PRAGUE — The NHL opened its common season in Prague final week with two International Sequence video games between the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils. Czech hockey legends have been prominently featured. Jaromir Jagr dropped the ceremonial first puck forward of the sport on Friday. Patrik Eliáš, the Devils’ all-time main scorer, was across the group all week and dropped the puck for the second recreation of the sequence.
However one Czech hockey nice was notably absent. Dominik Hašek, the Corridor of Fame goalie who helped lead the Czechs to an Olympic gold medal in 1998 and one of many biggest gamers in Sabres franchise historical past, didn’t attend the video games or take part in any promotional supplies within the lead-up to the video games. Final Thursday, Hašek launched an announcement on his X account condemning the NHL for permitting Russian gamers to play within the league whereas Vladimir Putin continues Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On Friday afternoon, hours earlier than Jagr dropped that ceremonial first puck, Hašek met with The Athletic to debate his ongoing subject with the NHL.
Expensive residents, expensive hockey followers,
The brand new season of the NHL will begin tomorrow in Prague.
Which, as an individual for whom human lives are the primary place on the imaginary scale of values, I can not stay detached. Sadly, I’ve to state that this would be the third…
— Dominik Hasek (@hasek_dominik) October 3, 2024
“My motivation is big,” Hašek stated. “I contemplate every little thing I do on this subject to be vitally essential. What is occurring now in Russia, that’s, the Russian imperialist battle in Ukraine and different crimes linked with it, is similar to what Hitler did within the Nineteen Thirties. And everyone knows how that turned out. This should not occur once more. And that’s the reason I’m attempting to publicly clarify to folks everywhere in the world what’s essential and how one can act in order that the Russian battle of aggression doesn’t unfold and ends as quickly as potential. And naturally, the principle motivation is saving human lives. For me, human life at all times comes first.”
Russia escalated the battle between the 2 nations in February 2022 when it launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. That month, the NHL launched an announcement condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and saying it had suspended relationships with companions in Russia. Hašek has made his emotions clear for the reason that day Russia invaded. He wrote an e mail to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and stated he bought solely a short response. Within the years since, Hašek stated the league has made no effort to have a dialogue with him. The NHL declined to remark for this story.
Throughout that point, Hašek has known as for the NHL to pay billions of {dollars} to Ukraine as compensation and was outspoken about Russian athletes being allowed to take part within the Olympics. Russians taking part within the NHL serves as an commercial for what the nation is doing and improves morale in Russia, he says.
Hašek additionally ran for senator in Czechia this 12 months. In September, Hašek didn’t advance previous the primary spherical of voting. He’s taking the downtime to find out his subsequent step, however he needs to remain concerned in politics.
It wasn’t till 1989, when Hašek was 24, that the Czech Republic turned separate from the Soviet Union. Hašek is intimately aware of life beneath authoritarian rule. He doesn’t need his youngsters to know what that’s like. Hašek has a soon-to-be 3-year-old son, Honza, together with his present companion, and two grownup youngsters, Michael and Dominika, together with his ex-wife. Hašek returned to the Czech Republic after retiring from the Detroit Purple Wings to boost his youngsters in his house nation.
Hašek additionally performed the ultimate 12 months of his profession within the KHL again in 2010-11. Putin has been both the prime minister or president of Russia since 1999, making him the longest-serving Russian chief since Joseph Stalin.
However whereas Hašek majored in historical past in faculty, he didn’t grow to be inquisitive about politics till after his enjoying profession ended. He has since grow to be extra outspoken on sure points, together with this one.
Many in Czechia share Hašek’s fears and views, and for hockey followers, it extends past the NHL. In 2023, Rytíři Kladno, the Czech Extraliga group owned by Jaromir Jagr, signed goalie Julius Hudacek, who was born in Slovakia however had spent the earlier season enjoying for a Kazakhstan-based group within the KHL. Followers threatened to protest video games, and Kladno launched Hudacek days later.
That is the second time the NHL has come to Prague since Russia invaded Ukraine. The San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators performed right here in 2022, and every group had a Russian participant on its roster. Whereas neither the Devils nor the Sabres introduced a Russian to the International Sequence, Hašek nonetheless didn’t wish to be a part of it. He thinks the NHL wants to talk publicly on the difficulty and never “bury its head within the sand.”
The NHL’s preliminary assertion after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 stated, “We additionally stay involved concerning the well-being of the gamers from Russia, who play within the NHL on behalf of their NHL Golf equipment, and never on behalf of Russia. We perceive they and their households are being positioned in an especially tough place.”
