“I think our Russian players will want to participate in the event. And we definitely want to accommodate them,” NHL deputy head Bill Daly said in mid-September.

“We recognize the value that Russia brings to international hockey. It would be a shame if our Russian hockey players, who have made no mistakes, are not given the chance to play against the best. We want to find a way to ensure this doesn’t happen,” he added.

For example, it was suggested that the NHL apply the model of the last two Winter Olympics and the penultimate World Championship, where Russian hockey players competed, but not under their flag.

However, such concessions were not enough for the European participants. Remembering Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine they refuse anything participation of Russian hockey players. Only the end of the conflict can bring about a change in attitude.

“Obviously it’s relevant and we factor that into our decision making,” Daly said this week.

He admitted that the possibility of starting a Russian star under a neutral flag was not in accordance with understanding. “If I really understand what the problem is, it seems that this option does not have to be a solution for European countries that want to participate,” he added.

Swedish hockey has recently publicly expressed its negative attitude. “We explained the European point of view on this issue. As long as there is a war, we cannot play against the Russian team,” said trade union vice president Peter Forsberg, the legendary hockey player’s namesake.

The topic resonates also in Finland. “If Russia is admitted to the World Cup, Finland will have to step back and behave morally in the face of the greed of the NHL,” read a comment on the popular website Jatkoaika.com, which said it would not matter under which flag Russia would compete.

The NHL wants to hold the World Cup in February 2024, that is, in less than a year and a half. Because this was her tournament, she did not need permission from the IIHF international federation, which also excluded the choir from all competitions for the season. However, overseas leagues have to contend with individual national associations, at least as they have in previous years.

Russia’s participation is the biggest question mark surrounding the tournament, which last took place in the fall of 2016. Back then, a European selection, which included Slovakia, Germany and Switzerland, as well as North America’s under-23s, took part. extraordinary.

This shouldn’t happen again. The NHL relies on eight national teams and is considering a qualifying tournament. That will play for “two or three places” out of the aforementioned eight, as Daly revealed during a visit to Prague as part of a lead double between Nashville and San Jose.

The event must take place in Europe and North America, with the elimination bout only being held overseas.

If the plans don’t fall apart, it will be the first tournament with the biggest stars since the 2016 World Cup. Meanwhile, two Winter Olympics were played, in South Korea and China, but the NHL did not send its hockey players for either of them.