Vacation
DETROIT– Montreal executive vice-president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton states he has “no issue” about members of the Canadiens’ front workplace taking a trip to Russia amidst the nation’s intrusion of Ukraine.
Canadiens basic supervisor Kent Hughes, scout Nick Bobrov and unique consultant Vincent Lecavalier raised eyebrows by flying overseas today to check out first-round draft choice Ivan Demidov of SKA Saint Petersburg in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League.
Gorton informed press reporters in Detroit– where the Canadiens will play the Red Wings on Friday– that the journey is strictly for searching.
“We have prospects all over the world, and basically, if we draft you or we sign you, you’re in our family and we’re going to go see you and watch you play,” he stated. “We’re going to monitor you and let you understand how we feel about your play. That’s what this is. This is a searching journey that Kent’s on.”
Russian and Belarusian groups have actually been prohibited by the International Ice Hockey Federation from occasions at all levels through a minimum of the 2024-25 calendar due to the continuous war.
The NHL likewise left out Russia from this winter season’s 4 Nations Face-Off competition, in spite of the country’s history as a hockey powerhouse.
When requested for remark about the journey to Russia, the league referred The Canadian Press back to the Canadiens.
The Canadian federal government suggests preventing all travel to Russia “due to the effects of the armed dispute with Ukraine and the threat of terrorism.”
“It’s a brief journey, he’ll be back quickly,” Gorton stated. “A possibility for (Hughes) to see more than one gamer over there that’s ours.
“We’re not worried at all.”
This report by The Canadian Press was very first released Dec. 19, 2024.
The Canadian Press
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