The very fact the NHL has not modified its place since that assertion is disappointing to Hašek.
Russia’s battle in Ukraine will possible grow to be a extra distinguished NHL storyline as Alex Ovechkin chases Wayne Gretzky’s aim document. Ovechkin nonetheless has a photograph with Putin as his Instagram profile image and has not made any robust statements towards the battle. He hasn’t spoken concerning the battle since 2022.
“I’m Russian, proper?” Ovechkin stated in 2022. “One thing I can’t management. It’s not in my arms. I hope (the battle)’s going to finish quickly. I hope it’s going to be peace in each international locations. I don’t management this one.”
Hašek stated he believes solely Russians who condemn the battle needs to be allowed to play within the NHL. Nonetheless, he understands the tough place Russian gamers are in. Hašek lives in a free nation and isn’t an worker of the NHL, which he says provides him the liberty to talk his thoughts. It’s harder for individuals who concern for his or her security or their household’s security, Hašek added. And even those that might face job loss or different financial repercussions primarily based on their phrases.
Hašek doesn’t place the blame on the person Russian gamers for not talking out.
“Guidelines should be set in order that Russian gamers have an incentive to come back out publicly,” Hašek stated. “Some gamers might make the most effective peace ambassadors. Sadly, the NHL doesn’t assist the Russian hockey gamers one bit.”
The New York Rangers’ Russian star Artemi Panarin has been outspoken towards Putin prior to now. Hašek additionally cited Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov, a Russian who spoke out towards the battle when he was a member of the Calgary Flames in 2023. He posted “No Conflict” on his Instagram account with the caption “Cease it!!!” He additionally did a two-hour interview with Russian journalist Yury Dud on YouTube wherein he defined his opposition to the battle. Hašek felt the NHL didn’t supply him sufficient assist.
“It should be stated that it is a subject that individuals are very afraid to speak about publicly,” Hašek stated. “Within the Czech Republic, there’s nice concern of Russia, which our parliament has designated as a terrorist state. With Russia, we have now expertise on this course and, sadly, additionally victims. Individuals don’t know the way the scenario will develop and if Ukraine falls, we’re one of many different potential victims.”
Hašek stated he wish to hear extra ex-players communicate out on the subject, as a result of they’re not depending on the NHL for work. He is aware of these aren’t simple conditions to navigate. He admitted to what he now views as a mistake of his personal final 12 months.
Final season, Hašek got here to Buffalo as a part of an annual go to to do charity work together with his basis, Hašek’s Heroes. Whereas on the town, he went to a Sabres recreation and took part within the begin of the sport by banging the drum to excite the group. He nonetheless loves Buffalo and considers it the most effective hockey cities in america. However he realized that even taking part in that approach went towards what he had spoken about. Days later, he apologized on X.
Assertion on my participation within the occasion 01/18/2024 and to the general public and the media inquiries: On my annual go to (enterprise, charity) to Buffalo USA, I accepted an invite from my associates to the @NHL recreation (1/18/2024). On the identical time, (proceed)
— Dominik Hasek (@hasek_dominik) January 23, 2024
“I contemplate my participation within the match and its opening as my large mistake,” Hašek wrote. “Hereby, I wish to apologize to all Ukrainian troopers and all Ukrainian people who find themselves heroically defending not solely their homeland, but additionally the entire of Europe towards the imperialist enemy. And additional to the followers who supported me and proceed to assist me and to everybody whom I disenchanted with my act. I discover this private failure of mine very tough to excuse. I’ll attempt even more durable to repair it. At this second, I can promise you {that a} comparable scenario won’t occur once more. And that I’ll struggle to the utmost and assist defend every little thing that the Russian state-controlled terrorist regime assaults. And criticize all those that assist it with their actions.”
Final week, Hašek did meet with Sabres coach Lindy Ruff and some others he is aware of from his time in Buffalo. He additionally met with the video group for the Sabres’ web site to assist them with a undertaking they’re doing on his upbringing.
“I’ve no real interest in breaking ties,” Hašek stated. “I’m inquisitive about serving to the NHL as a lot as potential with my conduct, and nothing is altering about that. In any other case, in fact, I can’t take part in any of the 2 matches, nor something associated to the beginning of this 12 months’s NHL. The reason being clear. I don’t wish to be a part of an occasion that’s an commercial for the Russian battle.”
(Picture: Petr David Josek / AP Picture)