lead the league forever. Now 74, he said succession planning discussions have been ongoing for at least a couple of years, though nothing is imminent. "Reports of my demise or retirement are greatly exaggerated," he quipped.

On other matters, the league is standing behind the Vegas Golden Knights' decision to block fired coach Bruce Cassidy from interviewing with other teams while he remains under contract through 2026-27. The Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, and potentially the Toronto Maple Leafs have all expressed interest in speaking with Cassidy, but the NHL considers the restriction a legitimate contractual right. Daly noted that Cassidy understands the league's position, even if he is not thrilled about it, and suggested Vegas could revisit the situation once the Stanley Cup Final wraps up.