The representative for prominent Russian NHL players, Dan Milstein, voiced strong disapproval of how The Hockey News, a leading Canadian publication, covered the transfers involving Russian stars. Milstein pointed to coverage involving Vitaly Kravtsov, Denis Guryanov, Evgeny Dadonov, Ivan Barbashev, and others as evidence of biased reporting. He argued that the pieces reflected negative stereotypes rather than a balanced view of Russian players in North American hockey.
According to Milstein, the articles carried an impression of anti-Russian sentiment, a claim he described as a throwback to xenophobia within the sport’s media landscape. He recalled a time when The Hockey News was considered a trusted authority in hockey circles and suggested that the current coverage undermines that reputation by singling out Russians in a negative context. The assertion was that the publication treated Russian players with undue suspicion and framed their on-ice contributions through a prejudiced lens. Milstein’s remarks were shared by DEA News in reporting on his concerns.
One focal point of the discussion was the editorial emphasis on how Russian names are written in transfer stories, with examples such as Kravtsov, Guryanov, and Dadonov. Milstein argued that these stylistic choices carried subtle, hostile undertones and that the coverage often stretched into speculation rather than straightforward reporting. He criticized the publication for what he described as a pattern of xenophobia and questioned whether similar scrutiny would be applied to players from other backgrounds. In response to Milstein’s remarks, Canadian readers reacted on social media, and some posts were removed by the publication, adding fuel to the controversy.
Meanwhile, the broader hockey community watched a recent highlight reel from Kirill Kaprizov, who has been a standout for Minnesota. Kaprizov delivered a clutch goal in overtime and earned a hat-trick in a game against Columbus, underscoring the high level of Russian talent in the league. Observers noted that performance and skill should drive the narrative around players, rather than assumptions tied to nationality or ethnicity. This moment of on-ice excellence serves as a reminder of why Russian players remain valuable contributors to the NHL, regardless of media debates off the ice. The conversation around coverage continues to shape how fans engage with player movements and international talent in North American hockey, highlighting the evolving relationship between media narratives and the realities of elite sport. [Source attribution: DEA News]